Kidney Donor Facts and FAQ’s

Types of Organ Donation

Deceased Donation

Deceased donation occurs when an individual passes away, and they or their family have consented to donate their organs to save lives. This selfless act provides critical support to those in need of organ transplants.

Living Donation

Living donation involves a living person (the donor) providing an organ or a part of an organ to another living individual (the recipient). This is typically done when the recipient’s own organ is no longer functioning properly. Ways to get a living kidney transplant include the following: 

• A Directed Donor is someone the recipient knows who gives the kidney.
• Paired Exchange occurs when a potential donor is not a match for the recipient. The recipient is matched with another donor, and the original donor gives a kidney to someone else. Blood type is not a concern; the focus is on finding someone willing to donate.
• A Non-Directed Donor is a stranger who donates a kidney to the recipient.
• Voucher involves a friend or family member donating a kidney to a stranger, allowing the recipient to receive a “coupon” for a kidney when they need a transplant.

Each type of donation plays a crucial role in providing life-saving treatments and improving the quality of life for recipients.

Why Become a Living Kidney Donor?

Problem

• The average lifespan on dialysis is 5 to 10 years. The typical wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor is 5 years. Most people will die before receiving a kidney transplant.

• There are enough individuals who wish to be organ donors upon death. However, less than 1% can donate due to factors such as poor health, dying inappropriately, or family decisions.

Transplant is Better than Dialysis

• On average, the wait time for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor is approximately five years. Due to insufficient donors, only about one in five individuals on the waiting list receives a kidney. These transplanted kidneys typically function for eight to twelve years. 

• The average annual cost of a kidney transplant is $30,000, whereas dialysis costs about $90,000 per year. This means that dialysis expenses are three times greater for taxpayers.

Living Kidney is Best

• A living donor kidney typically lasts about 12 to 20 years, while a deceased donor kidney generally lasts around 8 to 12 years. 

• Transplant surgery for a living kidney donor can usually be approved and scheduled within a year or less, whereas the wait time for a deceased donor transplant is about 5 years.

Advantages of Living Donation Over Deceased Donation

Kidney transplants from living donors offer several key benefits compared to those from deceased donors:

• Better Genetic Match: Transplants between family members who are genetically similar have a lower risk of rejection, leading to more successful outcomes.
• Immediate Function: Kidneys from living donors typically begin working immediately after the transplant since they are out of the body for only a short period. In contrast, deceased donor kidneys may take longer to function, sometimes requiring the recipient to undergo dialysis until the kidney starts working.
• Pre-tested Compatibility: Living donors undergo thorough testing to ensure the best possible match with the recipient, allowing the transplant to be scheduled at a time that’s convenient for both parties.

These advantages make living donor kidney transplants a highly effective option for those in need.

Are Transplants from Living Donors Always Successful?

While kidney transplants from living donors have high success rates and continue to improve, complications can still arise. In some cases, the kidney may be lost due to rejection, surgical complications, or a recurrence of the original disease that caused the recipient’s kidney failure.

If you are considering a transplant, it’s important to discuss success rates with your kidney transplant center staff, as they can provide both their own and national statistics to give you a clearer understanding of potential outcomes.

Risk for a Living Donor

• The risk of surgery problems is less than 3%. Most donors have a minor surgery with small punctures in the belly area (laparoscopic). Hospital stay is about 3 days & recover 6 weeks before going back to work.

• The risk for donors needing dialysis or transplant in the future is lower than the normal public. Living donors go to the top of the waiting list if they need a kidney. You can live a healthy, normal life with one kidney.

• There is no cost for testing needed to be approved or for surgery. There could be costs for travel or time off work.

Living Kidney Donor Facts

• Health Requirements: To become a kidney donor, you must be in good health and have normal kidney function.
• No Compensation: Donors cannot receive payment or gifts for their donation. Federal law strictly prohibits exchanging money or rewards for organ donations.
• Informed Decision: If you are considering living donation, it’s essential to educate yourself thoroughly and understand both the risks and benefits of the process before making a decision.