Living related kidney donors: complications and long-term renal function

Sixty-two living related kidney donors were nephrectomized during a 10-year period. The overall complication rate was 40%, most complications being minor. Among the major complications was one patient with pulmonary embolism and three patients with hepatitis. One female donor suffered a psychoneurotic reaction following rejection of the donated kidney and she is still away from work, more than 2 years later. The other 61 donors were back to work within 2 to 18 (mean 8) weeks. The mean serum creatinine livels increased from 0.95 preoperatively to 1.15 mg/100 ml at the followup examination, which took place between 6 months and 9 years after nephrectomy. The mean increase in serum creatinine was higher in donors above 50 years of age (P less than 0.02). The mean creatinine clearance of the whole group decreased from 111 to 90 ml/min. The mean increase in size of the remaining kidney was 22%. Donor nephrectomy is a safe procedure with few serious complications and the prognosis for the recipient is excellent. Therefore, we consider transplantation from a family member to be the treatment of choice in terminal uremia.