what happens to those who donate a kidney

by Winston Senger 4 min read

If you donate a kidney, you will have about a 1% chance of developing kidney failure (end stage renal disease). This is a higher rate than if you had not donated. However, a donor’s chance of kidney failure is still low.

Kidney donors typically experience a 20 to 30 percent decrease in kidney function (as measured by the glomerular filtration rate) after donation. The remaining kidney compensates for the loss of one kidney, through a process called hyperfiltration.

Full Answer

What are the long term effects of donating a kidney?

There are two types of kidney transplantations: those that come from living donors (usually a loved one) and those that come from non-living donors (usually a stranger). A kidney transplantation from living donors lasts about five years longer than those from non-living donors, according to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The Procedure. The average kidney transplantation …

What is the recovery time after donating a kidney?

If you donate a kidney, you will have about a 1% chance of developing kidney failure (end stage renal disease). This is a higher rate than if you had not donated. However, a donor’s chance of kidney failure is still low. This is due to the careful screening process for donors that excludes persons with risk factors for kidney disease.

What are the risks of donating a kidney?

Nov 02, 2021 · A laparoscopic surgery is a type of surgery that uses very small cuts on the body and a laparoscope, which is a thin, lighted tube used to see inside the body. In kidney donor surgery, the surgeon makes small cuts (only a few inches long) on the donor's stomach and removes the kidney.

What are the pros and cons of donating a kidney?

Nov 21, 2021 · Becoming a living kidney donor through a National Kidney Registry swap gives you additional protections including coverage for any uncovered post-surgical complications, kidney donation life insurance, donation disability insurance, legal representation, travel and lodging reimbursement, lost wage reimbursement, and prioritization for a living donor kidney in the …

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What happens to the person who donates a kidney?

People can live normal lives with only one kidney. As long as the donor is evaluated thoroughly and cleared for donation, he or she can lead a normal life after the surgery. When the kidney is removed, the single normal kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney.

Will donating a kidney shorten my life?

No Life Expectancy Changes Donating a kidney does not affect a person's life expectancy. On the contrary, studies show that people who donate a kidney outlive the average population. Twenty years after donating, 85 percent of kidney donors were still alive, while the expected survival rate was 66 percent.

What are the disadvantages of donating a kidney?

Medical possible long-term consLoss of 25-35% of kidney function.Long term pain.Adhesions (internal scars that connect tissues not usually connected)Scars, usually two small cuts and one longer one.Blocked bowel, which may need surgery to correct.Protein in urine, which may be a sign of diabetes.More items...

How does donating a kidney affect the donor?

Kidney donation may increase this risk for some donors. Some donors have reported long-term problems with pain, nerve damage, hernia, or intestinal obstruction. These risks seem to be rare, but there are currently no national statistics on the frequency of these problems.

What is the best age to donate a kidney?

18 years or olderTo donate a kidney, you must be in good physical and mental health.As a general rule, you should be 18 years or older.

Can a woman donate a kidney to a man?

Our results suggested gender matching for kidney transplant. Only in some exceptional conditions, male donor to female recipient kidney transplant may be successful and female donors to male recipients are not suggested, especially in aged patients with the history of dialysis.Jan 6, 2020

Can I drink alcohol with one kidney?

Alcohol affects all of your body's organs. However, the effects of alcohol on one kidney lead to multiple issues. Although drinking one to two drinks a day typically won't be an issue, if you have one kidney, it will. When you drink, you will generally urinate more.Oct 16, 2020

What are the chances of dying from donating a kidney?

Mortality Rate Kidney donor surgery has a . 007% mortality rate, which means that on average, for every 100,000 living donor surgeries, seven donors die.

Does donating a kidney hurt?

How much will it hurt? Everyone is different, but you could be in a lot of pain after the surgery. But it will get easier each day, and there are different types of pain relievers to make you feel better. Shortly after surgery, as your anesthesia wears off, you'll get pain medication through an IV into a vein.Nov 19, 2020

Is donating a kidney major surgery?

For the kidney recipient, the risk of transplant surgery is usually low because it is a potentially lifesaving procedure. But kidney donation surgery can expose a healthy person to the risk of and recovery from unnecessary major surgery. Immediate, surgery-related risks of donor nephrectomy include: Pain.May 14, 2021

How many years can a person live after donating a kidney?

The likely life span of a deceased kidney donor transplant is 10-15 years. It may be more or less depending on various factors.

Is it a good idea to donate a kidney?

