Moving a Step Closer

Where is the evaluation completed?

The donor evaluation may be coordinated by the recipient’s transplant team. Tests may be completed at the donor’s transplant center, or at a transplant center close to you. Some potential donors have been evaluated in different states or even different countries.

Who pays for the donor evaluation?

All clinic, hospital, and reasonable physician’s charges from donor evaluation are covered by the End-Stage Renal Disease Program, whether or not the donor is accepted. You can discuss any questions, at any time, with the Transplant financial coordinator.

Is there someone to talk to about becoming a donor?

University Hospital’s renal transplant team, including the social worker, is available to counsel donors and their families before and after the decision is made. Also, the transplant coordinator can put you in contact with other donors willing to discuss their experience. The social worker and financial coordinatoraddresses financial needs and family concerns and makes referrals, if necessary, to other community resources. Of course, donors are also encouraged to discuss any questions with their family physician.

How is the donor’s surgery and hospitalization paid for?

Bills for the removal of the kidney, physicians’ services, surgery, radiology, anesthesia, and pathology should be given to the financial coordinator at SUNY Upstate. Medicaid or Medicare will generally cover all but about $400 of the surgery and hospitalization. In most cases, the donor’s insurance company – or the recipient’s insurer — will cover the remaining amount. A donor should clear this with the insurance company prior to surgery. The transplant financial coordinator at University Hospital will assist you with this process. Expenses for travel, meals, and lodging prior to and following the evaluation and surgery are not covered by Medicare or other insurance resources. Other expenses, not paid, be discussed further during your evaluation, ie., telephone, television use while hospitalized.

When does the donor enter the hospital?

Many patients are admitted the day of surgery (following completion of their workup as outpatients) or the night before surgery. In some cases, a short pre-hospitalization stay at a hospital-associated hotel may be arranged. In any case, a few routine tests will be performed several days before admission to make sure the donor is still in good health. A member of the Transplant Team will also meet with the donor prior to admission. Once admitted to the hospital, the donor will have another opportunity to discuss final concerns with a provider.

How long does the surgery take?

Surgery is usually scheduled early in the morning, lasts about three hours. and is performed under general anesthesia. There are two surgical options: laproscopic or open nephrectomy, which will be discussed in detail during your evaluation. Once the kidney is removed, it is immediately transplanted into the recipient. The donor’s remaining kidney then takes over the work previously done by two kidneys. After the surgery, the donor is moved to the recovery room for observation, then returned to a hospital room when fully awake.

What happens after the surgery?

Immediately after the surgery, the donor can expect to be tired from the operation and anesthesia and experience pain from the incision. Medication will be given to relieve the discomfort, which will decrease as the donor becomes more active. Usually pain medicine is not needed after the first week or two. As the incision heals, the pain will become less severe, but tenderness, tingling, and itching may continue for a number of weeks.

How long is the donor in the hospital

This depends on the donor’s surgical procedure: laproscopic kidney removal—hospital stay is 2-3 days; open procedure—hospital stay is 4-5 days. At the time of discharge, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled.

Will medication or a special diet be necessary

Pain medication may be necessary for several days after discharge, but no other medicine is routinely needed, and no long-term diet changes are necessary.

When can normal activities be resumed?

Laproscopic kidney donors tend to return to work in 2-3 weeks, while open kidney donors return to work return to work in 6-8 weeks. Restrictions will be discussed based on procedure performed. Generally, sexual activity can be resumed in one to two weeks after discharge from the hospital. There are no long-term restrictions on physical activities, except for contact sports, which could injure the remaining kidney.

Does the donor need further follow-up

There will be a 6 month and 1 year follow up withthe transplant team.We recommend that all kidney donors see their doctor once a year for routine check ups. This annual visit should include a physical, blood-pressure check, urinalysis, and basic blood tests.

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