Evaluation of a Potential Donor
The living donor transplant process begins whenever there is someone willing to be considered for kidney donation. This person has to be over the age of 18. Tissue typing and blood type tests are performed to determine the match and antibodies. If the tests show that there is a match, further tests are done. During the evaluation process, the potential kidney donor will have an opportunity for a full discussion of the pros and cons of the donation procedure with a transplant physician and surgeon, and the transplant coordinator. If the test shows the donor and recipient are not compatible, then that donor is no longer considered.
The potential donor has to consider many things, including the impact upon himself/herself and his/her immediate family. Most potential living donors wish to donate a kidney in order to help the recipient. They also feel that it is an appropriate and worthwhile thing to do. However, if someone feels unable or unwilling to donate a kidney, then his/her decision is respected and remains confidential.
You can see or print a copy of our "Questionnaire for Transplant Evaluation."
Considerations for the Potential Donor
Among the factors the potential living donor must consider are the cost in time and the potential discomfort of the surgical procedure. People who donate a kidney have more than enough function in the remaining kidney to meet the needs of their body for the rest of their lives.
Cost to Donor
There is no medical cost to the donor of a kidney. All costs of the testing, surgery, hospital stay, and routine transplant follow-up care for six months after the donation are included. The costs to the donor are travel costs (if travel is necessary) and the time lost from work (not covered by sick leave or other employee benefits). Our transplant social worker can talk with a potential donor about these concerns.
Risk to Donor After Donating a Kidney
Potential donors often ask if donating a kidney increases the risk of developing kidney disease. Almost all diseases which affect the kidney affects both kidneys. Even if the donor still had two kidneys, kidney disease would not be avoided. The risk that remains is that of an accident that could damage the remaining kidney. It is advisable for a person who has donated a kidney to wear a Medic Alert tag so that this fact will be known in the event of an emergency. There is no need for a kidney donor to take any medications related to the donation.
Hospital Admission
When a potential living donor has been tissue typed and has decided to give the kidney, further testing includes a complete medical history, physical examination, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and blood and urine studies. The testing is to ensure that the health of the donor will not be harmed because of the donation. If anything is found that indicates that donating a kidney would be harmful to the donor, the planned transplant is cancelled. The final test, a special x-ray of the kidneys called a Spiral CT Scan, is performed only if everything else has been found to be satisfactory. The spiral CT is done in order to look at the anatomy of both kidneys and to choose which kidney to use. If the potential kidney donor is found to be medically suitable, the date of the operation is set.
