Living donation: information you need to know

Living donor transplants are a viable alternative for patients in need of new organs. Many different types of organs can be supplied by living donors, including:

Kidney

This is the most frequent type of living organ donation. All living kidney donors experience a decrease in their kidney function, which varies depending on the donor’s age and medical history. Learn how your kidneys work and about kidney disease.

Liver

Individuals can donate a segment of the liver, which has the ability to regenerate and regain full function. Learn how your liver works.

Lung

Although lung lobes do not regenerate, in rare cases individuals can donate a lobe of one lung. Learn how your lungs work.

Intestine

Although very rare, it is possible to donate a portion of your intestine. Learn how your intestines work.

Pancreas

In extremely rare circumstances, individuals can donate a portion of the pancreas. Learn how your pancreas works.

Heart

A domino transplant makes some heart-lung recipients living heart donors. When a patient receives a heart-lung “bloc” from a deceased donor, his or her healthy heart may be given to an individual waiting for a heart transplant. Extremely rare, this procedure is used when physicians determine that the deceased donor lungs will function best if they are used in conjunction with the deceased donor heart. Learn how your heart works.

Uterus

A few living donor uterus transplants have been performed as part of clinical trials.

Reference and Publication Information United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. The content on this page was originally created on February 25, 2005 by UNOS and last modified on April 7, 2009.