Living Organ Donor Options
Many people with two healthy kidneys can donate one to a patient in need.
Call for a Consultation: 305-355-1MTI (1684)
Living Kidney Donor Program
The gift of life is closer than most of us think.
Most transplanted organs come from a family’s selfless organ donation after their loved one has died. Unfortunately, far more people need organ transplants than the number of organs recovered from people who have passed (also known as deceased donation). In fact, at any moment in time, more than 117,000 individuals are waiting for an organ transplant.
Fortunately, some organs, like kidneys, can be donated by a living donor without negatively affecting the donor’s health. The Miami Transplant Institute’s Living Kidney Donor Program—also called the gift that keeps on giving—is the largest in Florida and the fastest-growing in the Southeast. In fact, patients from anywhere in the nation and anywhere in the world can participate in the initiative.
If you would like to learn more about whether you might be a possible living donor candidate, click here.
Paired Kidney Exchange Program
Even when a family member or friend’s kidney is not a match, a suitable living donor may still be a viable option. That’s because we can match willing donors for one patient with willing donors for another patient.
Our Paired Kidney Exchange Program is the only initiative of its kind in the region, and offers real hope to patients whose family and friends have the will to help, but are not a clinical match.
If you would like to learn more about whether you might be a possible candidate for the paired kidney exchange program, click here.
Robotic Transplant Technology, the Future of Transplant Surgery
Our experienced transplant surgeons are highly skilled in performing robotic transplantation surgery. This approach integrates our surgeons’ expertise with the preciseness and accuracy of robotic technology to provide our patients with the highest quality of care.
The benefits of robotic donation and transplantation surgery for the patient may include:
- Less pain
- Fewer surgical complications
- Reduced hospital stay
- Shorter recovery time.
- Higher precision surgery
- Minimally invasive approach
To learn more about robotic transplantation, click here.
To read about some of the lives we’ve changed with robotic kidney pair exchange, click here.
Description
Paired Kidney Exchange Program
Even when a family member or friend’s kidney is not a match, a suitable living donor may still be a viable option. That’s because we can match willing donors for one patient with willing donors for another patient.
Our Paired Kidney Exchange Program is the only initiative of its kind in the region, and offers real hope to patients whose family and friends have the will to help, but are not a clinical match.
If you would like to learn more about whether you might be a possible candidate for the paired kidney exchange program, click here.
Robotic Transplant Technology, the Future of Transplant Surgery
Our experienced transplant surgeons are highly skilled in performing robotic transplantation surgery. This approach integrates our surgeons’ expertise with the preciseness and accuracy of robotic technology to provide our patients with the highest quality of care.
The benefits of robotic donation and transplantation surgery for the patient may include:
- Less pain
- Fewer surgical complications
- Reduced hospital stay
- Shorter recovery time.
- Higher precision surgery
- Minimally invasive approach
To learn more about robotic transplantation, click here.
To read about some of the lives we’ve changed with robotic kidney pair exchange, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of living donation?
- To give the gift of life and provide improvement in quality of life. A successful transplant will end or eliminate the need for the recipient’s dependence on dialysis and help them and their family return to a normal, good quality of life.
Who can be a donor?
- Any healthy person between the ages of 18-65.
- Must be mentally and emotionally capable.
- Compatible blood type, but if not can compatible can participate in the Paired Kidney Exchange Program.
- If you would like to learn more about whether you might be a possible living donor candidate, click here.
What are the advantages of a living kidney donor transplant versus a deceased donor transplant?
- A decrease in the current average wait time of 2.5 years (deceased donor wait time fluctuates as compared to living donor surgery that is appropriately scheduled).
- The transplant can be scheduled to the convenience of the recipient and the donor.
- The kidney can last almost twice as long as compared to deceased donor transplants.
- The recipient may be able to avoid dialysis thus leading to better outcomes and minimizing infections and heart problems.
- Living kidney donation can be rewarding for both donors and recipients and encourages a strong emotional support between the two.
How will kidney donation affect me if I become a donor?
- After donating one kidney, the other kidney will grow and compensate a little allowing the donor to lead a full, active life.
What is involved in the donor process?
- Phase I: Medical screening and tissue typing. This can be done by phone or in person. Results take one week and up to three donors can be tested at one time. The best donor will be chosen to continue to Phase II; other donors will be placed on a backup list.
- Phase II: Medical, diagnostic, and psychological evaluation takes place at our diagnostic center in one day. If donors are out of town then we will proceed to work with a kidney transplant program near them. If donors are coming from other countries, a visa request is made and they will come to do the workup here at the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI).
- Phase III: Scheduling of surgery and surgical evaluation.
- Phase IV: Post-donation monitoring of labs and general well-being.
Who pays for the donor testing, surgery, and post-op care?
- All of the above is covered by the Kidney Acquisition Fund and/or the recipient’s insurance company. NO charges will be made to the donor’s insurance nor will the need for self-pay be accrued by the donor. Donors may also qualify for extra funding through the National Donor Assistance Program for travel, food, and housing.
When should the recipient ask someone to consider donating?
- As soon as the recipient begins their pre-transplant evaluation, which allows the donor team the ability to provide full support to any potential donor.
Who qualifies for the Paired Kidney Exchange Program?
- Any potential living donor, in particular if the donor and the recipient are blood type incompatible, or if the recipient is highly sensitized, meaning he or she has too many antibodies and is at risk for rejection against the donor.
- Blood type compatible pairs should also participate in the Paired Kidney Exchange Program – this will increase the chances to find a better matched kidney whether due to genetic matches, age matches, or anatomical reasons; thus leading to better outcomes and likely a longer lasting kidney allograft.
- If blood type compatible donors participate in the Paired Kidney Exchange Program, a time limit will be allotted to find a better match (maximum of 6-8 weeks). If no matches are found during this period of time, the living donor transplant surgery will be scheduled as expected.
- If you would like to learn more about whether you might be a possible candidate for the paired kidney exchange program, click here.
