The decision to donate a kidney is completely up to the individual. It is a voluntary decision, and one that must be made willingly. We recommend that an individual considering living donation should become as informed and educated as possible and to "get the facts" in order to make a sound decision.
To find out more information about being a living donor and about the donation process, please download our education handbook. Here are some key facts:
Advantages of Living Kidney Donation
- Better success rates for the recipient
- Shorter waiting time for the recipient
- More time to prepare for the surgery (because it is scheduled in advance)
- You are making a very wonderful, life-saving gift
Disadvantages of Living Kidney Donation to the Donor
- The donor must be off of work for about 3 to 6 weeks
- There is the risk of general surgical complications, such as infection, allergic reaction, and anesthesia
- There are long life considerations of living without one kidney, such as the risk of high blood pressure or kidney failure
Living Donor Selection Criteria To be considered a potential living kidney donor you must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have overall good general health
- Be able to understand the risks and benefits of donation
- Have acceptable kidney function and anatomy
Absolute Contraindications
- BMI > 33 (If the right kidney is going to be used for donation, then BMI must be < 30)
- History of malignancy
- Current substance abuse
- Diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance
- Evidence of kidney disease
- Active infections
- Current pregnancy
Relative Contraindications Relative contraindication will be considered on a case-by-case basis, considering donor's age and other health concerns:
- Hypertension requiring more than one medication to control
- Kidney stones without treatable cause
- Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the transplant team, may increase the potential donor's risk of kidney failure
Transplant Hotline 1-800-643-1635
