Services

Being a Kidney Donor

Being a kidney donor: What is it all about?

Background

Kidney donation is the most frequent type of living organ donation. There is little risk for the donor to live with one kidney because the remaining kidney compensates to do the work of both kidneys.

The first live kidney transplant was done in 1954 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a successful transplant between identical twins.Living kidney donation has come a far way since then. Now, you don't even have to be related to the person in order to donate your kidney. Donating a kidney is a great way to donate life! We here at North Shore, are ready to assist you with making a difference in someone's life.

What makes you OK to be a donor

In order to be a kidney donor, you have to be in good health and be free from high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. Usually donors are between the ages of 18 to 60.You definitely can not be younger than 18 but if you are over 60 and in excellent health you can be considered if the recipient is in the same age range.

As a donor, you have to undergo blood tests to see if your blood type is compatible with the recipient.Gender and race are not factors.

What blood types match:

Your (Donor) Blood Type	You can donate to (Recipient) Blood type
O	O, A, B, AB
A	A, AB
B	B, AB
AB	AB

What is next if your blood type matches

If your blood type is a compatible, you will need to have more testing to make sure you can donate your kidney. Those tests include:

Meeting with a Transplant Nephrologist. That is a kidney doctor who specializes in transplant medicine.
Meeting with a Surgeon: This is the person who will evaluate you and surgically remove the kidney for donation.
Meeting with a Transplant Coordinator: This is the person who will help organize your entire transplant/donation experience.
Meeting with a Social Worker: This person will discuss what you should expect from being a kidney donor and will make sure that you have social support throughout and after the donation.
Blood tests: you and the donor will have a cross match to see if there is any reaction when we mix your blood together. Also, we will test your blood your blood to make sure that you are in good health.
Chest xray
EKG or heart tracings
Urine tests: Urine Analysis and 24 Hour Urine Analysis
Kidney ultrasound
Cat Scan of the abdomen
Dental clearance
PPD: Test for tuberculosis
Women will need Pap smear, pregnancy test and mammogram (if you are of age)

*You may need to repeat certain tests as the need arises. Keep in mind; we are being very through to make sure you won't be at any increased risk.

What is next after I am cleared to be a donor

Once we have received all of your tests and you have been cleared by the kidney doctor and the surgeon and the recipient has also been cleared, we can schedule the date for the transplant.

There are a few more appointments that you both will need though.They include:

A final crossmatch where we recheck your bloods to make sure that there aren't any new reactions.
The both of you will need to meet with the anesthesia team.
Finally, we will need to get your consent for the surgery. Here you will meet with each of your surgeons and the full details of the surgery will be covered. You can ask anything that you may have forgotten. But not to worry, you can always give us a call whenever a question arises.

What about right before the surgery

The night before surgery, we will ask you not to eat or drink at least 12 hours before surgery.

You will be asked to come to the hospital the day of surgery. Right before surgery, the anesthesia team will connect an intravenous line so that fluids can be given to you. You will be brought to the operating room.There you will see your surgeon before you are given medications to put you to sleep.

What about the surgery

The majority of kidney donations are done by laparoscopic surgery. Our program is the first in the world to perform the LESS Donor Nephrectomy through which the kidney is removed through a single small incision in the abdomen. Cameras and other instruments are placed inside. The surgeon uses the camera to look inside. This is shown on a big television monitor in the operating room. The cuts are small and allow you to heal a lot faster. There is some pain from the surgery and you will be given medication to help control it.

What about after the surgery

You will wake up in the recovery room and monitored there for a few hours. Afterwards, you will be brought to the hospital floor for the remainder of your stay.

We expect to send you home two days after the surgery. In general, you follow up with the surgeon 7 to 10 days after the surgery. You will be given an exact date for the follow up appointment before leaving the hospital.

Here are some questions you might have

Will I be on any medications after donating my kidney?
You will not need to be on any medications following the donation other than the pain meds.Usually, donors only need this for a week or two after the surgery.

Will I need to drink anymore or any less?
No, you can drink the same amount as you did before.

Will this affect my ability to have children?
No, it will not.

When will I be able to return to work?
We generally suggest 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. This is something you can discuss with your surgeon at your follow up visit after surgery.

Do I qualify for medical leave of absence from my job?
Yes you do. You can contact your human resources department for details. Your paperwork can be filled out by your surgeon.

Who will cover the cost of my workup and surgery?
The cost for this is covered 100% by the recipient's insurance.

Can I get financial assistance for being a kidney donor?

Although you can not be paid for donating a kidney, there are programs that can help you with travel and hotel costs. Our financial coordinator will be more than happy to give you details.