When the patient reaches end-stage renal disease they are usually faced with two options: dialysis or a transplant. Dialysis is the more common of the two, but transplants may keep the patient more free and independent. There are two main types of kidney procedures: deceased-donor and living-donor transplants. A healthy individual has the option to donate his or her body when they die, and the kidneys are often utilized in transplants. Once the kidney is removed from the deceased body, it is either iced immediately, or is kept on a machine that pumps oxygen into the tissues so it may remain healthy and fresh. Either way, it is crucial that the kidney does not travel very far, because the more time spent outside a living body the worse it may become. Contrary to popular belief, a patient with end-stage renal disease only needs one kidney, so thankfully resources may be saved. The non-functioning kidney still remains in the body, and the new kidney is placed in the front of the stomach, opposed to the back. This seems like a much better option than dialysis, because the patient doesn’t have to spend 12 hours a week in the clinic. However it is difficult to find a match for a patient, due to the lack of compatibility and registered donors. About two thirds of transplant patients receive kidneys from deceased donors, whereas the others mostly come from live donors. Generally speaking, living-donor kidneys do much better than deceased kidneys. For one, the kidney lasts longer both in the short term and the long term. Deceased donor kidneys may also have delayed functions, whereas the living donor kidney starts working immediately. If you wanted to donate your kidney to a close friend or family member, it is important to know what makes a good “match.” No two individuals are the exact same: we each have different blood and tissue types. They do not have to be the exact same, but the blood must be compatible. For example, if the donor is blood type A, they are compatible with patients who have blood types AB and A. But even if you aren’t exactly compatible with the person you want to donate to, there is still a way for it to work! The transplant clinic may offer you and the patient a chance to do a paired donation. As shown in the diagram, your blood and tissue types are compared with other patients in the clinic, and if you can match with a patient who couldn’t match with their preferred donor, the two donors may “trade” kidneys to make both patients happy. Donors are unfortunately very scarce, but due to the amount of people needing kidneys, you will most likely find a patient that matches with your kidney, so it will not be wasted. Sources: Mayo Clinic Staff Print. "Kidney Transplants." Mayo Clinic. N.p., 24 June 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/living-donor-kidney-transplant/pdc-20207271>. "Organ Donation: Demand versus Supply." ExpatHealth.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2017. <https://expathealth.org/healthcare-news/organ-donation-demand-versus-supply/>.
2 Comments
Raylene Streuber
4/4/2017 01:59:34 pm
This concept of "paired donation" is fascinating! Do those with negative blood types have a harder time finding a kidney match?
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Muhammad Ali
4/7/2017 11:46:58 am
In regards to blood typing, negative and positive blood typing does not matter. However, HLA tissue typing if fairly important for the patient to find a match.
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