Guide To Kidney Donation

Living kidney donation is a gift that can save lives and dramatically improve the quality of life of both the donor and the recipient. However, a live renal transplant is never easy, and this is why all prospective kidney donors should consider known risks as well as benefits before proceeding with the process. Kidney transplantation is the process in which a functioning healthy kidney derived from a kidney transplant donor or a cadaver is grafted into a patient suffering from ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) or CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease).

The kidney mainly helps in removing waste products and excess fluid from the body while regulating the levels of electrolytes, producing hormones needed in the regulation of blood pressure, and stimulating Red Blood Cell (RBC) production among other processes. The reason for this is that, no matter how damaged the kidneys are, one healthy kidney is enough to enable a person with kidney failure to live a normal life.

Living kidney donation means donating one of the kidneys to a fellow human being by a kidney transplant donor, while deceased means donating kidneys from a deceased person. Living kidney donations usually have better graft outcomes and have fewer technical complications than in deceased donor kidney transplantation.

Eligibility Criteria for Kidney Donation

Renal transplantation has several benefits associated with it, that could only be assessed after proper consultation from the best kidney transplant doctor in Noida which makes it appropriate to decide if you are healthy enough for the donation. While assessing the conditions and eligibility criteria for kidney donation by a kidney transplant donor one must be aware and up to date with the norms of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 which signifies the necessary steps required to regulate the successful removal, storage, and transplantation of the human organs like a kidney for therapeutic and legal purposes only. Potential living donors must meet the following criteria for kidney transplant procedure steps:

• The age range must be between 18 and 60 years old.
• The donor must be free from any acute sickness or chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, or any other lethal diseases.
• Donors must maintain normal blood pressure and a normal level of kidney function.
• No principal, secondary, or recurrent malignancy or history of such disease within five years before the donation.
• The donor must have not smoked for a year or more.
• The donor must undergo medical and psychological tests before the renal transplant surgery.

The evaluation process for kidney transplant donor requirements typically involves:

• Urine exam: To check for the presence of bacteria or abnormality that may suggest infection or the state of kidney disease.
• Blood tests: To determine the level of toxins, electrolytes, metabolic waste products, and serum creatinine.
• Psychological tests: To determine one’s motives for donations and the consequences of their psychological state.

Close relatives include parents, siblings, and children, with these categories of individuals, the likelihood is slightly higher that they may be compatible with the recipient for kidney donation after following the kidney transplant donor requirements. But it is also possible to use living donors such as close friends or acquaintances if there are no close relations and the donor meets all the requirements then is a match.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Renal Donation

Kidney donation is a substantial surgery through which risks, as well as benefits, are involved. It is also important to know these aspects to make the right decision. Some of the potential kidney transplant complications for donors include:

• Surgical risks include bleeding, chances of developing Diabetes, formation of blood clots, and deep vein thrombosis.
• There is discomfort in the 1st three postoperative days, days 4 to 7 are characterized by slight pain and discomfort but on Day 8 and onwards it does not indicate any form of discomfort.
• Scar and alteration of the body image.
• Nephrectomy where the surgeon removes the kidney to be donated.
• Risk for CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) progression, new-onset hypertension, proteinuria, or reduced renal reserve in the remaining kidney.

Although there are these risks, a majority of the donors have stated that donating a kidney could be more beneficial to them than negative. These benefits include:

• Being aware that you have served or enhanced the quality of another person’s life.
• The hope is to achieve a better quality of life for the recipient.
• The feeling of altruism may lead to the possibility of improvement in your mental and emotional status.

Process of Kidney Donation

The procedure of a kidney transplant donor takes some time and it may take several months before completion. Here is an overview of the steps involved:

• Assessment- The recipient is assessed to check his/her suitability for transplantation and search for living-related donors.
• Evaluating- A potential donor has to go through a certain number of medical and psychological tests to determine the efficiency of his/her donation.
• Identifier- The donor and recipient’s blood and tissue compatibility test is done to check for compatibility before donation.
• Decision-making- If you are categorized as a potential donor you will be given time to make up your mind. Therefore, the benefits and risks and the tips to prepare before a kidney transplant must be explained to family members, friends, and any healthcare provider.
• Surgery- If you choose to go ahead with the donation, you will require a nephrectomy either by the open surgical method or by the laparoscopic surgical method. The laparoscopic method involves a specialized surgeon making small incisions in the abdominal region of the individual’s body to remove the kidney from the particular donor’s body and prepare it for the transplant. The operation usually lasts from 2 to 4 hours, and a patient can stay in the hospital for one to two days.
• Restoration- After the surgery, one requires rest periods from work and goes through a restoration process. Four to six weeks is usually adequate time for most donors to carry out their conventional activities.
• Subsequent check-ups- The donors will require follow-up tests to check on their renal function and general health. You will also be in the care team of the recipient to see that they are healthy and have a productive kidney transplant.

Kidney donation is one of the noble donations that can help save or significantly prolong the lives of people suffering from kidney failure. However, one has to be very sure of one’s eligibility in this context and also understand all the risks and issues associated with such a decision. For a detailed view on kidney donation by the renal transplant surgeon who will help you to make the right decision and guide you to the necessary procedures of the donation process; book an appointment with Dr. Vipin Tyagi today.