Living kidney donation

Any healthy person can donate a kidney.

People volunteer to donate a kidney for lots of reasons. It is usually because they wish to help a loved one who is unwell. Some people volunteer to give a kidney to a stranger because they want to help others.

Most people donate to help someone they love. Family members are usually a better tissue match with the recipient (a person who receives a kidney) and this means less chance of rejection for the recipient.

You can donate a kidney to a stranger. This is called an altruistic donation. 
 

If you are interested in becoming a living kidney donor then you can contact the team by telephone or by sending in a basic questionnaire.

If you are suitable to proceed with an assessment we will check your blood group and discuss your medical history and current state of health and well-being in clinic. We will explain the process for assessment and donation. We will also discuss the risks of surgery and living with one kidney in the future. 

We will then take blood tests and tissue typing to check if you are a match for your intended recipient.

If it is found that you are not a match for your recipient it is still possible to donate your kidney to someone else by opting in to the UK kidney sharing scheme. This way, your recipient will also get a kidney which is better matched to another donor also. This option will be discussed with you and your recipient in more detail if it turns out you are not a match for your intended recipient but still wish to donate. The assessment process after remains the same. 

You will have to undergo a number of to check your own health and see if you are fit enough to live with only one kidney. These will include a heart training (Electrocardiogram) and a heart scan (Echocardiogram). We will also request a chest X-ray. 

If these initial tests are normal, an appointment is made for you to see our Kidney Consultant who will examine you and discuss any results that might make you higher risk to donate.

If the Consultant feels it is safe to donate and you are still willing to proceed, we will then organised a more detailed scan of your own kidneys and their blood supply. 

This process can take up to 6 months normally.  

Sometimes during the assessment process we can find problems with your own health that we were not expecting and we may need to investigate further. Rarely this may mean you will not be able to donate a kidney.

If you are otherwise fit and well and it is agreed that you are suitable to proceed you will be referred to our Transplant Centre at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for assessment and to meet the surgical team. 
 

The surgery is usually laparoscopic (key hole) and the surgeon will make 3 or 4 small cuts in your belly and use cameras and surgical instruments to remove the kidney. 

Most kidney operations take 3-4 hours.

Afterwards you may have some pain which will improve over the next few days and will be managed on the ward. Most kidney donors will still have a little discomfort for a week or two as full recovery takes time. You will normally stay in hospital for 2-3 days but it may take up to 8 weeks for everything to settle down and heal. 

The cuts may feel itchy and tender as they heal and some people can experience muscle twinging for a few months.
 

Most kidney donors get back to normal, healthy lives, though you should review your personal risks with your doctor and you may need to discuss with your employer if there are any changes to your work pattern to help you recover. 

We will arrange a check-up for you about 8 weeks after your donation and then once a year to make sure that you are well and to check your blood tests, blood pressure and take a urine sample.

Driving
There are no hard and fast rules with regards to driving again. If you feel well you can return to driving when you feel capable but we usually recommend avoiding it for 4-6 weeks. The donor must be aware, however, that long journeys can be difficult as the wounds heal. 

Exercise
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is as important, especially after kidney donation. Any exercise after donation should begin slowly with the length of time spent exercising gradually increasing along with effort over a long period of time. 

​​​​​​​Sex
There is no direct risk in having sexual intercourse after kidney donation. You can resume sexual relationships as soon as you feel comfortable to do so. But it may take a few months before you feel well enough. 
 

We recognise that donating a kidney is a scary and emotional act. You are putting your own health at risk to help someone in need. It is a wonderful gift but we understand you will have lots of questions and doubts.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or need psychological support, we can refer you to speak to someone.

Remember, at any stage in the process you can choose NOT to donate and walk away.

You will be looked after by the same team throughout the process and our role is to look after your wellbeing and help you make an informed decision without passing judgement if you decide at any point not to continue. 

Kidney transplantation is transformational for someone with kidney disease and volunteering to give a kidney is a wonderful thing to do, but it is also an important decision for you to make as the donor and can have big implications to your own health in the long run. 
 

Peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other.

A peer is person who has knowledge from their own experience who will be empathic and understanding in helping others. We have several peer supporters in Sunderland who are happy to help.

All potential donors will be offered peer support.