About donating your kidney

Over 100,000 people are currently listed for kidney transplantation nationwide. About 10 percent of kidney candidates die each year while waiting. You may be thinking “what does this have to do with me?” The short answer: everything. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you know someone who needs a kidney. If this is the case, read on to learn more about the benefits of becoming a living kidney donor. Living donation is when a living person like you chooses to donate their organ to someone in need of a transplant. More than 6,000 organ transplants a year are made possible by living donors, with kidney being the most common organ transplanted.

Watch our webinar on living donation.

Advantages to living donation

A transplant can greatly improve the recipients’ health and quality of life, allowing them to return to normal activities. They get to spend more time with family and friends, resume work and physical activities, and pursue interests and hobbies they could not enjoy while ill. There are many reasons living donation is better than the alternative (deceased donation). These reasons include:

• Scheduling the transplant at a time optimal for both yourself and the recipient.
• Better genetic matches between yourself and your recipient may decrease the risk of organ rejection.
• Kidneys from living donors usually work immediately, as the kidney is removed from a healthy donor and transplanted right away in an operating room.

The gift of an organ can save the life of someone in need. The experience of providing this special gift can serve as the ultimate positive aspect of the donation.

Who can be a living donor?

Living donors must be in good overall physical and mental health and at least 18 old. Medical conditions that may prevent a living kidney donation may include: uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, acute infections or a psychiatric condition requiring treatment. When considering if becoming a living donor is right for you, it is important to understand the process. To start the process, you will contact the transplant center where your recipient is listed. You don’t have to tell the recipient you are getting tested if you do not want to. The ­first step may include an initial screening and blood tests to determine if you are compatible with the intended recipient. If you are not compatible, there may be other options to donate (see types of kidney donation). If you are a match, a nurse coordinator will contact you to continue the process. As you navigate the process, you will be assigned an independent living donor advocate (ILDA) who is not part of your recipient’s medical team. Your ILDA will assist you through the process, answer your questions and focus only on your well-being — physically, mentally and emotionally. All conversations with your ILDA are completely confidential; your recipient will never know the questions you ask or the concerns you have.

Informed consent and independent assessor

If all of your screening tests come out satisfactory and it is determined that you are a good candidate to donate, you must still give your informed consent to donate. This process will help you understand all aspects of being a donor, including the risks and benefits. You’ll be encouraged to discuss this decision with loved ones. The transplant center can connect you with other living donors so you can hear their stories. You must fully consider how donating can affect your life now and in the future, how it could affect your financial situation, your future health and life insurance status, etc. Your decision to be a donor must be yours alone; you should never feel pressure to donate and you can delay or stop the process at any point — even on the day of the surgery — if you wish. Your reasons will be kept confidential and your ILDA will cite a medical reason that you cannot continue. Your recipient will never know why. The final stage involves meeting with an independent assessor. These individuals are tasked with determining if you completely understand the implications and risks of the process and are making an informed decision. They also ensure you are not being bribed, paid or coerced into donating. Final approval for you to be a donor must come from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and could take several weeks. 

The surgery

On the day of the surgery, you and your recipient will be admitted to the hospital. Depending on the hospital protocol, you may receive IV fluids. You’ll be taken into surgery before your recipient and will receive anesthesia to put you to sleep. You’ll be connected to a breathing machine and a urinary catheter will be inserted into your bladder. You will likely have a laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery to remove the kidney. Laparoscopy involves a number of small incisions — usually three — in which operating instruments are inserted and a larger incision (about 4 cm) through which the kidney is removed. Once the kidney is removed it is sent to be prepared for transplantation into your recipient. You will be taken to a recovery room to wake up; you’ll feel groggy and possibly uncomfortable. You will be monitored closely to track your vital signs and to be given medication to control your pain.

After the surgery

You will be encouraged to get out of bed as soon as possible — usually the same day as your surgery. Walking is expected soon after. Gas pain and bloating is common, so walking helps to relieve this. You most likely will stay in the hospital for  one to two days, depending on the type of surgery and how you are recovering. Upon release, you will continue your recovery at home. Recovery time varies, although many people are generally back to normal in about two to six weeks. In general, you should plan to be out of work for four to six weeks. You may not be able to drive for several weeks and will have lifting restrictions for at least four weeks. You’ll also probably feel tired for several weeks as your body recovers and your remaining kidney works to compensate for the loss of the other one. After the initial recovery period, you are required to follow up with the hospital at six months, 12 months and 24 months. These “visits” may be remote, or simply having blood and urine tests completed at a lab close to your home. At these visits you will have lab tests and a physical check-up. You must attend all of these appointments to ensure you are recovering appropriately.

disclaimer

The PKD Foundation does not offer medical advice. The information shared on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We strongly recommend that your care and treatment decisions be made in consultation with your healthcare professional team.