“My son needs a kidney transplant. For how long would he usually be on the list?”
My son's kidney is failing and we can't watch him suffer through dialysis any more. How long would he be on the transplant list? Could it really take years?
2 Answers
Different regions/states have different waiting times and that depends on the length of the waiting list. On average it would take anything between 2-5 years from the moment he started dialysis. A suitable living donor is, on average, the best option for young recipients, in terms of waiting time (no waiting) and transplant outcome.
The national allocation of kidneys includes the length of time on dialysis as a factor in allocation. Unfortunately, it depends on where you live. Most places in the U.S. the wait time is 3 to 5 years. Some areas like San Francisco or New York City that could be 8 to 10 years.
