What you should know about living donor kidney transplants

Dr.Vikas Agarwal, 4 mins read

A living-donor transplant refers to a surgical procedure that removes an organ or part of an organ from one living person and places it in another living individual who has lost or is losing an organ due to failing function. 

Living-kidney donations are the most common of all living-donor transplants. Individuals can confidently donate either of their two kidneys to someone in need, while the lone remaining kidney will perform all necessary functions quite well. Living donors can also donate part of their liver, as the remaining liver regenerates, almost grows back to its original size, and performs a normal function.

There are two scenarios for getting a donor for a living kidney donor transplant: 

When the living kidney donor is a family member like a parent, child, brother, or sister (this is called living-related kidney donation).

When the living donor is close to or emotionally connected to the recipient, say for instance a good friend, a spouse, or even an in-law (this is called a living unrelated kidney donation). Today, because of great advances in science, technology, and skill in living donor kidney transplants, along with improved medications; there is no need for a genetic link between any donor and a recipient to make sure a successful transplant goes through. 

In some cases, a living kidney donation may even come from a complete and anonymous stranger, this is called anonymous or non-directed kidney donation.

Unlike before, a lot of individuals are donating their kidneys while alive, as the procedures are safer for both donors and recipients and also because of the ever-growing need for more organs amidst a constantly severe shortage of deceased-donor kidneys.

As opposed to deceased donor kidney transplants, there are several advantages of a living donor kidney transplant procedure. 

Living donor kidney transplants are the best option for end-stage renal failure. Living donor kidney transplants also offer a longer graft and greater patient survival rate in the short, mid, and long term. 

Living kidney transplants also offer the team of healthcare professionals taking care of the transplant a great opportunity to schedule the procedure at a time that is optimal for both the donor and recipient. 

In the procedure, the time blood supply is halted (ischemia time) between the removal and transplantation is shortened to a minimum.

Living donor kidneys also show good initial function without the need dot dialysis in most cases, there is also a lower chance of rejection, which reduces the need for antirejection drugs, which is a great benefit in no uncertain terms. 

If an individual is in dire need and a donor does appear in time, there’s hardly any need to spend time waiting for your number on a waiting list, this can save lives and prevent other complications and further deterioration of health. 

Dialysis will not be needed for the new kidney if the recipient didn’t get dialysis before the transplant.

Over half of all kidney transplants performed in India are living-donor kidney transplants.

How can one be a viable living kidney donor?

For you to donate a kidney, you have to be in acceptably good physical and mental health and should be 18 years or above. Also, you need to have normal kidney function. Certain medical conditions can stop you from becoming a living kidney donor; these can include very high or uncontrolled high blood pressure, HIV, diabetes, or other acute infections. Having a history of serious mental health conditions that needed or continue to need treatment can also disqualify you from becoming a donor.

What are the different types of living donor kidney transplants?

There are two primary types of living kidney donation. They are: 

The directed donation, when the donor specifies the person who will receive the kidney, is the most common type of living donation. Directed donations are mostly for blood relatives, like parents or children, or siblings. Even those who have close personal relationships like a husband or wife, friends, or coworkers.

The non-directed donation is when a donor does not specifically mention to who they are giving their kidney. 

Are living kidney transplants always successful?

Today, kidney transplantation is extremely successful, and the procedure‘s success rates continue to improve. However, complications may occur after the transplant. However, your care team will address all these issues as and when they arise.