Most people are born with two kidneys, but can live safely with only one. Living kidney donation involves the transfer of a healthy kidney from a donor to a recipient whose kidneys are failing.
The number of people awaiting a kidney transplant is overwhelming. In the U.S., over 90,000 people are on the kidney transplant waiting list. In 2020, only about 17,000 people received a kidney from a deceased donor. This gap between people in need and available kidneys results in a wait time of five to eight years. More than 4000 people die each year while waiting for a kidney transplant.
While people wait, they require frequent dialysis to remove waste products from their blood. Their ability to engage in everyday activities is often limited. A kidney transplant improves their quality — and often length — of life.
Living donation saves lives by helping people with kidney failure get new kidneys faster. A living donor transplant also lasts about twice as long as a kidney from a deceased donor.
Types of Living Kidney Donation
There are three types of living kidney donation:
- Directed donation: The donor names the person who will receive their kidney. This is the most common type of living donation, often between biological relatives such as parents, brothers or sisters
- Paired kidney donation: If the donor and intended recipient are not a match, they can be paired with another donor-recipient pair. If the recipient from one pair is compatible with the donor from the other pair, and vice versa – a "swap" will be arranged for two transplants to take place. Sometimes, long chains of paired donations occur, resulting in the best possible matches for many recipients.
- Non-directed kidney donation (altruistic donation): In this type of donation, a donor chooses to donate a kidney to an unknown recipient.
Penn partners with the National Kidney Registry, an organization that coordinates transplants across the U.S. This participation allows for better matches for paired and non-directed kidney donors.
Living Donor Kidney Transplants: The Penn Medicine Advantage
Donating a kidney is a significant decision. Our team offers comprehensive care and support through the entire process. When you choose the Penn Transplant Institute, you'll find:
- Trusted Experience: We have the most experienced living donor kidney transplant program in the region, performing more than 70 living donor kidney transplants each year.
- Exceptional outcomes: Our high volumes lead to safer procedures and outstanding patient outcomes, including 100 percent donor survival one year after donation.
- Dedicated team: Penn's Center for Living Donation is dedicated solely to donors. We work with you to make sure donating a kidney is right, and safe, for you and prepare you for surgery. After surgery, we provide close follow-up care for continued good health.
- Expanded options for donation: Through partnership with the National Kidney Registry, we offer increased access to living donor kidney transplants, improved donor-recipient matches for longer-lasting transplants, and support to make the kidney donation process safer, easier and more convenient.
- Coordination of care: Our nurse coordinator is your main point of contact throughout evaluation, donation and follow-up. Any support or assistance you need is a phone call or email away.
- Concierge services: We offer amenities to streamline your experience, including free parking, lodging at the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House and a direct 24/7 contact number. We're also known for our personal touches, like donor gift bags and personalized music in the operating room, to make donors feel comforted and valued.
- State-of-the-art facilities: Our state-of-the-art unit at the new Pavilion features well-appointed private rooms for donors and the latest technology throughout the facility.
- Leading-edge research: Our world-renowned doctors are working to make transplant surgery safer, maximize the longevity of donor organs and understand donor risks. We are continuously improving the transplant process for our recipients, donors and their families.
Why Become a Living Kidney Donor
People choose to donate a kidney for many reasons. Some donate to a family member or friend in need. Others act because they want to make a difference in someone's life, even if they don't know that person.
For most people, donation is emotionally satisfying. Some say it brings them peace, joy, clarity and hope. Others say donation has given them new perspective and made them look at themselves, their families and the world differently. Learn more about how to become a kidney donor.
Over 50 Year of Living Kidney Donation: Penn's First Living Kidney Transplant
In 1966, Howard Mehl's kidneys were failing. At 21, he was given 6 months to live. Thanks to his older brother Joe, and Clyde Barker, MD, Howard received the first living kidney transplant ever performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Read Howard and Joe's story.
