The Donation Process (Surgery)
Once you are cleared as a donor & matched with Scott, surgery is scheduled within a few weeks.
The Week Before Surgery
A week before surgery, you and Scott will have blood drawn for final tissue matching, and HIV / Hepatitis testing. Also, you will have a pre-op physical, blood / urine collected for labs, an education session with your coordinator, and a meeting with your donor advocate. All of this confirms you are physically & mentally stable and prepared for donation.
Kidney Donation Surgery - Day 1
When you arrive early the morning the day of surgery, you are admitted and taken to the pre-op area. Medical staff conducts a final exam, draws blood, and places an IV in your arm. These final health checks confirm you are in excellent health for donation. You meet with your surgeon prior to being taken into the operating room, and can address last minute questions / concerns before surgery.
You are taken to a pre-surgical area and given medicine to help you relax, and then taken into surgery. Scott follows you to surgery in a nearby operating room. The laparoscopic surgery lasts about 3 hours. Once the kidney is removed, it is placed into Scott's body, and you are taken to a recovery room for 1-2 hours.
You are then taken to your room in the Transplant Unit where family / friends can visit. You are monitored to ensure you are recovering well, have little stomach upset, are able to eat, use the bathroom, pass gas, and are free from infection.
Kidney Donation Surgery (2nd Day in the Hospital)
The day after surgery you are encouraged to get out of bed and walk with support. You practice coughing and deep breathing to protect your lungs, and given pain medicine, as needed.
You will likely go home the day after surgery. You can expect to have some soreness and discomfort, but you will not be able to leave the hospital until they are sure it is safe for you to recover at home. Living kidney donation is a major surgery and you will need help while you recover at home.
Home Care After Surgery
Everyone reacts differently to surgery, so some may be up and about the following week, and it may take some a few weeks to return to normal routines. Expect to restart all normal activities within 2-3 weeks of surgery. To prevent wound healing problems, do not lift objects over 5-10 pounds for about 6 weeks.
Follow-Up appointments will need to be scheduled for:
Six weeks after surgery
Six months after surgery
One year after surgery
Two years after surgery
After two years, we encourage you to visit your primary care physician for annual checkups.
The Week Before Surgery
A week before surgery, you and Scott will have blood drawn for final tissue matching, and HIV / Hepatitis testing. Also, you will have a pre-op physical, blood / urine collected for labs, an education session with your coordinator, and a meeting with your donor advocate. All of this confirms you are physically & mentally stable and prepared for donation.
Kidney Donation Surgery - Day 1
When you arrive early the morning the day of surgery, you are admitted and taken to the pre-op area. Medical staff conducts a final exam, draws blood, and places an IV in your arm. These final health checks confirm you are in excellent health for donation. You meet with your surgeon prior to being taken into the operating room, and can address last minute questions / concerns before surgery.
You are taken to a pre-surgical area and given medicine to help you relax, and then taken into surgery. Scott follows you to surgery in a nearby operating room. The laparoscopic surgery lasts about 3 hours. Once the kidney is removed, it is placed into Scott's body, and you are taken to a recovery room for 1-2 hours.
You are then taken to your room in the Transplant Unit where family / friends can visit. You are monitored to ensure you are recovering well, have little stomach upset, are able to eat, use the bathroom, pass gas, and are free from infection.
Kidney Donation Surgery (2nd Day in the Hospital)
The day after surgery you are encouraged to get out of bed and walk with support. You practice coughing and deep breathing to protect your lungs, and given pain medicine, as needed.
You will likely go home the day after surgery. You can expect to have some soreness and discomfort, but you will not be able to leave the hospital until they are sure it is safe for you to recover at home. Living kidney donation is a major surgery and you will need help while you recover at home.
Home Care After Surgery
Everyone reacts differently to surgery, so some may be up and about the following week, and it may take some a few weeks to return to normal routines. Expect to restart all normal activities within 2-3 weeks of surgery. To prevent wound healing problems, do not lift objects over 5-10 pounds for about 6 weeks.
The transplant team is available to you if questions or concerns arise during recovery.
Six weeks after surgery
Six months after surgery
One year after surgery
Two years after surgery
After two years, we encourage you to visit your primary care physician for annual checkups.
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