Lesson 1Psychosocial and adherence assessment: evaluation of social support, substance use, medication adherence predictorsThis lesson covers mental and social checks before transplant, including family support, mental health, drug or alcohol use, and signs of sticking to meds to spot issues and plan support for better graft life.
Standardized psychosocial screening toolsEvaluating caregiver and social supportScreening for depression and anxietySubstance use history and toxicology testsPredictors and remediation of nonadherenceLesson 2Comprehensive medical history and physical exam: diabetes, cardiovascular, peripheral vascular disease, dialysis access reviewThis lesson sums up full patient history and exam before transplant, highlighting heart, vessel, diabetes, and dialysis line checks to find no-go factors and fixable surgery risks.
Structured transplant‑focused historyCardiovascular and peripheral vascular reviewDiabetes complications and foot examinationDialysis access function and infection historyMedication reconciliation and allergy reviewLesson 3Hematology and coagulation: platelet function, anticoagulation/antiplatelet management, transfusion thresholdsThis lesson focuses on blood and clotting checks, covering low blood counts, platelet work, blood thinner handling, and rules for transfusions to avoid bleeding or clots around surgery time.
Baseline CBC, iron studies, and anemia planPlatelet count, function, and uremic bleedingWarfarin, DOAC, and heparin bridgingAntiplatelet interruption and continuationRed cell and platelet transfusion thresholdsLesson 4Vascular surgery assessment: peripheral arterial disease mapping, iliac/femoral vessel duplex/CT angiography, access site planningThis lesson covers vessel surgery checks for kidney transplants, mapping leg artery issues, scanning hip and thigh vessels, and choosing best entry points for safe joins and lasting blood flow.
Clinical exam for peripheral arterial diseaseDuplex ultrasound of iliac and femoral vesselsCT angiography for complex vasculatureChoosing side and site for graft anastomosisManaging severe aortoiliac occlusive diseaseLesson 5Pulmonary evaluation and anesthesia risk: spirometry, sleep apnea screening, frailty and functional status assessmentThis lesson describes lung and anaesthetic risk checks, including breathing tests, sleep apnoea screens, weakness levels, and daily function to gauge surgery risks and plan improvements and recovery.
History, exam, and spirometry indicationsChest imaging and pulmonary hypertensionScreening and management of sleep apneaFrailty indices and gait speed testingAnesthesia risk classification and planningLesson 6Infectious disease evaluation: latent infections (TB, CMV, EBV, VZV, HBV, HCV, HIV), vaccination review, prophylaxis planningThis lesson details infection checks for transplant patients, focusing on hidden infections, vaccine status, and custom prevention plans to cut down on infections after transplant due to weakened immunity.
Screening for TB, CMV, EBV, and VZVHBV, HCV, and HIV testing and stagingPre‑transplant vaccination catch‑up planDonor‑recipient serostatus risk matchingDesigning antiviral and PCP prophylaxisLesson 7Cardiology workup: noninvasive ischemia testing, coronary angiography indications, functional capacity assessment, perioperative revascularization criteriaThis lesson explains heart checks for transplant candidates, covering non-invasive tests for blocked arteries, when to do heart scans, fitness levels, and rules for fixing blockages to lower heart risks during surgery.
Baseline ECG and echocardiographyStress testing and ischemia detectionIndications for coronary angiographyFunctional capacity and METs assessmentRevascularization versus medical therapyLesson 8Endocrine and metabolic optimization: diabetes control strategies pre-transplant, obesity and nutritional optimization, weight-loss options and timelineThis lesson reviews hormone and body chemistry issues before kidney transplant, stressing diabetes management, weight and diet improvements, weight loss methods, and practical timelines to meet health goals and reduce surgery risks.
Pre‑transplant HbA1c and glycemic targetsAdjusting insulin and non‑insulin therapiesObesity‑related surgical and graft risksNutritional assessment and protein‑energy statusPharmacologic and surgical weight‑loss optionsLesson 9Laboratory and imaging baseline tests: crossmatch/serology, HLA typing, PRA, baseline renal ultrasound and vascular imaging, baseline BK/JC viral statusThis lesson outlines key lab and scan tests before transplant, including tissue matching, antibody levels, blood tests, kidney scans, vessel imaging, and virus checks to help pick donors and plan surgery.
ABO typing, HLA typing, and PRA levelsComplement‑dependent and flow crossmatchBaseline renal ultrasound and DopplerCT or MR angiography of iliac vesselsBK and JC virus PCR and serologic statusLesson 10Decision criteria to accept or delay transplant: cardiopulmonary thresholds, infection control, vascular access/target vessel suitability, BMI and metabolic targetsThis lesson shows how teams decide to go ahead or wait for kidney transplant, weighing heart and lung limits, infection clearance, vessel fitness, and body weight goals to match urgency with fixable risks.
Cardiopulmonary fitness and VO2 thresholdsActive infection and sepsis exclusionTarget vessel imaging and suitabilityBMI cutoffs and weight‑loss milestonesMetabolic syndrome and blood pressure goals
