Deceased Donor
Deceased donors are allocated though WRTC and UNOS. Deceased donors can be directed to a certain recipient per family request as long as that individual is listed on the UNOS waiting list. Living donors can be related or unrelated, such as family, spouses, friends or coworkers. Living donors must be age 18 or older.
Blood type must be compatible:
| RECIPIENT (PATIENT): | DONOR (MUST HAVE): |
| O | O |
| A | AO |
| B | BO |
| AB | A,B,AB,O |
Advantages of Living donors:
- Better success rates, since the kidneys come from living,
healthy people who are in better condition when the kidney is transplanted,
they have a tendency to function better over time
- Shorter waiting times, typically there is a four to seven-year
wait for a deceased kidney from the UNOS list. Each year, one out
of 20 people waiting for a new kidney dies from kidney disease while
on dialysis.
- More time to prepare, when you are on the waiting list
for a deceased kidney, you never know when the surgery will happen.
With living donation you can schedule surgery ahead of time for
yourself and your living donor. This can make it easier to mentally
and physically prepare for surgery.
- Living donors must also undergo a complete health assessment and evaluation managed by the transplant coordinator.
