[Kidney transplantation]

The first renal transplant with little success was performed in 1933. It was not until 1947, in Boston (USA), when a cadaveric kidney was transplanted into a female patient with septic shock, renewing natural diuresis in two months. In 1950, different European and American medical teams had already proceeded with renal transplants in humans from cadaver donors with positive results, followed by an absolute success with the first renal transplant in univitelline twins in 1954. In 1961, its use with immunosuppressive therapy was approved. In Mexico, in 1968, the first renal transplant with a six-year survival was achieved. Four years later, the first renal transplant with satisfactory results is performed at the National Institute of Cardiology. Along the 35 years of activity of the renal transplant program, 516 renal transplants from alive donors and 19 from cadaveric donors have been performed with an average of eight-year survival. Nurses participate actively from the moment at which the transplant patient and the donor are admitted to the hospital, as well as during, the transplant itself, the recovery period, and by providing support and information to both the patients and their families.