Living donation is a type of kidney transplant in which a living person donates one of their two healthy kidneys to a person living with kidney disease. A living donor is a person who donates their healthy kidney. The American Kidney Fund (AKF) works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions most at risk, to support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease, from prevention to life after transplantation. Kidney donation may slightly increase the risk of developing kidney failure one day, particularly for black men.
However, the increase in risk is small, with less than 1% chance of developing kidney failure in the future after a kidney donation. Not everyone can be a kidney donor, however. While most people can live a normal life with just one kidney, it's not as safe for everyone to try. Potential donors who are moderately overweight with risk factors for other health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, may be rejected.
If a prospective donor has no other risk factors other than being overweight, they can see a doctor or specialist to start losing weight and apply again later. Surprisingly, the potential donors that make experts most nervous aren't those over 50. They are those who are under 40 years of age and are in good health. While these donors are now healthy, we can't predict with 100 percent certainty that in 20 years they won't develop diabetes or high blood pressure, or that they won't have a car accident that damages the remaining kidney.We also spoke extensively with potential donors about pregnancy.
For the most part, their risk of complications during pregnancy is no different from that of the general population. Studies have shown that previous donors have a higher risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy (also known as gestational hypertension) and of preeclampsia. Women of childbearing age are not excluded from donating, but this is an important consideration that should be discussed with their spouses, and their obstetricians should be informed about plans for a pregnancy while living with only one kidney.Most kidney donation procedures are now performed laparoscopically, meaning that the surgeon will reach the body's internal organ through several small incisions. You'll be asked questions to make sure you're mentally and emotionally ready to donate a kidney and that you have a support system to help you after donation surgery.
Donating can be selfless and rewarding, and studies have shown that living donors live as long as people who never donated.If the donor evaluation team decides that you are healthy and that you are a good choice for the person receiving the kidney, you may be approved to donate the kidney. In fact, one in four living organ donors is not biologically related to the recipient (the person receiving a donated organ). The long-term survival rate after kidney donation is approximately the same as that of generally healthy people who are not kidney donors.Medicare, Medicaid, or kidney beneficiary insurance will cover the medical costs of donating a kidney. It is recommended to have blood pressure checks and blood and urine tests every year at your annual checkup with your family doctor.You may also want to talk about donating live kidneys with people you trust, such as family and friends.
Many donors say they feel better about themselves after donating, and most say that if they could do it again, they would still choose to donate their kidney. In conclusion, donating a live kidney can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both donor and recipient alike. However, it is important to understand all of the risks involved before making this decision. It is also important to make sure you have all of the necessary support systems in place before going through with it.
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