Kidney donation involves removing a functioning kidney from a donor and transplanting it into someone with end-stage renal failure. There are two types: cadaveric and living donor. Living donor kidneys perform better and allow recipients to skip long waiting lists. Family members are often asked to donate, but strangers can also donate. Donors undergo screening and testing before being matched with recipients. Everyone is encouraged to register as an organ donor.
Kidney donation is a practice in which a functioning kidney is removed from someone and placed into the body of a person suffering from end-stage renal failure. The donor kidney will function like a normal kidney once the body adjusts, allowing the recipient to lead a potentially very healthy and active life. There are two types of kidney donation: cadaveric donation, in which the donor kidney is removed from someone who is deceased, and living donor kidney donation, in which someone gives up a kidney for someone else.
The practice of organ transplantation has been thought theoretically possible for centuries, but it didn’t really take off until the 20th century, when advances in medical technology made the practice safer and more reliable. As early as 20, the first living donor kidney donation took place, demonstrating that kidneys could be successfully harvested from live donors for transplantation. Long-term studies seem to suggest that living donor kidneys also perform better in the long term, with a reduced risk of infections and complications.
The kidneys are vital in filtering out toxins in the body and producing urine to express those toxins. When someone’s kidneys fail, substances begin to build up in the body, causing a variety of health problems and eventually leading to systemic organ failure, as the body simply becomes overloaded with materials it can’t process. Someone with kidney failure needs regular dialysis to replace kidney function or a new kidney.
Many doctors encourage people to consider donating a living donor kidney. The main reason for this is that living donor kidneys work better, but using a living donor also allows people to skip long organ waiting lists, giving them access to a kidney much sooner.
Family members are often asked to consider living donor kidney donation, as they often match the recipient. If no family member agrees or no one is a match, people in need of kidneys can connect with organizations that facilitate living donor kidney donation, or a friend can step forward to offer their own kidney. The use of kidneys from complete strangers is becoming more common, thanks to growing awareness of the need for organs and education about living donor kidney donation.
In a cadaveric kidney donation, the kidney is taken from a body and rushed to the operating room so it can be transplanted into the recipient. Typically, other organs are also harvested, such as hearts, lungs, and so on. In living donor donations, the recipient and donor enter the operating room together, a small incision is made in the donor to remove its kidney, and the kidney is transferred to the recipient. After surgery, several weeks of recovery are required, but donor and recipient can resume fully active lives, as long as they keep an eye on diet and urine output. Many donors say they don’t notice any difference after healing, and many also express positive feelings about the experience.
Individuals interested in living donor kidney donation can contact local hospitals or organ banks to discuss the steps required to register for a donation program. Potential donors are screened for health concerns and undergo preliminary testing so they can be matched with recipients before being entered into the database as potential donors for people in need of a kidney. Everyone is also encouraged to consider registering as an organ donor so that if they die with usable organs, tissue and bone, these materials can be transplanted into people who may need them.
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