Living Kidney Donation

Week Before Kidney Donation Surgery

About a week before the surgery date, you and your recipient will have blood drawn for a final tissue matching, as well as HIV and hepatitis testing. In addition, you will have a pre-operative physical exam, blood and urine collected for final laboratory testing, an education session with your coordinator, and a meeting with the donor advocate.

Kidney Donation Surgery (First Day in the Hospital)

The day of your donation surgery, you will be asked to check in to the hospital, usually in the early morning.

When you arrive, you will be admitted into the hospital and taken to the pre-operation area. Once you are comfortable, the doctors and nurses will conduct a final examination. You can expect to have blood drawn and an IV placed in your arm. These final health checks help our transplant staff to know that you are in excellent health for donation. You will meet with your transplant surgeon prior to being taken into the operating room. This is also a good time for you to ask any last minute questions, and to openly talk about any concerns you may have before surgery.

For information about hospital visitation and the latest updates on the visitor policy, visit wexnermedical.osu.edu/guide.

Kidney donation surgery is a laparoscopic procedure. You will have two to three small incisions under your rib cage, on the left or right side (depending on which kidney you are donating). These small cuts, about a half inch each, are small portholes for the laparoscopic instruments to be inserted into your body. There will also be a four-inch vertical incision in the middle of your lower abdomen – this is for the surgeon’s hand that assists the laparoscopic instruments for increased safety.

You can expect the procedure to last two to three hours. Once the kidney you are donating is removed, it will be placed in a sterile bowl and taken immediately to your recipient’s operating room by a waiting transplant surgeon, where it’s then transplanted into your recipient’s abdomen.

After surgery, you will be moved to the transplant unit for private recovery. While in your room, you will be closely monitored by our transplant team to ensure you are recovering well, have limited nausea, are able to eat, use the bathroom and pass gas, and are free from infection. Ask us for help when you want to get out of bed, as the surgery and medicines you are given can make you feel less than steady on your feet.

Day After Kidney Donation Surgery (Second Day in the Hospital)

The day after surgery you will be encouraged to get out of bed and walk with support around the hospital unit. You will also be asked to practice your coughing and deep breathing to protect your lungs, and you will be given pain medicine, as needed, to relieve any discomfort.

If doing well, most donors are able to go home. You can expect to still have some soreness and discomfort. However, you will not be able to leave the hospital until we are sure it is safe for you to continue your recovery in the comfort of your own home. It is important to remember that living kidney donation is a major surgery and you will need help while you recover at home.

Home Care After Surgery

Every person reacts differently to surgery, and while some may be up and about the following week, it may take some a few more weeks to return to normal routines. Expect to restart all normal activities within two to three weeks of surgery. To prevent wound healing problems, do not lift objects over five to ten pounds for at least six weeks after surgery.

During your recovery at home, we encourage you to contact our transplant team if you have questions or concerns about your progress.

After donation surgery, your continued good health is our main concern. It is required that you schedule and keep the follow-up appointments with Ohio State's Transplant Center. Appointments will need to be scheduled for:

• Six weeks after surgery
• Six months after surgery
• One year after surgery
• Two years after surgery

After two years, we encourage you to visit your primary care physician for annual checkups.