Living Kidney Donation
Transplantation is the best treatment for most people with end-stage kidney disease. It improves quality of life and helps people live longer compared to dialysis. Living kidney donation makes this possible by shortening wait times and offering better outcomes.
What is Living Kidney Donation?
Living Kidney Donation (LKD) is when a healthy person donates one of their kidneys to someone in need, with no expectation of reward. This selfless act can save a life and help someone avoid or reduce time on dialysis.
Types of Living Donation:
- Directed Donation - You choose to donate to a specific person you know, such as a family member or friend. Saskatchewan does not offer anonymous directed donation.
- Non-Directed Anonymous Donation (NDAD) - you donate to someone on the transplant waitlist without choosing a specific recipient.
- Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) - You want to donate to someone you know, but your blood types don’t match. Through the KPD Program, run by Canadian Blood Services, your kidney is matched with another donor-recipient pair to ensure everyone gets a compatible kidney.
Who can be a Living Donor?
You can donate a kidney if you meet certain health and eligibility criteria, below is a quick overview but not an absolute list.
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Anyone can be a donor - family, friends, or even strangers donating anonymously. There is no upper age limit; your overall health is what matters most.
Benefits of Living Kidney Donation:
For the Recipient:
- Shorter wait times for a transplant
- Better quality of life compared to dialysis
- Higher success rates for the transplant
- Planned surgery date for convenience
For the Donor:
- You can live a healthy, fulfilling life with one kidney
- The satisfaction of saving or improving someone's life
Living Kidney Donation Assessment Phases
The process to become a living kidney donor involves several phases to ensure your safety and compatibility. Here's what to expect:
- Call/email Saskatchewan Transplant Program to express interest
- A Transplant Coordinator will ask screening questions, including about your expected timeline for donation.
- Medical questionnaire will be sent out to you from the Transplant Coordinator to be completed
- Attend an Education Session with a Transplant Coordinator to learn about the process
- Complete medical tests to check your health and compatibility with the recipient.
- Most tests can be done close to your home or workplace, even if you live outside Saskatchewan.
- Some testing may require travel to Regina and/or Saskatoon
- We coordinate with your local provincial transplant program for out-of-province testing.
- The Transplant team reviews your test results
- If you are still interested, you will have 1 or 2 additional kidney scans
- Meet with a social worker and/or a psychiatrist
- Visit Saskatoon for a thorough assessment and meet the transplant team, including a Nephrologist (kidney doctor) and transplant surgeon
- The team determines if you're a suitable donor based on your health and test results.
- The team coordinates a surgical date that works for you, the recipient and the medical team
- You may need to repeat blood and urine tests closer to the surgery date.
- Surgery is performed St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon for all Saskatchewan donors.
- Recovery takes 4-6 weeks at home. You'll rest, avoid heavy lifting, and follow your doctor's advice.
- After donation, avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, Advil, Naproxen or Aleve, as they can affect kidney function. Your doctor will suggest safer pain relief options.
- Regular check-ups are needed after surgery and throughout your life to monitor your health with one kidney.
Frequently Asked Questions:
No, there is no upper age limit. Your suitability depends on your health, not just your age.
Donation is voluntary. You can pause or stop the process at any time, no questions asked.
During your education session, your transplant coordinator will ask about your expected timeline. The process typically takes about 4-6 months, depending on how quickly you complete testing and if any test results require follow up.
Most tests are covered by the health system and can be done close to home. If travel to Regina or Saskatoon is needed for testing, the cost is not covered. Travel costs after approval and directly related to donation may be eligible for coverage. This can be discussed with your coordinator.
If you are donating as a non-directed anonymous donor, we tell the recipient nothing about you. For directed donation we encourage you to stay in touch with your recipient to share updates, we still do not provide information about you to your intended recipient.
Yes! The Kidney Paired Donation Program (KPD), run by Canadian Blood Services, matches you with another donor-recipient pair to ensure compatibility.
No, the risk of rejection from a non-related living donor is low. The risk is equally low whether related or non-related.
Most living kidney donors go on to live healthy, active lives with one kidney. After donation, it is important to attend regular check-ups to monitor your health, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and avoid NSAID medications (such as ibuprofen and naproxen) to help protect your remaining kidney. More information about life after donation will be discussed during the assessment process.
Phone: 1-844-RENAL2U (1-844-736-2528)
