Kidney Transplant

Living with end-stage kidney disease means your kidneys can no longer do their job of cleaning waste, getting rid of toxins or controlling blood pressure. This can make you feel very sick. A kidney transplant is a way to help. It gives you a healthy kidney that can do these important jobs and help your body feel better.

For those who want to help, donating a kidney can be a life-changing gift. Being a living donor means you can give someone else the chance to live a healthier life. Your gift could make a big difference for someone in need.

A chance for whole new kidney health

We started doing kidney transplants in 1971, and today, we use a modern method called laparoscopic donor nephrectomy to remove a kidney. This technique uses small cuts and special tools, which means faster recovery, less pain and fewer problems than traditional surgery.

Our outcomes speak for themselves, with high success rates for both living and deceased donor kidney transplants. Success means patients can enjoy a better quality of life, whether it's going back to work, playing sports, traveling or starting a family.
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Conditions

Some of the most common reasons for kidney failure include:

  • Diabetes  
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)  
  • Inflammatory disease of kidneys (nephritis)  
  • Inherited kidney disease (e.g., polycystic kidney disease)  
  • Kidney stones  
  • Side effects of drug therapy for other diseases  

Your doctor will closely monitor your kidney health. If your kidney function starts to get worse, they will refer you to our transplant surgery team for further evaluation and possible treatment options.
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Testing

While we treat each person based on their unique needs, the first step in your kidney transplant journey is a transplant evaluation appointment. During this meeting, your care team will work with you to understand your health goals and decide if a kidney transplant is the right choice for you. Some of the factors we consider include:

  • Activity level
  • Cause of end-stage kidney disease 
  • Health history

After the evaluation, we’ll help you schedule one or more of the following tests to get a full picture of your health:

From there, we'll use all the information gathered to determine if you’re eligible for a kidney transplant.
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Treatments

There are 2 ways to treat end-stage kidney disease: with a kidney transplant and dialysis. When the kidneys can no longer filter waste from the blood, dialysis is a treatment that performs the tasks that a healthy kidney would.

We recommend a transplant over dialysis because it offers a greater quality and longevity of life. However, wait times for a donor kidney that isn’t from a living donor can last 4–10 years. Understanding your transplant options can help us create a long-term treatment path together.

Types of kidney donors

Kidney transplants involve surgically removing a kidney from a donor and placing it into a person with permanent kidney failure.  

There are two types of kidney transplants:

  • Kidneys from a deceased donor: When a someone passes away, doctors carefully remove the kidney, making sure it can be used to help others in need.
  • Kidneys from a living donor: Doctors remove the kidney from a volunteer donor. This can be a family member, a friend or someone who has heard about your need and wants to help.

Finding a living donor

The best donor is usually someone who knows you personally. We suggest starting by talking to friends and family before reaching out to others in your community.

If you have a potential donor in mind, we will first determine their eligibility. This process includes compatibility testing, such as checking blood types and performing scans to ensure the donor's kidneys are healthy. We are committed to making kidney donation safe and healthy for both you and your donor.

Sometimes, a donor may not be a match because of factors like blood type, but a transplant can still happen. We participate in Kidney-Paired Donation, where a computer matches incompatible pairs with other pairs to create compatible matches.

We understand that asking for help or starting a conversation about a living donation can be difficult. We’re here to support you with any questions about living donation or finding someone who might be interested in donating.
Tips for talking to friends and family about living kidney donation

Havingyourdonorfindyou.org offers advice from a former kidney recipient on asking for help and starting the conversation about living donation. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Reach out: Many people are willing to help — you just need to share your story with them.  
  • Get support: You don’t have to do this alone. A spouse, family member or friend can help share your story.  
  • Start small: If an in-person conversation feels too tricky, consider starting with an email, phone call or text. Your coordinator can provide examples to help you get started.  
  • Begin with loved ones: Friends and family are the best place to start when discussing your need for a kidney transplant. If you don’t find success there, consider reaching out to acquaintances. We recommend avoiding large social media campaigns at first; the best donor is likely someone you or your loved ones know personally.  
  • Highlight the benefits: Let people know that even though you’re on the deceased donor waitlist, you can still receive a kidney from a living donor, which often lasts longer and may mean a quicker transplant.  
  • Keep the conversation going: Don’t stop looking for a donor until you have someone approved and ready to donate. We can evaluate more than one potential donor at a time.  
  • Don’t give up: The first few people you talk to might not be ready or able to donate. But by sharing your story, you increase the chances of reaching the right person at the right time.  

Waiting for a deceased donor

If you are found to be a candidate for a transplant, you will be added to a national list to wait for an organ from someone who has passed away. How long you wait depends on things like your blood type and how far you live from the hospital. Your transplant team will talk to you about how long they think you might need to wait.

What to expect during a kidney transplant

A kidney transplant surgery usually lasts 2–4 hours. You’ll be placed under general anesthesia so that you’re relaxed and asleep the entire time. 