Explore all our living donor patient stories and watch the Penn Transplant Institute Education Session: The Living Donor Experience.
Benefits of Living Donation
For the kidney recipient, the benefits of receiving a kidney from a living donor compared to a deceased donor include:
- Better match: A donor-recipient match is important during kidney donation. It ensures that the recipient's body will accept the new kidney. Kidneys donated by family members are more likely to be a better match with a reduced chance of rejection.
- Faster recovery: Living donor kidneys usually start working immediately after transplant, compared with deceased donor kidneys that may have delayed function. This leads to a quicker recovery after transplant.
- Improved survival: Kidneys from a living donor are usually healthier and last up to two times longer than deceased donor kidneys.
- Less time on dialysis: Patients can get a living donor transplant before starting dialysis, which leads to better long-term health.
- Convenience: You can schedule the donation for a time that works well for both the donor and recipient.
Support and Protections for Kidney Donors
Penn Medicine recognizes the sacrifice kidney donors make. That's why we provide support and protections to make your donation experience as smooth as possible:
- Donor mentor: Most past donors are happy to share their donation experience with potential donors. Our nurse coordinator can connect you with a past Penn donor who can answer questions and help guide you through the donation process. We also partner with the National Kidney Donation Organization to provide donor mentoring and education.
- Living Donor Advocate: Your Penn Medicine donor advocate is one of the first people you meet and checks in with you frequently. The advocate is independent from the medical team and ensures your donor rights are protected — including your right to opt out of donation at any point in the process.
- Reimbursement for lost wages, travel and lodging: Our team works to identify ways to minimize your costs. We also offer lodging at the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House for families travelling more than 25 miles. Learn more about the costs of kidney donation and financial resources to assist donors.
- Support groups: We offer monthly kidney transplant support group meetings for pre- and post-transplant patients, living donors and caregivers.
- Voucher for donor prioritization: In the unlikely event your remaining kidney fails, the National Kidney Registry's Donor Shield program allows you to receive prioritization for a living donor kidney transplant.
- Voucher for non-directed donors: The National Kidney Registry gives you up to five vouchers for family members who are not currently in need of a transplant. The voucher prioritizes them for a living kidney donation if they ever need a kidney transplant in the future.
- Voucher for paired exchange donors: This voucher allows you to donate in advance according to your schedule. Your selected recipient receives a living donor kidney through the National Kidney Registry when they are ready.
Living Kidney Donation Process
With decades of experience in living donation, we've streamlined our process to be as complete and efficient as possible. Our kidney donation process includes:
- Referral: Donation starts with our donor screening form. After you complete the form, we email you orders for blood and urine testing that you can take to any laboratory. Once we receive the results, you speak to our Living Donor Advocate and watch several educational videos.
- Evaluation: Over several visits, you meet with our team members and undergo more medical tests. You can complete some visits and tests at a Penn satellite location or virtually via telemedicine. We evaluate your physical and emotional health and your motivations for donating. Evaluation can take several months. Our goal is to make sure you are healthy enough to donate a kidney and that donation is the right choice for you. Find out more about kidney donor evaluation.
- Donation: During your preoperative visit, you meet with the surgical team. They explain the procedure and what to expect after surgery. The surgery takes about three hours. Most patients go home in a day or two and return to normal activities within four weeks. Read more about kidney donor surgery.
- Follow-up care: Your follow-up care includes a postoperative visit at three weeks, and additional visits at six months, one year and two years. After surgery and into the future, our team is available for any questions or concerns you may have.
Life After Donating a Kidney
Your life after donation will be nearly identical to your life today. Your remaining kidney will take over filtering your blood and producing urine. As you heal from surgery, you may even forget at times that you've donated a kidney.
During your education sessions, we teach you how to protect your remaining kidney. Steps to take include avoiding certain medications and scheduling routine appointments with your primary care provider.
Discover what it's like living with one kidney.
Make an Appointment
Please call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.