Skip to content

Programs & Services

Renal Transplant Program

Living Donation

• Why Be a Living Kidney Donor?
• Advantages of Living Donation
• Advances in Living Donation
• Advantages of Laparoscopic Surgery
• Who Can Be Considered?
• Where to Start
• Compatible Blood Groups
• Paired Exchange
• Health Status
• Evaluation
• Our Interdisciplinary Team
• Contact information


Why Be a Living Kidney Donor?

Giving the gift of improved life to another person can be a very positive experience for the donor.

Advantages of Living Donation

Live donor kidneys function for longer
(15 to 20 years on average) than cadaveric transplants (six to ten years)

Shorter waiting time for a transplant:
(six to nine months versus four to eight years for cadaveric transplant)

Allows for a pre-emptive transplant before a person requires dialysis

Advances in Living Donation

The laparascopic or minimally invasive surgery program for donors started at St. Michael's Hospital in July 2000.

The procedure involves a few small incisions in the abdomen through which the surgeon can insert special instruments to detach the kidney. A tiny camera is inserted through a small incision in the belly button. This allows the surgeons to watch the surgery on a video monitor which magnifies the image. Over 90% of donors qualify for this procedure.

Advantages of Laparoscopic Surgery

Small incision, less pain and scarring
Shorter hospital stay (three to four days)
Shorter recovery period (two to four weeks)
Faster return to daily activities

Who Can Be Considered?

Any family member or friend who is a compatible blood type and in good health can be a donor. Friends or family members from other countries can also be considered. The cost of their evaluation done in Canada is covered on the recipient's Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Where to Start

The donor must be a compatible blood type with the recipient.

Compatible Blood Groups

If your blood type is Type O, you can give a kidney to a person with blood types O, A, B, AB

If your blood type is Type A, you can give a kidney to a person with blood types A or AB

If your blood type is Type B, you can give a kidney to a person with blood types B or AB

If your blood type is Type AB, you can give a kidney to a person with blood types AB


Paired Exchange

If your blood type is incompatible with your donor you may be a candidate for paired exchange transplantation. In simple terms we would find another living donor pair who have the opposite blood group situation to your donor and yourself. The process is explained in greater detail here.


Health Status

Potential donors must be in good health with no history of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis or high blood pressure.

Evaluation

Matching Tests: A blood test is performed to make certain the donor's blood and kidney will be compatible with the recipient.

Health Exams: A number of tests including X-rays, blood and urine samples are performed to determine that the donor is in good health.

Counseling: Donors meet with the nephrologist (kidney specialist), social worker and nurse coordinator to obtain detailed information about the donation process including benefits and risks.


Our Interdisciplinary Team

Nephrologist
Surgeons
Registered Nurse/Coordinator
Social Worker
Administrative staff
We have access to other specialists if they are required.