Living Kidney Donation

It is important that anyone considering donating a kidney is aware of the risks involved. 

Firstly let me say that altruistic donation (the operation and recovery etc) is no different to someone donating to a loved one. Here are some statistics *.

In the UK between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009:

• 3,513 organ transplants were carried out, thanks to the generosity of 1,854 donors.
• 977 lives were saved in the UK through a heart, lung, liver or combined heart/lungs, liver/kidney, liver/pancreas, heart/kidney or liver/kidney/pancreas transplant.
• A total of 2,536 patients received a kidney, pancreas or combined kidney/pancreas transplant.
• A further 2,711 people had their sight restored through a cornea transplant.
• A record number of donors were living donors, 954 people donated a kidney or a segment of their liver or lung, representing more than half of all donors.
• The highest number of non-heartbeating donor transplants took place- 579 transplants, a 35% increase on 2007-2008.
• Living donor kidney transplants are increasing – 589 in 2005-2006, 690 in 2006-2007, 831 in 2007-2008 and 927 in 2008-2009 and now represent more than one in three of all kidney transplants.
• At the end of March 2009, 7,877 patients were listed as actively waiting for a transplant.
• Almost a million more people pledged to help others after their death by registering their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register, bringing the total at 31 March 2009 to 16,124,871

As you can see from the above, more than 1 in 3 kidney transplants are via living donors.  There may only have been a small amount of altruistic donors so far, but the law allowing that is only a couple or so years old.

I felt it useful to show those statistics as some people think that only around 20+ living kidney donations have taken place …. that is altruistic donations though.  Stats above will show you that over 900 living donations have taken place in 2008/2009. Since 2005 -  2009 there have been 3,307 living kidney donations.

Did you know that a kidney transplant from a deceased person – the kidney has a life expectancy of only around 10 years. A kidney transplant from a Living Donor – the kidney has a life expectancy of around 20 years!

Yes there are risks involved. There are in any operation.  What must be pointed out though is the doctors would not allow this operation to take place on any individual if the risks were not minimal. The rigorous tests a donor is put through prior to being accepted as a donor makes sure they are fit and healthy.  It was explained to me that a reaction to the anaesthetic could occur. Something unexpected could occur during the operation itself.  This is very unlikely but no operation is without some risk however small.

Immediately after the operation there is a small risk of chest infection, but as I don’t smoke this is highly unlikely …. but it can happen after any operation, even though the risks are small.  A blood clot could form – again very unlikely.  I asked what precautions are taken to prevent blood clots and was told that my bloods ability to clot was tested before hand. That for the operation I would wear these special long socks – anti-embolism stockings (do a google but I am not sure if they are full length ones or below knee ones).  Some special shoes that gently compress the lower leg to aid blood circulation.  I would be given heparin to thin the blood slightly. I would be constantly monitored.  More details on the above can be given by any Transplant unit or your doctor.

As for living with only one kidney afterwards that does not present a problem to me.  The remaining kidney will slightly enlarge to take on the extra work.  There is no reason why I can’t go back to a totally normal life afterwards.  Very active people have donated and carried on with an active life afterwards just as before. Some people are born with only one kidney but don’t know it. They feel perfectly well with just one. I am no more likely to get kidney disease becuase I only have one kidney.  Generally a kidney problem would affect both kidneys, so having one would present no greater risk.  Playing a contact sport (boxing, rugby etc) where a blow could occur to a kidney should be avoided if possible. I don’t think I am likely to take up one of those sports! …. me = wimp!    I had all the risks thoroughly explained to me and I asked many questions relating to them. Every answer given was more than acceptable to me as a very lo risk indeed. 

To me there is a greater risk each time I get into my car and go on the road where I am likely to come across drivers with no licenses, drivers under the influence, drivers that are just plain bad drivers. They don’t wear stickers on their cars saying “avoid me”. Yet I choose to take that risk.    People who smoke know they are taking a huge risk and putting  their health at risk.  People who regularly go out and drink excessively…. they know they are damaging their health, yet still do it!  People climb huge mountains; jump out of airplanes;  take part in extreme sports – they love the adrenaline rush and the challenge, yet know there are risks.   They are hailed as amazing people for achieving these things – yes they are – they have far more courage than I do. We all do things, knowing the risks, accepting them – yet the risks involved in donating a kidney to me are far far far less than a lot of those risks.