Living-donor transplantation
Mayo Clinic transplant doctors, surgeons and other transplant staff members have extensive experience with living donation. Living-donor transplantation often offers an attractive alternative to waiting for a deceased donor organ. Recipients may have a shorter waiting period and fewer complications with a living-donor transplant.Mayo Clinic has one of the largest living-donor kidney transplant programs in the United States. Researchers actively study outcomes after transplants to improve results. In general, living-donor kidneys will function longer than deceased donor kidneys.
Surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery to remove a living donor's kidney (laparoscopic nephrectomy) for a kidney transplant, which may involve less pain and a shorter recovery for the donor.
Donor eligibility and information
The transplant team will evaluate you to determine if you can donate a kidney. Donors usually are less than 60 years old. You'll have blood tests to determine if your blood and tissue types are compatible with the organ recipient. Transplant staff will interview you, and you'll need to provide your medical history. You'll also have a thorough physical examination and psychological evaluation. Several other tests, including detailed imaging of your kidneys, will be performed to ensure that you're in good health and you meet donation criteria.Transplant staff will discuss with you and your family the benefits and risks of donating an organ and answer your questions. After you donate an organ, living-donor coordinators and other transplant staff members will offer you support and follow-up care for several months after your surgery.
Also worth reading: from So You're Thinking About Kidney Transplantation by Dr. Mark K. Wedel, Chapter 9 - What Does the Potential Living Donor Need to Know? and National Kidney Foundation's Living Donor page.
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