Kidney donation is a life-saving act that can improve or save someone else's life. It is a major decision with lifelong implications that can encompass the dimensions of medical and psychosocial health. Potential donors should carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of donating a kidney before making a decision. The risks of major surgery include bleeding and infection, but most kidney donors recover with little or no problems.
After surgery to remove a kidney (nephrectomy), you may stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 nights. Living donation doesn't change life expectancy and doesn't seem to increase the risk of kidney failure. In general, most people with only one normal kidney have few or no problems; however, you should always talk to your transplant team about the risks involved in donating. Some studies indicate that living donors may have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure.
It is recommended that potential donors consult with their doctor about the risks of donating live food. Surgery to donate a kidney has the same risks and side effects that are common in any major surgery. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Many people feel some numbness around the incision.
Most complications don't happen very often and most can be treated. When the kidney is removed, the single normal kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney.If you want to be a living donor, you'll need to have a medical exam with blood tests to make sure you're healthy enough to donate a kidney. You should also meet with a psychologist and an independent living donor advocate to ensure that you are mentally and emotionally prepared to donate one of your kidneys. We have passed the Living Donor Protection Act, which protects donors from being denied life, disability or long-term care insurance after donating.
There have been some cases where living donors needed a kidney later on, not necessarily because of the donation itself. If you donate to a transplant center associated with the National Kidney Registry and, for some reason, need a kidney after donation, priority will be given to a kidney from a living donor.In addition to being healthy, living donors must have blood types and tissues compatible with those of the kidney recipient. However, there are concerns that adaptive hyperfiltration may cause a more rapid progression of de novo kidney disease, which could accelerate deterioration to low levels of renal function or renal failure (3). If you're healthy, donating a kidney won't increase your chances of getting sick or having health problems.
It's possible to get pregnant after donation, but it's generally not recommended for at least six months after donation surgery. However, if kidney failure occurs for any reason, the UNOS has a priority system that ensures that living organ donors are at the top of the waiting list and receive it quickly.A new study found that “living kidney donors prioritized a number of outcomes, the most important of which were renal health and the surgical, lifestyle, functional and psychosocial effects of donation (30). People who are considering becoming a kidney donor should carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of donating a kidney.
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