"Kidney transplantation has become a routine therapeutic option for patients with end stage kidney disease globally. Over 16,000 to 19,000 kidney transplants are performed annually in the United States. While transplant nephrologists care for transplant recipients and living donors in the perioperative period, general nephrologists are expected to care for these patients after three months following their transplants. The management of immunosuppressive therapy and complications associated with the transplant process is complex and requires an in-depth knowledge of transplant medications, drug interactions, both acute and long-term complications, among many other transplant and non-transplant related problems. Selection and referral of potential living donors are other processes that are vital to kidney transplantation and require the involvement of general nephrologists. Most general nephrologists, however, are not well-trained in kidney transplantation and/or do not care for enough kidney transplant patients to gain adequate experience to provide patients with the best possible care"--Provided by publisher. |