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Home > WA Providers > Transplant Surgeons

Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD

(5 Ratings)

Specializes in: Transplant Surgery and Urologic Oncology

University of Washington School of Medicine (1988)

Professional interests include: kidney transplant, pancreas transplant, kidney cancer, and more.

1100 Ninth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 624-1144

Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD is a transplant surgeon in Seattle, WA specializing in transplant surgery and urologic oncology. He graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine in 1988 and has 36 years of experience. Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD is affiliated with Virginia Mason.

Office Locations

Address:

1100 Ninth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

Some issues Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD can help you with:

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.

Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:

Shock wave lithotripsy, which uses sound wave vibrations to break apart the stone
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or the use of a very tiny tool (like a wire inserted through the back) to break apart and remove the stone
Ureteroscopy, a thin tube inserted through the urethra and bladder to the stone, where tiny tools can grasp the stone and remove

People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a kind of minimally invasive surgery using a thin, narrow tube called a laparoscope. Usually performed on the abdomen or the pelvic region, the surgeon makes a few very small incisions instead of one large one.

During the procedure, the surgeon inserts the laparoscope, which contains a light and camera that allows the surgeon to see what is happening inside the body. Then tiny tools are placed through the small openings and used to perform the surgery.

The most common laparoscopic surgery is gallbladder removal, but laparoscopic surgery may also be used for the removal of a kidney or appendix, to treat certain cysts and tumors, for bariatric surgery, for some GERD treatments, or for hernia repairs, among others.

Because laparoscopic surgery only uses a few tiny incisions, the scars are minimal and recovery is easier than with open surgery.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, happens when bacteria enter the body through the opening where urine is normally released. The bacteria infect the lining of the urethra and bladder, turning them red and inflamed. This causes pain in the abdomen or pelvic area, a burning sensation during urination, a sense of urgency about going to the bathroom, frequent urination, and urine that smells bad and looks cloudy, or even contains traces of blood. If the urinary tract infection is severe, it may travel all the way to the kidneys, a more serious kind of UTI called pyelonephritis. Patients with this kidney infection might have blood in their urine, feel back pain, and develop a fever.

Urinary tract infections are extremely common: 12% of all men and 40-50% of all women will have a urinary tract infection during their lifetime. They are more common in women because women have shorter urethras, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel from the outside of the body to the bladder and cause an infection. Some people also have urethras that are an unusual shape or have an obstruction in the urethra that makes getting a UTI more likely. Also, certain chronic illnesses like diabetes weaken the immune system, so any bacteria in the body are more likely to cause an infection.

A urinary tract infection can be diagnosed very quickly by a doctor. A sample of urine can be examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria or white blood cells. There are also diagnostic strips that can be used to test a urine sample without the need for a microscope. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment is a course of oral antibiotics, and most patients feel better within just a few days. There are some things that patients can do themselves to help reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection in the future. Stay well hydrated, wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom, wear breathable cotton undergarments, and don't hold it in when patients feel the urge to go.

In The News

“"You just have to have faith," she said At Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, transplant patients from Montana are not uncommon, said Dr. Christian Kuhr, who grew up in Havre and is now the...”—"Transplanting hope", Havre Daily News, April 2009

“Even though organ donations are beneficial and wonderful things, "you always have the backdrop of some great tragedy," said Dr. Christian Kuhr, director of transplantation at Virginia Mason Medical...”—"Transplanting hope", Havre Daily News, April 2009

abdominal surgery	30
doctor visit	58
transplant procedures	30
urologic procedures	28

**Gender**
Male	64
Female	35

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	69
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	11
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	36
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	37

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	74
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	42
Dementia	0
Cancer	11

abdominal surgery	26
doctor visit	78
transplant procedures	26
urologic procedures	24

**Gender**
Male	72
Female	40

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	90
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	43
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	38

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	73
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	42
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	27
doctor visit	117
minimally invasive procedures	19
transplant procedures	27
urologic procedures	46

**Gender**
Male	184
Female	84

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	218
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	138
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	66

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	73
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	44
Dementia	10
Cancer	12

abdominal surgery	19
doctor visit	128
minimally invasive procedures	40
stent placement (stenting)	15
transplant procedures	19
urologic procedures	59

**Gender**
Male	99
Female	51

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	115
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	62
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	44

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	38
Dementia	8
Cancer	11

abdominal surgery	15
doctor visit	131
minimally invasive procedures	19
transplant procedures	15
urologic procedures	34

**Gender**
Male	109
Female	52

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	132
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	68
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	12
Less than 65	42

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	71
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	37
Dementia	0
Cancer	10

abdominal surgery	18
doctor visit	144
minimally invasive procedures	32
stent placement (stenting)	19
transplant procedures	18
urologic procedures	50

**Gender**
Male	105
Female	48

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	125
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	36
85 and over	13
Less than 65	37

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	72
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	40
Dementia	0
Cancer	12

abdominal surgery	22
blood draw	14
doctor visit	149
minimally invasive procedures	41
stent placement (stenting)	16
transplant procedures	22
urologic procedures	63

**Gender**
Male	109
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	146
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	64
From 75 to 84	50
85 and over	21
Less than 65	42

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	67
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	33
Dementia	9
Cancer	14

doctor visit	80
minimally invasive procedures	40
stent placement (stenting)	18
urologic procedures	39

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	91
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	33
85 and over	12
Less than 65	18

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	66
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	32
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	29
doctor visit	204
minimally invasive procedures	57
stent placement (stenting)	22
transplant procedures	29
urologic procedures	86

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD treated as a transplant surgeon in Seattle, WA were urologic procedures, minimally invasive procedures, transplant procedures and abdominal surgery.

abdominal surgery	23
blood draw	14
doctor visit	122
minimally invasive procedures	35
stent placement (stenting)	18
transplant procedures	23
urologic procedures	48

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD.

**Gender**
Male	82
Female	40

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	1
Non-Hispanic White	98
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	2
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	15
85 and over	5
Less than 65	32
65 to 74	52

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD treated were hypertension, chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	39
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	57
Asthma	4
Osteoporosis	0
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	4
Diabetes	30
Atrial Fibrillation	10
Cancer	7
Dementia	2

Education & Training

Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine in 1988. He has a state license in Washington.

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine (1988)

Licensed In: Washington

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Virginia Mason

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 5 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christian Senesac Kuhr, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Seattle, WA.

Overall Rating

(5 Ratings)

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Reviews From Around The Web

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-03-30