As Froedtert Hospital strives to make transplant an option for all patient candidates, our Living Kidney Donor Program helps meet the critical need for organs. It also offers the expertise in live donor patient care that makes the experience a “win-win” for donors and recipients.
A living kidney donation is possible when a living person donates a kidney to someone who needs a transplant. The kidney remaining in the donor is able to adequately remove waste from the body. Single kidney donation is the most often performed live donor procedure and is occurring more frequently due to the growing need for kidneys for transplantation. Donors do not need to be biologically related to the recipient in order to donate.
It only takes a few simple steps to learn more about becoming a living kidney transplant donor.
Living Kidney Donors Increase Transplant Options
When a living donor match is secured for a transplant candidate, the candidate can be removed from the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney. This subsequently shortens the wait list time for another candidate. If a candidate is not a match but is still willing to donate, our participation in kidney exchange programs through the National Kidney Registry (NKR) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) provides a pool of donors across the country. NKR orchestrates more exchange transplants than any other exchange program in the world. UNOS is a private, non-profit entity that works under contract with the federal government to manage the country’s organ transplant system.
Experts in Living Kidney Donor Care
Decades of kidney surgery excellence make Froedtert Hospital a recognized leader in offering kidney transplant donors outstanding outcomes, exceptional care and life-long post-procedure care. Dedicated transplant coordinators walk donors through every step related to donation and stay close to them following donation to support their recovery.
All donation surgeries at Froedtert Hospital are performed laparoscopically - without a major incision - which means quicker recovery and minimal scarring for donors. Experts in kidney donor care are involved before, during and after surgery, and donors are cared for on a hospital unit dedicated to transplant patients. Learn more about the kidney donor experience.
Living Donation Improves Kidney Transplant Success Rates
The ten-year graft (organ) survival rate for kidneys received through living donation is 15 percent higher than kidneys received from a deceased donor, according to the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). There are many reasons a living kidney donation enhances outcomes and is the preferred approach to kidney transplantation.
- Optimal health for donor and recipient – Living donor transplants can be carefully planned so the recipient and donor are in the best possible health.
- Living donors are evaluated according to strict guidelines, and donors with potential medical problems are not accepted.
- Kidneys removed from living donors are in excellent condition and are immediately transplanted, which minimizes possible damage to the organ.
- Living donor transplantation can be performed “pre-emptively” - before the transplant candidate’s condition worsens and requires dialysis - which can take its toll on the candidate’ health and affect outcomes.
- Less chance of rejection – Testing prior to surgery ensures that the donor’s kidney will be a more compatible match for the recipient and less vulnerable to rejection.
- Emotional motivation for self-care after transplant – Recipients often bond emotionally with their donor knowing that an enormous sacrifice was made for them. This has been shown to motivate recipients to take better care of themselves after they have a transplant.
Who Can be a Living Kidney Donor?
Many people may think they are not healthy enough to donate a kidney, that it is not within their financial means or that they must be related to the recipient. Live donors are carefully screened. They undergo extensive testing to ensure it is medically and psychologically safe for them to donate a kidney. As for financial concerns, the recipient’s insurance carrier pays for the donor’s evaluation, hospitalization, surgery and follow-up care. Kidney donation is safe and well-regulated. Donors do not need to be related to the recipient, but can be close friends or part of an exchange or chain of donors.
FAQ and Resources
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Do I need a referral for kidney transplantation at Froedtert Hospital?
Most of our patients are referred by their nephrologists as they approach the need for transplant or dialysis. If this is your situation, once we receive the referral, our office will contact you to make an appointment and complete a medical intake questionnaire with you. You may call us at 800-272-3666 to request more information.
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What happens during my first appointment?
During your initial appointment, a transplant surgeon, nurse coordinator, social worker, registered dietitian, financial liaisons and a pharmacist will meet with you to evaluate you as a candidate for transplant. If you are appropriate for transplant, we will schedule you to begin the medical testing process.
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How do I proceed for a living versus deceased donor transplant?
Options for a living donor versus a deceased donor transplant will be discussed at the time of your initial consultation.
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Do I need to find my own living donor?
We encourage all of our patients to look for potential donors from among family, friends and acquaintances. Some patients have received kidneys from neighbors, church members or people in the community who heard of their need for a kidney. The Living Donor Kidney Exchange, available as part of the End-Stage Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplant Program, provides those who need a kidney transplant with significantly improved access to potential compatible donors.
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When do I get placed on the transplant waiting list?
When tests are complete, your candidacy will be discussed at a meeting of the transplant review committee. This committee is composed of transplant surgeons, nephrologists, coordinators and other transplant professionals. After approval by the committee and authorization from an insurance carrier, a patient can be placed on the transplant wait list.
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How long do I need to wait for a transplant while on the list?
The allocation or distribution of deceased donor kidneys is a complex system. There are many factors that are considered when a kidney becomes available. These include blood type, length of time on the list, medical urgency and other factors. For more information on waiting times for transplantation, visit the United Network for Organ Sharing.
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What are my responsibilities while on the waiting list?
Your responsibilities include keeping the transplant office informed of changes in your address, phone numbers, dialysis centers and your medical condition. You will also need to remain “transplant ready” through periodic testing.
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What are the risks of having a transplant?
The risks and possible complications of transplant are similar to those associated with any surgical procedure. During education sessions and consultation, these issues are discussed.
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What should I anticipate when I get called in for a transplant?
When a patient is called in, he or she will be asked to report to the hospital as soon as possible. The patient can expect to be prepared for surgery by having a history and physical, lab work, chest X-ray and EKG. The final crossmatch is done at this time to determine if the transplant will proceed. The crossmatch results take a few hours to obtain before a final decision is made to go forward.
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What are the side effects of the medications?
Antirejection medications are designed to suppress, or disable, a person’s immune system so that the transplanted organ will not be rejected. This can make patients vulnerable to infection. An upset stomach is also a common side effect. Your care team will work with you to closely monitor dosages and side effects, making all adjustments possible to help you feel as healthy as possible.
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Where else can I learn more?
- Visit the National Kidney Foundation to learn more about kidney disease, transplantation, education, advocacy, resources and much more.
- The United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) provides information about the transplantation and donation process, living donation and various national, regional, state and center-specific data reports. The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients website also provides national and local transplant center data.
- UNOS sponsors Transplant Living, a patient education website about life before and after transplant.
- Data specifically about kidney transplant at Froedtert Hospital is available through the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients website.
- You can also learn more by visiting the websites of our Transplant Center partners, Children’s Wisconsin, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Transplant and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Transplant patients may be at a higher risk of severe COVID-19, and we have seen worse outcomes if they do get it. Due to the increased risk, we recommend transplant patients get the vaccine.
