Kidney Paired Exchanges and Variants

2021 ◽  
pp. 173-213
Author(s):  
Lainie Friedman ◽  
J. Richard Thistlethwaite, Jr

Given the growing gap between the demand and supply of kidneys needed for transplantation, and the better outcomes of living versus deceased donor kidney transplants, living kidney donation is being more aggressively endorsed and promoted. Traditionally, living kidney donors were ABO- and HLA-compatible with their recipients, with whom they were genetically and/or emotionally related. When a living donor-recipient pair is not compatible, there is growing acceptance of employing alternative living donor transplantation strategies such as paired kidney exchanges and domino chains. This chapter addresses the ethical and policy issues that are raised by participation in kidney paired exchanges and domino kidney chains. Specific attention is given to the participation of histocompatible donor-recipient pairs in these programs when the donor could just donate directly. Justice and other ethical issues raised by advance donor programs and list-paired exchanges are also discussed.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunjeong Kang ◽  
Jangwook Lee ◽  
Sehoon Park ◽  
Yaerim Kim ◽  
Hyo Jeong Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: It is necessary to know how the general population recognizes live kidney donation in Korea, where living donor kidney transplantations (KT) are the mainstream.Methods: Participants were randomly selected from the general population after proportional allocation by region, sex, and age. Selected participants received a questionnaire that included demographic information, socioeconomic and marital statuses, prior recognition of live donor KT, expected changes after donation, and the need for support after donor nephrectomy.Results: In total, 1,000 participants responded to the web-based survey. After reading the detailed explanation, 83.8% of the respondents answered that they fully understood living donor KT. Among the participants, 811(81.1%) answered that they knew about living donor KT, and 51.1% were willing to donate. Various complications after nephrectomy (54.4%) and deterioration in health after donation (69.1%) were the most important reasons for those who were reluctant to donate, and the possibility of a decrease in economic activities after donation accounted for 33.8%. Overall, 73.2% were more likely to agree that the government should provide social and economic support to living kidney donors; this number increased to 81.3% after exposure to the description of donor nephrectomy (P<0.001). Financial support, including surgery (74.2%) and regular medical check-up costs (70.1%), was the most preferred government support.Conclusions: The Korean general population seemed to be aware of the value and safety of kidney donation, although only half of them were willing to donate due to concerns about possible complications. Most participants agreed on social and economic support for living kidney donors, especially for surgery-related costs.


Author(s):  
Geir Mjøen ◽  
Umberto Maggiore ◽  
Nicos Kessaris ◽  
Diederik Kimenai ◽  
Bruno Watschinger ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Publications from the last decade have increased knowledge regarding long-term risks after kidney donation. We wanted to perform a survey to assess how transplant professionals in Europe inform potential kidney donors regarding long-term risks. The objectives of the survey were to determine how they inform donors and to what extent, and to evaluate the degree of variation. Methods All transplant professionals involved in the evaluation process were considered eligible, regardless of the type of profession. The survey was dispatched as a link to a web-based survey. The subjects included questions on demographics, the information policy of the respondent and the use of risk calculators, including the difference of relative and absolute risks and how the respondents themselves understood these risks. Results The main finding was a large variation in how often different long-term risks were discussed with the potential donors, i.e. from always to never. Eighty percent of respondents stated that they always discuss the risk of end-stage renal disease, while 56% of respondents stated that they always discuss the risk of preeclampsia. Twenty percent of respondents answered correctly regarding the relationship between absolute and relative risks for rare outcomes. Conclusions The use of written information and checklists should be encouraged. This may improve standardization regarding the information provided to potential living kidney donors in Europe. There is a need for information and education among European transplant professionals regarding long-term risks after kidney donation and how to interpret and present these risks.


2021 ◽  
pp. 214-240
Author(s):  
Lainie Friedman ◽  
J. Richard Thistlethwaite, Jr

In the 1980s in the United States (US), young children in liver failure were at proportionately greater risk of dying on the deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT) waitlist than adults because of the lack of appropriately sized grafts. This led to the development of two deceased donor liver techniques—reduced-size (trimming the graft to decrease its size) and split-liver (where one liver could provide grafts to two candidates). These developments decreased but did not eliminate waitlist mortality for young children. Split-liver DDLT paved the way for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in children using the lateral segments of the left lobe. Pediatric LDLT began slowly at only a few centers with successful donor and recipient results. Adult-to-adult LDLT expanded quickly despite many US programs having limited experience, low volumes, and significant donor morbidity. The ethical issues raised by the rapid expansion of adult-to-adult LDLT in the US are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Gaia Peluso ◽  
Silvia Campanile ◽  
Alessandro Scotti ◽  
Vincenzo Tammaro ◽  
Akbar Jamshidi ◽  
...  

Introduction. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that causes a potentially deadly syndrome that affects especially the respiratory tract. Kidney-transplanted patients are immunosuppressed and more susceptible to viral infections. We have examined our transplantation activity to explore the future role of kidney transplantation from deceased and living donors in COVID-19 era. Patients and Methods. The activity of our transplant center of Naples (one of the two transplant centers in Campania, South Italy) continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have analysed the kidney transplants carried out between March 9 and June 9, 2020, comparing these data with the numbers of procedures performed in the two previous years. Moreover, we have considered the possibility of performing living donor transplants during a worldwide pandemic. Results. From March 9, 2020, when the Italian lockdown begun, till June 9, 2020, five kidney transplants have been performed at our transplant center in Naples, all from deceased donors. The donors and the recipients have been screened for COVID-19 infection, and the patients, all asymptomatic, followed strict preventive measures and were fully informed about the risks of surgery and immunosuppression during a pandemic. All the transplanted patients remained COVID negative during the follow-up. The number of transplants performed has been constant compared to the same months of 2018 and 2019. In agreement with the patients, we decided to postpone living donor transplants to a period of greater control of the SARS-CoV-2 spread in Italy. Conclusion. Deceased donor kidney transplantation should continue, especially in a region with moderate risk, like Campania, with a more careful selection of donors and recipients, preferring standard donors and recipients without severe comorbidities. Living donor transplantation program, instead, should be postponed to a period of greater control of the SARS-CoV-2 spread, as it is an elective surgery and its delay does not determine additional risks for patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard Trachtman ◽  
Brendan Parent ◽  
Ari Kirshenbaum ◽  
Arthur Caplan

Background: Compared to dialysis, living kidney donation has a greater chance of restoring health and is associated with better outcomes than deceased kidney donation. Although physicians advocate for this treatment, it is uncertain how they would act as potential living kidney donors or recipients. Methods: We surveyed 104 physicians, pediatric, and internal medicine nephrologists, to ascertain their attitudes toward living donation. Results: Among surveyed nephrologists, there was nearly universal support for living kidney donation as a viable medical option, and nearly all of them would support a healthy and medically cleared patient who wishes to participate. Although support was still strong, nephrologists were significantly less likely to support their friends and relatives participating in living kidney donation, and their support declined further for friends and relatives donating to nonrelatives. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the need to more deeply examine physician-perceived risks involved in serving as a living kidney donor. Based on differences in surveyed nephrologist attitudes regarding donation to and from loved ones versus nonrelatives, we suggest that physicians should give careful consideration to how they describe the risks of living donation to potential donors.


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