Rhode Island Hospital
Living Donor Transplant Program
Donor Guide
The Kidney Donation Process
There are several steps a potential donor must take in order to become
a living kidney donor. Below is an outline of the kidney donation
process for donors. A potential donor may be found to be ineligible
at any point in this process.
- Fitting the donor profile
- Weighing advantages and risks
of donation
- Making the decision to donate
- Testing to determine eligibility
- Forwarding a current medical history
and physical exam results to the kidney transplant office
- Blood test to determine a matching
blood type
(Options if blood type does not match)
- HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) and first
crossmatch
- Narrowing down potential donors
- Appointment with transplant nurses
and social worker
(Opportunity to ask questions, sign a medical release form, get
a laboratory requisition form, make appointment with nephrologist,
urine test, second blood test)
- First appointment with nephrologist
(Review test results and medical records, get list of remaining
tests and a timeline to complete them)
- Completing remaining tests
Two 24-hour urine collections
Serologies
Renal ultrasound
Chest x-ray
Electrocardiogram
PAP smear (if applicable)
Mammogram (if applicable)
- Second appointment with nephrologist
(Review test results and discuss eligibility)
- Scheduling the transplant surgery
- CT scan of kidneys
- Final crossmatch
(Verify that donor-recipient compatibility has not changed)
- Appointment for pre-admission
testing
(Review records and verify all testing has been completed, get
instructions about surgery)
- Appointment at transplant clinic
(Meet the surgeon, discuss surgery, and sign surgical consent
form. Meet transplant nurse, review pre- and post-surgery process)
- Reporting for surgery
- Surgery
(May be traditional or laparoscopic)
- Recovering in the hospital
- Going home after surgery
(Post-surgical care and follow-up visits)
More in-depth:
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