Living donation takes place when a living person donates an organ (or part of an organ) for transplantation to another person. There are several different types of living donor transplant options:
- The donor is a family member
- The donor is not a relative, but is emotionally related to the recipient perhaps a close friend, spouse, or in-law
- The donor is a stranger to the patient, often referred to as altruistic donation
Regardless of who the living donor is, it usually is someone with a compatible blood type. Typically, with a living donor:
- The transplant can occur whenever you, the donor, and the transplant team decide.
- The need for temporary dialysis after the transplant surgery is less than with a deceased donor transplant.
- The kidney transplant recovery time for the donor depends on the technique used to remove the kidney. It ranges from 2 weeks to 2 months.
There is one critical rule related to living donor transplants: The donor must be willing to give the kidney without pressure (or financial incentive) from anyone.
Following are some common questions about living donor programs.