Mayo Clinic's approach
Laparoscopic nephrectomy procedure at Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery, called laparoscopic nephrectomy, to take out a living donor's kidney.
Start your donor evaluation
Begin the process of becoming a living kidney or liver donor by clicking here to complete a health history questionnaire.
Paired organ donation
Paired organ donation
In paired-organ donation, living donors and their recipients aren't compatible for a transplant. However, the donor of each pair is compatible with the recipient of the other pair. If both donors and recipients are willing, healthcare professionals may consider a paired-organ donation.
Living-donor organ donation chain
Living-donor organ donation chain
More than one pair of living donors and recipients who are not compatible may be linked with a nondirected living donor to form a donation chain in order to receive compatible organs.
- Team approach. Mayo Clinic's integrated teams of surgeons, doctors, transplant nurses, pharmacists and others work together to provide your care, from your evaluation through post-surgery care. After you donate an organ, living-donor coordinators and other transplant staff members will offer you support and follow-up care for several months after your surgery.
- Coordinated care. Having all of this subspecialized expertise in a single place, focused on you, means that you're not just getting one opinion — your care is discussed among the team, your test results are available quickly, appointments are scheduled in coordination, and your transplant care team works together to determine what's best for you.
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Surgical expertise. Mayo Clinic surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery to remove a living donor's kidney (laparoscopic nephrectomy) for a kidney transplant, which is less painful and has a shorter recovery time for the donor.
Mayo Clinic surgeons perform nearly 1,000 kidney transplants a year, including numerous complex surgical procedures at campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. As a three-site institution, Mayo Clinic has one of the largest living-donor kidney transplant and paired-kidney donor programs in the United States.
- Mayo Clinic kidney transplant surgeons have performed more than 8,000 living-donor procedures using state-of-the-art technology since performing their first kidney transplant in 1963.
- Kidney transplant in children. At Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota, highly skilled doctors trained in treating children with kidney disease (pediatric nephrologists) evaluate and treat children who may need kidney transplants. At Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona, nephrologists partner with Phoenix Children's Hospital to treat children who may need kidney transplants.
- Research. Mayo Clinic researchers actively study the health of donors after transplant surgery to improve results. At Mayo Clinic, you may have access to ongoing clinical trials, research and new treatments as part of your living-donor transplantation experience.
Care team roles
Healthcare professionals trained in many medical specialties work together as a team to ensure a favorable outcome for your donor nephrectomy.
Altruistic kidney donor shares his experience
Expertise and rankings
Donor nephrectomy consultation at Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic has one of the largest living-donor kidney transplant programs in the U.S.
Experience
As a multi-site institution, Mayo Clinic has one of the largest living-donor kidney transplant programs in the United States. At its campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, Mayo Clinic performs hundreds of living-donor laparoscopic nephrectomies and kidney transplants each year, including many complex surgical procedures.
Mayo Clinic kidney transplant surgeons have performed more than 18,300 procedures using state-of-the-art technology since performing their first kidney transplant in 1963.
The Mayo Clinic kidney transplant team has extensive experience in the most complex types of kidney transplantation, including ABO incompatible transplant, positive crossmatch transplant and paired donation, and has a kidney transplant metabolic program.
Advanced treatment and technology
Mayo Clinic surgeons have extensive expertise with all types of living-donor transplant surgeries, including minimally invasive procedures, HIV-positive organ donation, paired-organ donation and other complex procedures.
Innovation and research
Mayo Clinic transplant researchers take a leading role in efforts to find new, improved ways to conduct all aspects of transplantation. They aim to expand transplant availability, reduce risks and improve transplantation outcomes.
Our experts have pioneered many procedures, including living-donor kidney transplants and kidney transplants before dialysis is needed.
The Mayo Clinic Transplant Center supports many studies for kidney transplant and living-donor research.
Nationally recognized expertise
Kidney transplant outcomes at Mayo Clinic compare favorably with the national average.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic Transplant Center offers care and housing for transplant patients and their families in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Living-donor frequently asked costs and insurance questions
Learn more
Mayo Clinic has dedicated transplant financial services representatives and social workers who can assist you with insurance and financial questions regarding your living organ donation.
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. Many insurance companies require you to get preapproval authorization prior to transplant services.
For international patients
Mayo Clinic has dedicated international patient account representatives who can assist you with questions regarding your costs and insurance. Read more about international financial services.
Case managers
Mayo Clinic financial staff will work closely with your case managers from your insurance company. Your case manager, who is assigned to you, is available to answer questions and calls related to your insurance costs.