Donors

Kidneys are the most commonly donated organs by living people, and about a third of all kidney transplants carried out in the UK are from living donors. During a living donor kidney transplant, the kidney is removed from the donor (a nephrectomy) and transplanted into the recipient.  
  
  Transplant Graphic

In the UK living kidney transplants have been performed since 1960 and currently around 1,100 such operations are performed each year, with a very high success rate. A kidney transplant can transform the life of someone with kidney disease.

Receiving a kidney from a living donor has many advantages over deceased kidney donation. On average, kidneys from living donors last longer and there is usually less of a wait to receive one. Often that can happen before the need for dialysis (pre-emptive).  

Transplant options - comparison

What is being comparedLiving Kidney Donor TransplantDeceased Kidney Donor Transplant
Average length of time the kidney will last20-25 years15-20 years
Average waiting time for the transplant3-6 months2-3 years
Can it be done before dialysis is needed?SometimesSometimes but this is less likely due to the waiting time.
Can transplant surgery times be planned in advance?Yes - surgery is usually during the dayNo - surgery often takes place at night
Chance of the transplanted kidney working within a day of the surgery Higher - the kidney has come from someone who is fit and well, so it almost always works straight awayLower - the kidney has come from someone who has died, so it takes longer for the kidney to "wake up" and start working
Risk from the donated kidneyLower - the health of the donor is easier to thoroughly check before donation. The donor is unlikely to have had major health issues. Higher - it is more difficult to thoroughly check the health of the donor, and because the donor is more likely to have had major health issues. 


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1926 - 2022