Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation
Published on: July 19, 2021
Outcomes of commercial renal transplantation: a Canadian experience
G V Ramesh Prasad1, Ashutosh Shukla, Michael Huang
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Renal Transplant Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
Financial compensation in exchange for live kidney donation is prohibited in Canada. However, patients in Canada with end-stage renal disease and without a suitable biologically or emotionally related live donor face substantial waiting times on lists for deceased donor kidneys, and so may therefore choose to acquire organs from a live donor in a procedure performed outside Canada as part of a commercial transaction.
Methods:
We describe the clinical outcomes in such patients transplanted between 1998 and 2005, managed after their surgery at a single Canadian transplant center.
Results:
Patient and graft survival at three years were significantly worse in this group compared to recipients of live biologically related (P<0.0001) and emotionally related transplants (P<0.01) performed in Canada during this period. A number of different surgical and infectious complications were seen, requiring frequent and often lengthy hospitalization.
Conclusion:
Patients considering this method of acquiring live-donated kidneys should be counseled of the inherent risks and possible adverse outcomes including diminished dialysis-free survival.
Related Concept Videos
Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations

