Living Donor Kidney Services
What is living donation?
When you make a living donation, you give one of your kidneys to another person while you are still alive.
Why should I consider this?
- There is a greater chance of success if the kidney comes from a living donor.
- People wait a long time for a kidney transplant (up to several years).
- The transplant can be scheduled in advanced.
- It is a relatively safe procedure that has been available since the 1960s.
Who can be a donor?
Donors must be...
- In excellent health
- Between the ages of 18-60, and Able to understand the risks and possible complications involved with the surgery.
- Anyone willing to undergo the evaluation.
Donors cannot be...
- Anyone who has diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or any other serious medical problems.
- Anyone who is obese.
Who can get a kidney?
- A candidate on a transplant list
- In some instances, a person who has end stage renal disease and is not yet on dialysis.
Where do I start?
A series of steps are used to see if you can donate one of your kidneys. Each step is designed for us to learn more about your health as well as give you more time to think through this important decision. The evaluation may take several weeks to complete. At any time, you can change your mind.
The Transplant team reviews all cases on an individual basis to determine suitability of the donor and recipient.
What if I changed my mind?
If you change your mind, your loved one will remain on the transplant list. Your decision to stop the evaluation will never be discussed with anyone.
What can you tell me about the surgery?
- You will be admitted to the hospital the night before or the morning of the surgery.
- The surgery is three to four hours long.
- Your surgery and the recipient's surgery will be scheduled for the same time.
- During the surgery, you will be asleep.
- While one of your kidneys is being removed, doctors will be preparing the recipient to receive the kidney.
- Your kidney will be surgically attached inside the recipient.
- If you have laparascopic surgery you will have several small incisions.
- If you have an open nephrectomy you will have one large incision.
- Recipients go to the Transplant intensive care unit and the donor goes to the Post-Anesthesia care unit then, to the transplant telemetry unit.
Are there complications?
The surgery has risks, including:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Pain
- Death
Will I need to be on medications?
You may be given medicines for pain and infection as needed. Medicines will not be needed on a long term basis.
How soon can I go back to work?
Depending on the type of work you do, you may be able to go back to work in 2 to 3 weeks. Full recovery is expected during this time depending on your pain tolerance and activity level. There will be post surgery limitations on driving, lifting and exercise until you are released from the transplant doctor's care.
I am still not sure about being a donor, who can I talk to?
We can set up as many meetings as you need to talk with the Transplant Coordinator, Transplant Nephrologist, Transplant Surgeon or Transplant Social Worker. Also, we may be able to arrange a meeting with another living donor so you can talk with someone who has experienced the process of living donation.
What if the donated kidney is rejected?
Many steps are used to assure that rejection is kept to a minimum but loss of the donor kidney can still occur despite our best efforts. Just remember that if the donated kidney is rejected, it is not your fault.
Living kidney donation allows us to transplant more patients in a timely manner; provide options for our patients and their families; and decrease the number of people waiting on the transplant list. After all the exams are completed, whether you become a donor or choose not to donate, the fact that you are considering donation is a true act of unselfishness. Remember, we are here for you.
