How much do you have to weigh to donate a kidney?

There are no set requirements for weight that you must meet to qualify for kidney transplant.


What disqualifies a kidney donor?

These include having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, or acute infections . Having a serious mental health condition that requires treatment may also prevent you from being a donor .

Does weight matter for kidney donation?

Most centers avoid donations from individuals with BMI above 35 kg/m2. Obesity has greater operative complications1 and is a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and as a result, diabetic kidney disease, now the most common cause of end stage kidney disease in the US.


Will I lose weight after donating a kidney?

Conclusions: Donors with normal BMI experienced significant weight loss before donation and maintained healthy body weight post-donation. Conversely, donors with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 at donation experienced significant weight gain over 1-year post-donation.

Is it painful to donate a kidney?

Most living kidney donors will be in the hospital for one to two days after their surgery, although at some transplant centers, donors may be in the hospital for up to 4 to 6 days. The most common complication experienced by donors is tenderness, itching, and/or pain at the site of the surgical incision(s).


Kidney donation and transplant requirements



Why you shouldn't donate a kidney?

People can get certain health problems after donating: About 18% of donors (about 1 in 5) get high blood pressure. About 5% (1 in 20) get chronic kidney disease. 4% (less than 1 in 20) get diabetes within 5 years of donating.

Can a male donate a kidney to a female?

Conclusions. Our results suggested gender matching for kidney transplant. Only in some exceptional conditions, male donor to female recipient kidney transplant may be successful and female donors to male recipients are not suggested, especially in aged patients with the history of dialysis.

What are the odds of being a kidney donor match?

Because of the way chromosomes/DNA are inherited or passed down in a family, a parent and child would have at least a 50 percent chance of matching, siblings could have a zero to 100 percent match, and unrelated donors would be less likely to match at all.


Do kidney donors need same blood type?

Kidney donors must have a compatible blood type with the recipient. The Rh factor (+ or -) of blood does not matter in a transplant. The following blood types are compatible: Donors with blood type A… can donate to recipients with blood types A and AB.

How long does a donated kidney last?

How long does a transplanted kidney last? On average, a kidney from a living donor lasts about 15 to 20 years. Some will last longer; others might last less.

What is the lifespan of someone who donates a kidney?

Living donation does not change life expectancy, and does not appear to increase the risk of kidney failure. In general, most people with a single normal kidney have few or no problems; however, you should always talk to your transplant team about the risks involved in donation.


What are side effects of donating a kidney?

Risks and Benefits of Living Kidney Donation
  • Pain.
  • Infection (such as pneumonia or wound infection)
  • Blood clot.
  • Reaction to anesthesia.
  • Death (Worldwide mortality rate for living kidney donors is 0.03% to 0.06%)
  • Conversion to open nephrectomy.
  • Need for re-operation (such as for bleeding)
  • Re-admission to hospital.


What is a perfect kidney match?

Blood type O is considered the universal donor. People with blood type O can give to any other blood type. Blood type AB is called the universal recipient because they can receive an organ or blood from people with any blood type.

Is donating a kidney major surgery?

Surgeons almost always perform minimally invasive surgery to remove a living donor's kidney (laparoscopic nephrectomy) for a kidney transplant. Laparoscopic nephrectomy is associated with less scarring, less pain and a shorter recovery time than is open surgery to remove a kidney (open nephrectomy).


Can you drink alcohol with one kidney?

The Effects of Alcohol on One Kidney

So, if you have one kidney and drink alcohol, you can cause life-threatening issues. A healthy lifestyle includes a nutritious diet, exercise, and regular check-ups. This means no alcohol. This risk of kidney disease from alcohol is drastically increased with only one kidney.

What is the hardest blood type for kidney transplant?

Background: Patients with blood group O have disadvantages in the allocation of deceased donor organs in the Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System and fewer ABO-compatible living donors.

How long does it take to give a kidney?

Kidney donation surgery is done under general anesthesia and typically takes about 2 to 3 hours. During the surgery, your medical team will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level. Surgeons usually do laparoscopic surgery, which is less invasive.


Is it better to have 1 or 2 kidneys?

Most people with a single kidney live a normal life without developing any long- or short-term problems. However, the risk of developing mild high blood pressure, fluid retention, and proteinuria is slightly higher if you have one kidney instead of two.

What are 5 long term side effects related to donating a kidney?

Some donors have reported long-term problems with pain, nerve damage, hernia, or intestinal obstruction. These risks seem to be rare, but there are currently no national statistics on the frequency of these problems.

Why do kidney donors live longer?

The donor's state of health should not change after donating. The remaining kidney enlarges and is able to perform about 80% of the work the two kidneys normally do. Donor nephrectomy does not change the donor's life expectancy. Because this is a well recognized fact, donors still qualify for health and life insurance.


Can kidney grow back after removal?

A kidney is an organ with relatively low basal cellular regenerative potential. However, renal cells have a pronounced ability to proliferate after injury, which undermines that the kidney cells are able to regenerate under induced conditions.

How painful is kidney removal surgery?

Your belly will feel sore after the surgery. This usually lasts about 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will give you pain medicine for this. You may also have other symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, gas, or a headache.

What can you not do after kidney removal?

You should be able to do most of your regular activities within 4 to 6 weeks. Before then: Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) until you see your doctor. Avoid all strenuous activity, including heavy exercises, weightlifting, and other activities that make you breathe hard or strain.


How long do you stay in the hospital after kidney surgery?

With traditional surgery, four or five days of hospitalization are usually needed after kidney removal, plus six to eight weeks for recovery. Patients of open surgery typically require heavy pain medication over extended time, too.

Is life expectancy lower with one kidney?

Having a single kidney does not affect your life-span. One kidney can still provide up to 75 percent of normal kidney function.