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There is a severe shortage of transplant-eligible kidneys. As a result, kidney transplant candidates are waiting years to receive a new kidney, which is time many candidates can’t afford. However, living kidney donors are saving lives by helping people with kidney failure get a new kidney faster. Whether it’s a family member, friend or complete stranger as the recipient, by becoming a living donor you have the opportunity to help someone waiting for a kidney.
The benefits of living donation
Research shows that organs from living donors generally work better, last longer and are available sooner – which is why Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence is committed to connecting patients with living donors whenever possible.
There are many benefits associated with living kidney donation. In comparison to kidneys from deceased donors, kidneys from living donors:
- Result in significantly better long-term survival, lasting nearly twice as long as kidneys from deceased donors.
- Decrease a candidate’s wait time – a person could spend five years or more on the waiting list for a deceased donor while a living donor transplant can be done within a matter of months.
- Usually start functioning immediately after transplant, which leads to quicker recovery after transplant.
- Produce better results with half the risk for kidney failure in the first year.
- Are more convenient, allowing you to schedule the donation for a time that works well for both the donor and the recipient.
Who can be a living kidney donor?
To be a living donor, you must be between 18-75 years of age, in good physical and mental health and have normal kidney function. Potential donors are thoroughly screened to make sure it is safe for them to be a donor. There are some medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor, including:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- HIV
- Hepatitis
- Acute infections
- Having a serious mental health condition that requires treatment
How to become a living kidney donor
All potential kidney donors should fill out Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) Opens in new tab living donor form. You will then undergo an extensive evaluation process, which serves to protect you (the donor) and to help ensure the success of the transplant.
Designed to determine whether donors are healthy enough to donate, our transplant evaluation process involves:
- Psychological evaluation: At Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, we are committed to ensuring each donor is in good mental health and understands the donation process. During this evaluation, our transplant team will fully explain the living donation process to ensure you are making an informed decision. This evaluation is also done to certify there is no pressure from friends or family to donate, no promise of financial incentive and that you have realistic expectations. It also provides you with an opportunity to express yourself more authentically than you might be able to with family or the recipient present.
- Medical tests: To ensure you are healthy enough to donate, there will be some medical tests performed. You’ll be asked about your medical history to find out if you have or had any conditions that would prevent you from donating. Following this initial screen are a blood test to find out whether you are compatible with the recipient and a physical exam to make sure you are healthy enough to donate. This blood sample is taken not only to check for compatibility between you and the recipient, but also to check for any viral activity or transmissible diseases (such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, cancer or others), glucose intolerance and electrolyte imbalance and to assess your kidney function.
Your test results will be sent to LVHN’s transplant team, which will review them carefully to determine your physical health and suitability as a donor. If you are a suitable candidate for living donation and you decide to go ahead with it, an operation will be scheduled. The final decision to proceed will be a group decision among you, your recipient and the transplant team.
Frequently asked questions