Types of Living Donor Kidney Transplants

• Living related donors are biologically related to the recipient.
• Living unrelated donors are not biologically related to the recipient and may include a spouse, friend, co-worker, or church member who is a match for the recipient.
• Kidney paired donation is an approach we use when donor and recipient pairs are incompatible. We can perform an exchange with two or more pairs so that each candidate is able to receive a compatible living donor kidney transplant.
• ABO incompatible transplants are sometimes possible when a donor can donate to someone with a different blood type.
• Altruistic and anonymous donors are individuals who offer to donate a kidney to someone they do not know but who is on the waiting list.

Your Transplant Team

We have assembled a team just to meet the needs of living kidney donors. Your team includes:

• Living Donor Coordinator, a nurse who educates you about what to expect and coordinates all components of your care before, during, and after transplant.
• Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA), who advocates just for you to ensure you understand all parts of the donation process.
• Social worker, who performs a psychosocial evaluation, ensures you understand the emotional and financial implications of donating a kidney, and reviews your occupation, insurance information, living arrangements, and support system.
• Pharmacists, who review the medications you are taking and provide guidance about drugs to possibly avoid after transplant.
• Registered dietitian, who reviews your body mass index and blood work results and educates you about healthy diet options.
• Donor nephrologist, a medical doctor who is an expert in kidney care, reviews your medical information prior to donation, and ensures you can undergo this procedure safely.
• Donor surgeon, who performs the surgery to remove your kidney and sees you afterward to ensure you are healing well.

Can You Donate?

All living kidney donors must:

• Donate voluntarily
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be healthy with normal kidney function

What You Can Expect

Before the Procedure
As a potential living donor, you will undergo an initial evaluation which includes:

• Education about the process provided by our Living Donor Coordinator.
• Blood and tissue typing to assess your compatibility with a recipient.
• Blood and urine tests, CT scan, and cancer screening as appropriate. (People with cancer cannot donate.)
• Meetings with the Independent Living Donor Advocate, transplant nephrologist, donor surgeon, social worker, and other members of your team.
• The Living Donor Coordinator will notify you about whether you can donate or not.
• All testing and donor information are kept confidential. No information will be shared with the recipient unless you disclose information to him/her of your own accord.

We will thoroughly explain any medical, surgical, and psychosocial risks associated with the procedure. As with any major surgery, there is always risk involved, although the risk of major and long-term health problems for kidney donors is minimal.

During Your Procedure

• If you are cleared to donate, we will schedule a surgery date for you, as well as presurgical testing 2 weeks before the operation.
• The surgery takes 3 to 4 hours and is performed through three small incisions in your abdomen.
• You will spend 1 to 2 hours in the recovery room after the operation.

After the Procedure

• You can expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days. Complete recovery may take 4 to 8 weeks.
• Depending in your job, you may return to work in 4 to 6 weeks (lifting is restricted for 8 weeks).
• You will not be permitted to drive for 7 to 10 days (until your staples are removed).
• You will see your donor surgeon for a follow-up visit 7 to 10 days after the operation. The Living Donor Coordinator will coordinate the remainder of your follow-up care.
• There is no cost to the donor. Donor evaluation, testing, and surgery are covered by the recipient’s insurance.