Related Experiment Videos
One hundred consecutive living kidney donors: modern issues and outcomes
Thomas G Peters1, Suzanne M Repper, Mia C Vincent
1The Jacksonville Transplant Center at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA.
Clinical Transplantation
|October 10, 2002
Summary
Living kidney donation is safe and effective, with excellent outcomes for donors and recipients. Minimal open surgery and brief hospital stays contribute to successful kidney transplants.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplant Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Living kidney donation is crucial for renal transplant programs.
- Defining current issues and outcomes is essential for donor safety and program expansion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes and complications of living kidney donation.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of a standardized surgical approach.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 100 consecutive living kidney donors (July 1996 - March 2001).
- Standardized minimal open surgical technique, epidural pain control, and planned short hospital stay.
- Analysis of donor demographics, length of stay, hospitalization charges, complications, and return to function.
Main Results:
- No major intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications in donors.
- Average donor length of stay was 3.12 days; average hospitalization charge was $14,470.
- All donors returned to pre-donation functional status; 6 rehospitalizations occurred for minor issues.
Conclusions:
- Excellent long-term outcomes for living kidney donors are achievable with minimal open surgery, epidural pain control, and brief hospitalization.
- Expansion of living donor resources is supported by positive outcomes in related and unrelated donation.
- Minimally invasive techniques and non-directed donation can further enhance living donor kidney transplantation.