After the procedure, you will stay in the hospital for about 3 to 5 days so the doctors can watch your health and check for any signs that your body might be rejecting the new kidney.

Once you're out of the hospital, you'll need to see your doctor often to make sure your new kidney is working well. Over time, these visits will happen less often.

To help your body accept the new kidney and stop your immune system from attacking it, you'll need to take medicines called immunosuppressants. These are usually "steroid-free" to reduce side effects.
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Become a living donor

Kidney donation can save lives for people waiting for a transplant. Living donors are the best chance for someone to survive while waiting for a kidney.

Living kidney donation is when a person gives one of their kidneys while they are still alive. Most people are born with two kidneys, but you can live a healthy life with just one. That's what makes donating while alive possible. When you donate a kidney, both you and the person receiving it can continue to live healthy lives with one kidney.

If you’re interested in becoming a kidney donor, you can start by filling out our online questionnaire. If you qualify, we will contact you to explain the next steps in the donation process.

FAQs
Who can donate a kidney?

To donate a kidney, you need to be at least 18 years old, in good physical and mental health, and fully understand the risks and benefits of donation. You and your care team will decide together if living donation is the right choice for you. 
Does blood type matter between a donor and a recipient?

Yes, blood type does matter between a donor and a recipient. The donor and recipient need to have compatible blood types to make the transplant possible. There are four major blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Some blood type combinations work together, while others don’t.

We will do two blood tests—one to check the blood type and another to test tissue compatibility—to see if the donor’s blood matches the recipient’s. All test results are kept private and are only shared with the donor.

If the donor and recipient aren’t a match, the donor can still take part in a “swap.” In this case, the donor gives their kidney to someone else, and in return, the intended recipient gets a compatible kidney from another donor.

It’s important to know that potential donors can apply even if they don’t know their blood type. If they pass the evaluation, they can still donate.
What should a donor expect during their evaluation?

During the evaluation, potential living donors will need to visit Tufts Medical Center in Boston for an in-person check-up. Some tests, like bloodwork and urine testing, can be done closer to home before the visit.

Before coming to Tufts, the donor will have a phone call with an Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA). This person makes sure the donor feels no pressure to donate and understands they can change their mind at any time.

The required tests include bloodwork, urine tests, a chest X-ray, an EKG (heart test), and a CT scan. Donors also need to be up to date on cancer screenings based on their age and doctor’s recommendations.

After the evaluation, the transplant team will review the results and talk to the donor about any additional tests that might be needed.
How is the living donor evaluation paid for?

The recipient’s insurance covers the living donor's evaluation, surgery and recovery visits. However, costs like travel, lodging and time off work are usually not covered. There are programs, such as the National Living Donor Assistance Center, that may help with these extra costs, depending on the recipient’s income. The recipient’s social work team can provide more details and help with finding support for these expenses.
Will donating a kidney affect the donor’s lifestyle?

Donating a kidney should not affect a donor’s lifestyle in the long term. A person can live a normal, healthy and active life with just one kidney. The donor evaluation process makes sure that the person is healthy enough to donate and that they can continue living well after the donation.
What happens during donor transplant?

During a donor transplant, the surgery usually takes a few hours. Doctors often use a method called laparoscopic surgery, which involves making small cuts on the belly and just below the belly button. This technique helps with faster recovery and less scarring compared to traditional surgery.
What happens after the donor surgery?

After the donor surgery, most donors stay in the hospital for 1 night. They are encouraged to get out of bed and move around as soon as they feel steady, often the same day as the surgery. To help with pain, donors receive local numbing medication at their incisions for the first 24 hours.

The most common discomfort is bloating and gas-like pain, which usually goes away within a few days. Most donors don't need narcotics (strong pain medicine) and can manage pain with non-narcotic medication.

Donors will need someone to help them with daily tasks for 3 to 5 days after leaving the hospital. Most donors can go back to work within 2 to 4 weeks, but those with physically demanding jobs may need more time to recover.
What if I have more questions about donating a kidney?

If you have more questions about donating a kidney, it's okay to take your time. Some people decide quickly, while others need more time to gather information and think it over. Donating a kidney is a selfless gift, and our team supports whatever decision you make.

If you're interested in living donation, we encourage you to start by applying and speaking with our donor team. You can change your mind at any time during the process.

If you have specific questions, feel free to email us at donateakidney@tuftsmedicine.org.
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Referring physicians

When you entrust your patient with us, we take that responsibility seriously. We are committed to collaborating with you before, during and after transplantation, as an ongoing resource and partner.

Our highly experienced transplant nephrologists, transplant surgeons, nurse coordinators, social workers, pharmacists and nutritionists will work with you and your patient to provide a seamless experience.

The benefits and resources of a top academic medical center:

  • A dedicated nurse coordinator who will help navigate the journey for you and your patient
  • In-house Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab)
  • Dedicated inpatient transplant units for pre- and post-transplant care
  • Intensive care units
  • Inpatient transplant surgery and medicine services

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