Living Donor Transplant – Care at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic approach

Start donor evaluation

Click here to fill out the health history questionnaire and begin the process of becoming a living kidney or liver donor.

Learn about what transplant recipients and living donors can expect, including tests, screenings, procedures, risks, recovery, financial information, and more.

Mayo Clinic is one of the largest transplant clinics in the United States. Transplant physicians, surgeons, and other transplant staff at Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota have extensive experience with living kidney and liver transplants.

The living donor process at Mayo Clinic begins with filling out a health history questionnaire.

Care team role

Medical professionals trained in many medical specialties work together as a team to ensure a positive outcome for living donors.

• team approach. Mayo Clinic’s integrated team of surgeons, physicians, transplant nurses, pharmacists and others work together to provide care, from evaluation to postoperative care.

  The transplant team will evaluate you to determine whether you can donate a kidney or part of your liver. In addition to blood tests, a thorough physical and psychological examination will also be performed. Several other tests will be performed, including detailed imaging of your liver and kidneys, to ensure that you are in good health and meet the donation criteria.

  Once you donate your organ, a living donor coordinator and other transplant staff will provide support and follow-up care for several months after surgery.

• Coordinated care. Having all this sub-specialized expertise in one place and focusing on you means you’re not just getting one opinion. Your treatment is discussed within the team, test results are readily available, appointments are scheduled collaboratively, and transplants are performed. Your care team will work together to determine what is most appropriate for you.
• Surgical expertise. Mayo Clinic surgeons perform living donor transplant surgeries for liver and kidney transplants. Surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic donor nephrectomy) to remove a living donor’s kidney for a kidney transplant. This procedure is less painful than open surgery and results in a shorter recovery time for the donor.
• the study. Mayo Clinic researchers are actively studying donor health after transplant surgery to improve outcomes. At Mayo Clinic, you may have access to ongoing clinical trials, research, and new treatments as part of your living donor transplant experience.

Expertise and ranking

Mayo Clinic Living Organ Transplant Team

experience

Mayo Clinic surgeons have extensive experience performing living donor transplant surgeries for liver and kidney transplants.

transplant leader

Mayo Clinic operates the largest living donor kidney and liver transplant program in the United States.

Mayo Clinic surgeons have performed more than 15,500 kidney transplants across its three facilities. They currently perform approximately 1,000 kidney transplants each year, many of which include transplants from living kidney donors.

Mayo Clinic surgeons perform nearly 500 liver transplants each year across its three campuses, many of which include transplants from living liver donors.

Advanced treatment and technology

Mayo Clinic surgeons have extensive expertise in all types of living donor transplant procedures, including minimally invasive surgery, HIV-positive organ donation, paired organ donation, and other complex surgeries.

innovation and research

Mayo Clinic transplant researchers perform all aspects of transplantation and play a leading role in efforts to find new and improved ways to improve the donation experience, reduce risks, and improve transplant outcomes. I am fulfilling my role.

The Mayo Clinic Transplant Center supports many studies for living donor transplant research.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is ranked No. 1 for diabetes and endocrinology in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida are ranked Best Hospitals for Diabetes and Endocrinology by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked No. 1 for gastroenterology in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals ranking. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida are ranked among the Best Hospitals for Digestive Diseases by U.S. News & World Report. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Mayo Clinic Children’s Center in Rochester ranks No. 1 in Minnesota and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Ranked as a hospital. Ranking.

location, travel, accommodation

Mayo Clinic’s main campuses are located in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. Jacksonville, Florida. and Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information about visiting Mayo Clinic, please select a location below.

costs and insurance

Frequently asked questions about costs and insurance from living donors

learn more

Mayo Clinic has a dedicated Transplant Financial Services representative and social worker who can assist you with insurance and financial questions regarding living organ donation.

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider to millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic does not require a doctor’s referral. Your insurance company may require a referral or have additional requirements for certain medical care. Many insurance companies require that you obtain pre-approval before transplant services.

For foreign patients

Mayo Clinic has a dedicated international patient representative who can help with questions about costs and insurance. Click here to learn more about international financial services.

case manager

Mayo Clinic’s financial staff works closely with insurance company case managers. Your assigned case manager will answer your questions and phone calls regarding insurance costs.

clinical trial

Learn more about Mayo Clinic research An overview of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat, and manage the condition.