What Is Living Kidney Donation?

Approximately 125,000 people are diagnosed with end stage renal disease each year, but less than 15,000 deceased-donor kidney transplants (DDKT) are performed in this same time period. Live-donor kidney transplantation is another option that can decrease wait time and provide a significant survival benefit over DDKT and dialysis. But, limited knowledge about live donation or discomfort discussing the subject, can make it difficult to find a donor (Source: UAB)

Two main types of donors:

• Direct donation (related or unrelated)

• Non-directed donation (someone out of the blue)

Kidney Failure: Most people have two kidneys, but you can live a normal, healthy life with one. Kidneys are key components of the body that:

• Filter waste and excess water

• Keep bone and tissue healthy

• Regulate blood pressure

• Over  60,0000 Americans suffer from end-stage renal failure.

Benefits of A Living Donor

• Eliminates the need to wait for a deceased donor kidney to become  available

• Live donor kidneys last longer

• Live donor kidneys almost always function immediately

• Preemptive transplant can all ow the patient to avoid dialysis

• Shortens wait time for others

• Surgery is scheduled, giving donor and recipient time to plan

• Organ Procurement and Transportation Network (OPTN) policy ensures additional prioritization points for prior living donors should they require a kidney transplant in the future.

Am I A Match?

The Donation Process

• Step 1: Completion of telephone survey or online donor screeining form

• Step 2: 24-hr urine collection and blood pressure monitor, collection of medical records (routine labs, pap smear, mammogram if female >40, colonoscopy if >50)

• Step 3: Contacted  by transplant center to schedule in-person appointment, 3D computed tomography (CT) scan, electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray

• Step 4: Transplant team clears candidate for donation

• Step 5: Surgery

Who Can Donate?

• At least 19 years old

• Medically and psychologically healthy (Pre-donation evaluations will include:

• Blood typing

• General medical history and physical examination

• Psychological evaluation and social history

• Blood and urine tests for kidney and liver function

• Chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (ECG)

• Tests for metabolic diseases, including diabetes

• Screening tests for cancer and infections

• Computed tomography (CT) scan to evaluate anatomy

Financial Considerations for Living Donation