Learn about kidneys and kidney transplants
How do people get a new kidney that works?
A person whose kidneys have failed can get a kidney transplant to get a new kidney.
What is a kidney transplant?
In a kidney transplant, doctors do surgery to take a healthy kidney from a donor and place it into a person whose kidneys have failed (a recipient):
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In a living donor kidney transplant, the kidney comes from a donor who is still alive. Doctors take 1 of the donor's 2 kidneys to place into the recipient's body.
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In a deceased donor kidney transplant, the kidney comes from a donor who has died. If the donor has 2 healthy kidneys, they each go to a different recipient, allowing 2 people to get a kidney transplant.
This website covers living donor kidney transplants.
What are the differences between a kidney from a living and deceased donor?
Getting a kidney transplant from a living donor can happen sooner and last longer than getting a kidney transplant from a deceased donor:
Living donor kidney transplant | Deceased donor kidney transplant | |
|---|---|---|
How long the kidney lasts | The kidney usually lasts 15-20 years. It also starts working sooner after the transplant than a deceased donor kidney. | The kidney usually lasts 10-15 years. |
Waiting time for a transplant | Recipients can get a transplant within 1 year if they have a matching donor. | Recipients typically wait 3-5 years on the waitlist, with the wait time closer to 10 years in some areas. |
Time on dialysis | Recipients spend little to no time on dialysis, which can mean fewer health problems. | Recipients spend more time on dialysis, which can lead to more health problems. |
Scheduling surgery | Surgery can be scheduled at a time that’s best for the donor and recipient.
| Surgery can’t be scheduled, as the recipient doesn’t know when a kidney will be available. |
Living donor kidney transplant
Deceased donor kidney transplant
How long the kidney lasts
Living donor kidney transplant:
Living donor kidney transplant
The kidney usually lasts 15-20 years. It also starts working sooner after the transplant than a deceased donor kidney.
Deceased donor kidney transplant
Deceased donor kidney transplant:
The kidney usually lasts 10-15 years.
Waiting time for a transplant
Living donor kidney transplant:
Living donor kidney transplant
Recipients can get a transplant within 1 year if they have a matching donor.
Deceased donor kidney transplant
Deceased donor kidney transplant:
Recipients typically wait 3-5 years on the waitlist, with the wait time closer to 10 years in some areas.
Time on dialysis
Living donor kidney transplant:
Living donor kidney transplant
Recipients spend little to no time on dialysis, which can mean fewer health problems.
Deceased donor kidney transplant
Deceased donor kidney transplant:
Recipients spend more time on dialysis, which can lead to more health problems.
Scheduling surgery
Living donor kidney transplant:
Living donor kidney transplant
Surgery can be scheduled at a time that’s best for the donor and recipient.
Deceased donor kidney transplant
Deceased donor kidney transplant:
Surgery can’t be scheduled, as the recipient doesn’t know when a kidney will be available.
Want to learn more?
Learn more about living organ donation on organdonor.gov.