[Transplantation of the kidney from living related donor]

Ninety-nine alive related kidney donor transplantations were done in patients with terminal chronic renal failure in the Department for Transplantation of the All-Union Research Surgery Centre of USSR AMS in 1965-1989. The donors were mothers (n = 49), fathers (n = 22), sisters (n = 18), and brothers (n = 10). Donors were selected according to the criteria accepted at the Centre. To assess the degree of operative risk for the donor and the functional status of the preserved kidney, the course of the postoperative period was studied. Complications were seen in 20.2% of the donors, of which severe in 3.1%. All the complications were managed successfully and the donors were discharged quite healthy with normal blood levels of nitrogenous residues. Based on their own findings, the authors conclude that the operative risk faced by an alive related donor is insignificant, while the favourable transplantation outcomes make the risk justifiable. Besides, taking into account the deficient hemodialysis centres in this country and their poor technical equipment, the problem of alive related renal transplantation becomes especially significant.