Nutcracker Kidney Donation

If you have been diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome and your doctors have recommended removing the affected kidney (therapeutic nephrectory) as the best treatment option, you may be able to donate your kidney to someone in need of a kidney transplant.

More than 90,000 people in the United States currently waiting for a kidney. A kidney from a living donor not only allows the recipient to undergo a transplant much sooner, but also typically lasts longer than kidneys from deceased donors.

Ready to see if you’re qualified to donate your kidney?

Take the first step and complete a 5-minute introductory questionnaire.

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What is Involved in Donating a Kidney?

Donating a kidney is a life-changing gift but also a major commitment that involves extensive testing, major surgery, and weeks of recovery time. If you decide to donate a kidney, here’s the process you’ll go through.

Screening & Testing*

  1. 45 mins Complete a confidential screening / medical history
  2. ~3 days Center will contact you
  3. ~3 days Complete standard workup
  4. 1–4 months Get cleared for donation

Surgery & Recovery

  • 1 day Complete pre-op
  • 1–5 hours Complete surgery
  • 1–4 days Recover in hospital
  • 1 week Refrain from flying
  • 2–6 weeks Recover at home**

*You will not be charged for any pre-workup labs related to your donation.
**Most people can return to normal activities after 2–4 weeks. Donors with physically demanding jobs may need 4–6 weeks of recovery before returning to work. High-performance athletes will need 6 months to a year before they are back to pre-donation performance levels.

Living Kidney Donation By the Numbers

90,000+ people in the United States are waiting for a kidney donor.

Living donation: 90 days is the typical wait time for a kidney patient to find a matched kidney from a living donor through the NKR. The average kidney from a living donor lasts 20-40 years.

Deceased donation: 3-10 years is the typical wait time for a deceased kidney donor. The average kidney from a deceased donor lasts 10-15 years.

Considering Kidney Donation?

If you are thinking about becoming a living kidney donor, feel free to download our Considering Living Kidney Donation brochure, which provides information about the kidney donation process, and the protections you receive by donating through the NKR.