<P> Kidney transplantation is a life - extending procedure . The typical patient will live 10 to 15 years longer with a kidney transplant than if kept on dialysis . The increase in longevity is greater for younger patients, but even 75 - year - old recipients (the oldest group for which there is data) gain an average four more years of life . People generally have more energy, a less restricted diet, and fewer complications with a kidney transplant than if they stay on conventional dialysis . </P> <P> Some studies seem to suggest that the longer a patient is on dialysis before the transplant, the less time the kidney will last . It is not clear why this occurs, but it underscores the need for rapid referral to a transplant program . Ideally, a kidney transplant should be pre-emptive, i.e., take place before the patient begins dialysis . The reason why kidneys fail over time after transplantation has been elucidated in recent years . Apart from recurrence of the original kidney disease, also rejection (mainly antibody - mediated rejection) and progressive scarring (multifactorial) play a decisive role . Avoiding rejection by strict medication adherence is of utmost importance to avoid failure of the kidney transplant . </P> <P> At least four professional athletes have made a comeback to their sport after receiving a transplant: New Zealand rugby union player Jonah Lomu, German - Croatian Soccer Player Ivan Klasnić, and NBA basketballers Sean Elliott and Alonzo Mourning . </P> <Table> Statistics by country, year and donor type <Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Cadaveric donor </Th> <Th> Living donor </Th> <Th> Total transplants </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Canada </Th> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> 724 </Td> <Td> 388 </Td> <Td> 7003111200000000000 ♠ 1,112 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> France </Th> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> 7003199100000000000 ♠ 1,991 </Td> <Td> 136 </Td> <Td> 7003212700000000000 ♠ 2,127 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Italy </Th> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> 7003148900000000000 ♠ 1,489 </Td> <Td> 135 </Td> <Td> 7003162400000000000 ♠ 1,624 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Japan </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7002208000000000000 ♠ 208 </Td> <Td> 1276 </Td> <Td> 7003148400000000000 ♠ 1,484 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spain </Th> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> 7003199100000000000 ♠ 1,991 </Td> <Td> 60 </Td> <Td> 7003205100000000000 ♠ 2,051 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> United Kingdom </Th> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> 7003129700000000000 ♠ 1,297 </Td> <Td> 439 </Td> <Td> 7003173600000000000 ♠ 1,736 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> United States </Th> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> 7004105510000000000 ♠ 10,551 </Td> <Td> 7003596600000000000 ♠ 5,966 </Td> <Td> 7004165170000000000 ♠ 16,517 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where is the incision made for a kidney transplant