Living-donor kidney transplant provides an alternative to the waiting list and allows people to receive a kidney transplant sooner.
Living-donor kidney transplant typically offers:
- Little or no wait time
- Quicker recovery time
- Improved long-term outcomes
What is a Living-Donor Kidney Transplant?
During a living-donor kidney transplant, a family member, friend, or even a stranger can donate one of their kidneys to a person in need of a transplant. The donor’s healthy kidney is removed and transplanted into the recipient to replace their failing kidney.
Become a Living Kidney Donor
At UPMC Hamot, potential living donors are carefully evaluated to make sure that they can safely donate and are the best medical match for the person they are donating to.
Who can donate a kidney?
Potential living-kidney donors must:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 69
- Have an unselfish desire to help someone in need
- Be in good general health and have no history of:
- Heart disease
- Liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatitis B and C
- Diabetes
- HIV
- Cancers or other diseases that could complicate the surgery
What is the living-donor kidney transplant process?
The process for living-kidney donors includes:
- A pre-donation evaluation
- Surgery to remove the donor kidney
- Post-donation follow-up and care
Living-Kidney Donor Recovery
The donor's recovery time after living-donor kidney transplant surgery varies based on:
- The type of surgery performed
- The donor's overall health
Typically, kidney donors can expect to be in the hospital for four to six days after donation.
Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise after surgery for several weeks. Living-kidney donors usually can return to normal routine four to six weeks after surgery.
Living-kidney donation does not affect life expectancy. Our kidney transplant experts at UPMC Hamot will explain potential risks at your living-donation evaluation.
Learn More about Living-Donor Kidney Transplant