Living kidney donation is safe. But overall, living kidney donation is safe. In most cases, donating a kidney will not not raise your risk of kidney disease, diabetes, or other health problems.

What are the chances of dying from donating a kidney?

Mortality Rate Kidney donor surgery has a . 007% mortality rate, which means that on average, for every 100,000 living donor surgeries, seven donors die.

Can you live with one kidney?

There may also be a chance of having high blood pressure later in life. However, the loss in kidney function is usually very mild, and life span is normal. Most people with one kidney live healthy, normal lives with few problems. In other words, one healthy kidney can work as well as two.

How many people get kidney transplants a year?

But, only 17,000 people actually receive kidney transplants per year, according to the National Kidney Foundation. There are two types of kidney transplantations: those that come from living donors (usually a loved one) and those that come from non-living donors (usually a stranger).

How long does a kidney transplant last?

The Procedure. The average kidney transplantation surgery lasts for about three hours. “Shortly before going into surgery, medicine is given to the patients to help them relax. A general anesthetic is then given.

How does donating a kidney affect people?

Donation of a kidney can affect people in different ways and your mental health is as important as your physical health. A psychologist or counsellor will almost always see non-directed kidney donors to talk about their reasons for wanting to donate and the potential psychological impact on them.

Why can't I donate kidneys?

People with high blood pressure may not be suitable donors, because kidneys are sometimes damaged by high blood pressure (hypertension), and removing a kidney may increase the risk of damage to the remaining one.

What is urine test?

Urine tests. Your urine is tested to look for any sign of infection or other abnormalities, such as blood, protein or glucose in the urine. These tests can be done on an ordinary urine sample, which is tested with a simple dipstick and also sent to the laboratory.

When to do pre-op blood work?

In the week or fortnight before the operation a few of the blood tests may be repeated to check that nothing has changed. Some routine “pre-op” (before the operation) investigations may also be done during a pre-admission visit to the hospital.

What is the order of blood tests?

Although the order of the tests may vary around the country, a simple blood test to find out your blood group will usually be carried out at an early stage. You will also have a number of blood tests to check that you are not carrying any potentially harmful viruses, such as hepatitis or HIV, and other infections that could be passed on to a potential recipient.

How long does it take for a glucose tolerance test to be done?

This test involves a series of two blood tests taken over a period of two hours. At the beginning of the series you will come to the hospital in the morning and have a blood test before eating anything. You will then be asked to drink a very sweet drink containing glucose and the blood test is repeated after two hours. The test measures how well the body copes with a high dose of sugar. People with diabetes or impaired glucose handling will not be able to donate a kidney.

Can you be a kidney donor if you have only one kidney?

About one in 1,000 people are born with only one kidney, and if you happen to have only one kidney you cannot be a kidney donor!

What is living donation?

Living donation is a type of kidney transplant where a living person donates one of their two healthy kidneys to a person living with kidney disease. A living donor is the person who donates their healthy kidney.

How do I know if I am healthy enough to donate a kidney?

You will need to have a full health evaluation at the transplant center. You will meet with many members of the donor evaluation team. This team is specially assigned to work with you as a possible living donor and includes members similar to those on the transplant team.

What may prevent me from donating a kidney?

There are some health conditions that may prevent you from donating a kidney, including:

Can I donate a kidney if I drink alcohol?

Talk with your donor evaluation team to know if you can donate. In most cases:

What are the possible risks of donating a kidney?

When donating a kidney, there are possible physical, emotional and financial risks. The donor evaluation team will review the possible risks with you. They will not let you donate if you have a high risk.

After I donate a kidney, will I have any side effects or health problems?

After you recover from the donation surgery, you should feel and be well. You can live with just one healthy kidney. Your remaining kidney will be able to do most of the work of both of your kidneys.

What is kidney donation surgery like?

Most kidney transplant surgeries are done laparoscopically. A laparoscopic surgery is a type of surgery that uses very small cuts on the body and a laparoscope, which is a thin, lighted tube used to see inside the body. In kidney donor surgery, the surgeon makes small cuts (only a few inches long) on the donor's stomach and removes the kidney.

What Are The Requirements For A Kidney Transplant

If you have advanced kidney disease, you may be eligible for a transplant. You will need to be evaluated by a transplant center, which will do a number of tests to determine whether you are a good candidate for a kidney transplant.

Comparison Of Living Donor And Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantations

The timeframes in this table are average estimates. Please speak to your kidney care team for more detailed information about how long your transplant might last and possible waiting times.

