Transplant Center

Living Kidney Donor Transplant Program

About Living Kidney Donation

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Single Incision Kidney Removal

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Currently, kidneys from a living donor have a better long-term survival than kidneys from a deceased donor. Also, deceased kidney donation cannot meet the needs of all patients in this country who need a kidney transplant. The waiting time for a deceased kidney donation may be two to five years.

Kidney donations from living relatives have always been a better option. More recently, kidneys donated from unrelated living donors (such as a spouse or a friend) have been as successful as those from close relatives.

The Transplant Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center is leading the way in terms of providing a less invasive surgery for kidney donors. Surgeons at the UM Medical Center have peformed more laparoscopic kidney removals -- 1,141 as of April 30, 2008 -- than any other U.S. transplant center.

Laparoscopic surgery can make donating a kidney to a loved one easier. Using the laparoscope, surgeons make only 1 small incision below the navel -- about 2-3 inches -- as well as four small holes through which they insert instruments. The laparoscope contains a miniature camera, and surgeons watch what they are doing on a video monitor. The traditional "open" surgery requires an incision about ten inches long that cuts through abdominal muscles. Laparoscopic surgery can mean less pain, no sutures or staples, a shorter hospital stay and a much faster recovery for the donor.

Our transplant team will be happy to arrange for you to meet with people who have donated a kidney. You can reach the transplant coordinators at 410-328-5408

If you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services, please call 410-328-5408 or 1-800-492-5538.

This page was last updated on: July 30, 2009.