Kidney Donation Risks
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF DONATING A KIDNEY?
When considering living donation, it is important for donors to think about how they might feel if something unlikely or unusual were to happen to them, and discuss these concerns with their clinical team as part of the assessment process.
All operations carry some risk and donating a kidney is no different. However, the operation is a common procedure and the medical team caring for you are aware of the risks and can usually identify and treat these very quickly if they occur.
COMPLICATIONS OF DONATING A KIDNEY
There is a very small risk of death for the donor: this is estimated at 1 in 3,000, which is a similar risk to that of having an appendix removed.
Most complications for donors are minor and include infections (chest, wound or urine) and, rarely, bleeding or blood clots. Rarer but more serious risks include damage to major blood vessels and organs near the kidneys such as the colon, lungs and spleen. As with any surgery, there can be less common and unexpected complications.
There is also the risk of damage to your emotional wellbeing or mental health if things do not work out as expected, for example if there are complications for you or the recipient and particularly if the transplant does not work for the patient and must be taken out.
For non-directed altruistic donors and donors in the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, it is the recipient’s choice whether they want to get in touch with the donor or not. For this reason, you might never know the identity of the recipient, unless they choose to contact you. It can be difficult for some recipients to express how they feel about receiving such a wonderful gift and many find it hard to put pen to paper and say thank you. It is important to be prepared for this so that you are not disappointed if you do not hear anything from your recipient.
LONG-TERM RISKS OF DONATING A KIDNEY
A long-term risk of donating a kidney is higher blood pressure. Studies show that some donors have a small increase in blood pressure over time. A low number of donors also report problems like pain, nerve damage, hernias, or intestinal blockages. However, these are rare and most donors do not experience any long-term complications.
It’s important to note that the majority of kidney donors have a normal life expectancy and lead healthy lives after donation.
REDUCING THE RISKS FOR KIDNEY DONORS
THOROUGH HEALTH SCREENING
Before donating a kidney, potential donors go through a health check to make sure they’re able to donate. This involves medical tests to check things like blood pressure, kidney function, and any existing health issues. The aim is to find any risks that could cause problems during or after the donation.
POST-DONATION FOLLOW-UP
After donating, it’s important for donors to have follow-up visits with a healthcare professional. These visits help check how they’re recovering and catch any problems early. Follow-up care usually includes checking blood pressure, kidney tests, and overall health – ongoing medical support helps donors stay healthy after donating.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Living a healthy lifestyle is important for kidney donors to stay well after donating. This means eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, exercising regularly for heart health, and avoiding smoking or drinking too much alcohol. Also, managing stress and keeping the mind active helps with long-term health. By following these habits, kidney donors can stay healthy and enjoy life after kidney donation.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR POTENTIAL KIDNEY DONORS
Donating a kidney is generally safe with very few risks, but potential donors should think about a few other things before they decide to donate. These include financial matters, effects on work or career, and personal relationships. Donating involves not just surgery and recovery, but also emotional and mental effects. It’s important for donors to understand all parts of donation and discuss any worries with their healthcare team.