Answers To Common Questions

The team looking after you is not able to contact living donors on your behalf. If you would like a kidney transplant from a living donor, you will need to talk to family and friends and ask if they are interested in giving you a kidney.

What Does A Kidney Transplant Surgery Involve For The Recipient

Before the transplant, the patient will be put under general anesthesiathey will be asleep for the entire procedure. The surgeon then makes an incision in the recipients abdomen and places the donated kidney inside. The new kidney is then connected to the recipients blood vessels and bladder. Once this is done, the surgeon closes the incision.

What Are The Advantages Of Living Donation Over Deceased Donation

Kidney transplants performed from living donors may have several advantages compared to transplants performed from deceased donors:

Selection Criteria For Living Donation

A standard set of selection criteria are used to determine if it is safe or appropriate for a person to be a living kidney donor. The following conditions must be met for a patient to be considered as a living donor at our Transplant Center.

The Recovery And Aftermath

Recovery from a kidney donation operation can take from two to 12 weeks depending on the persons individual progress.

How many kidneys were transplanted in 2016?

And in 2016, nearly 30 percent of the more than 19,000 kidneys transplanted in the U.S. came from living kidney donors such as Raisa – people with two healthy kidneys who voluntarily have one removed to transplant in someone whose kidneys have failed.

Why did Selena Gomez get a kidney transplant?

Pop singer Selena Gomez revealed personal news in mid-September 2017 that shocked her fans: The 25-year-old had recently received a kidney transplant due to complications of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. And the donor?

Can anyone donate a kidney?

But not just anyone can donate a kidney. Stringent screening is required, and potential donors often have a lot of questions about their eligibility and how donation will affect their health in the future. Let’s go through some of the frequently asked questions, as well as risk factors and benefits of living kidney donation.

Is it safe to donate a kidney?

And living kidney donation is incredibly safe for donors – fewer than 1 percent of donors will wind up on dialysis themselves in the future, which is only slightly higher than the average risk of an individual with two healthy kidneys. But not just anyone can donate a kidney.

Who Can I Give My Kidney To?

You can donate a kidney to a family member or friend who needs one. You can also give it to someone you don't know. Doctors call this a “nondirected” donation, in which case you might decide to meet the person you donate to, or choose to stay anonymous. Either way, doctors will give your kidney to the person who needs it most and is the best match.

Am I Healthy Enough to Donate a Kidney?

Your doctor will do some tests to find out for sure. They’ll check your blood and urine, and may also do an ultrasound or take X-rays of your kidneys. You may not be able to donate if you have medical issues like diabetes or high blood pressure.

What Happens After Surgery?

Your doctor will prescribe medications to help manage your pain. They’ll also want you to get up and start moving around shortly afterward.

How Can I Donate?

If you want to give your kidney to a friend or family member, talk to the doctor at the transplant center. You'll start taking tests to see if you're a match.

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Treatment

Prognosis

  • People can live normal lives with only one kidney. As long as the donor is evaluated thoroughly and cleared for donation, he or she can lead a normal life after the surgery. When the kidney is removed, the single normal kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney.
See more on kidney.org

Prevention

  • Physical exercise is healthy and good for you. However, it's important for someone with only one kidney to be careful and protect it from injury. Some doctors think it is best to avoid contact sports like football, boxing, hockey, soccer, martial arts, or wrestling. Wearing protective gear such as padded vests under clothing can help protect the kidney from injury during sports. This can h…
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Risks

  • Living donation does not change life expectancy, and does not appear to increase the risk of kidney failure. In general, most people with a single normal kidney have few or no problems; however, you should always talk to your transplant team about the risks involved in donation. Some studies report that living donors may have a greater chance of developing high blood pres…
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Criticism

  • However, concerns about the recipient's outcome (as well as the donor's recovery) can contribute to feelings of anxiety, and may donors report a feeling of \"let down\" afterwards. Feelings of depression among living donors are not uncommon, even when both donor and recipient are doing well.
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Effects

  • While extensive data on these issues is lacking, some studies have reported the following psychological outcomes:
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Results

  • You will also have a scar from the donor operation- the size and location of the scar will depend on the type of operation you have. After donation you should be able to go back to a regular, healthy lifestyle. If you are in good health, there will probably not be any specific dietary restrictions. Talk with your transplant team about your specific dietary needs.
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Contraindications

  • Pregnancy after donation is possible but is usually not recommended for at least six months after the donation surgery. Living donors should talk to their ob/gyn and transplant team before getting pregnant about pregnancy and make sure that they have good pre-natal care.
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