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« Last post by Clark on April 16, 2023, 07:04:15 PM »
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/xen.12794?campaign=woletocAttitudes of patients with renal disease on xenotransplantation: A systematic reviewIsabel DeLaura, et al.XenotransplantationFirst published: 07 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12794AbstractBackgroundRecent years have seen major advancements in xenotransplantation: the first pig-to-human heart transplant, the development of a brain-dead recipient model for kidney xenotransplantation, and the registration of the first xenokidney clinical trial. The attitudes of patients with kidney disease or transplants on xenotransplantation and an assessment of their reservations and considerations regarding the technology are crucial to successful clinical translation and eventual widespread implementation.MethodsThis systematic review was registered through PROSPERO (CRD42022344581) prior to initiation of the study and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included studies that evaluated attitudes towards and willingness to undergo xenotransplantation in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including those who had already undergone transplantation. MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase (via Elsevier), and Web of Science (via Clarivate) were searched from database inception to July 15, 2022 by an experienced medical librarian for studies on xenotransplantation and attitudes. Abstracts and full text were screened using Covidence software and data items regarding study methodology, patient demographics, and attitudes regarding xenotransplantation were extracted using Microsoft Excel. Risk of bias assessments were performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programmed and National Institute of Health study quality assessment tools.ResultsOf 1992 studies identified, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were conducted across eight countries, four in the United States, for a total of 3114 patients on the kidney waitlist or with a kidney transplant. All patients were over 17 years old and 58% were male. Acceptance of a xenotransplant was assessed using surveys in 12 studies. Sixty-three percent (n = 1354) of kidney patients reported that they would accept a xenotransplant with function comparable to that of an allotransplant. Acceptance of xenografts with inferior function to allografts (15%) or as bridge organs (35%) to allotransplantation was lower. Specific concerns expressed by patients included graft function, infection, social stigma, and animal rights. Subgroup analyses showed higher acceptance in already transplanted compared to waitlist patients and white compared to Black Americans.ConclusionAn understanding of patient attitudes and reservations is key to the successful execution of the first xenotransplantation clinical trials. This study compiles important factors to consider, such as patient concerns, attitudes regarding practical clinical scenarios for the use of xenotransplantation, and the impact of demographic factors on acceptance of this emerging technology.
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« Last post by Clark on April 16, 2023, 07:00:26 PM »
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ctr.14923?campaign=woletocDual living donor organ transplantsRainer W. G. Gruessner, Angelika C. GruessnerClinical TransplantationFirst published: 26 January 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/ctr.14923AbstractIntroductionDual organ donation and transplantation from living donors (LDs) is a rare practice. Dual organ transplants can be done from the same LD or from different LDs and either simultaneously or sequentially. Simultaneous dual organ transplants from the same LD are of considerable concern due to the magnitude of the donor procedure.Methods and ResultsAccording to the UNOS/OPTN and IPTR databases, the US experience of LD dual organ transplants from 1981 to 2021 comprised 101 simultaneous or sequential dual organ transplants from the same LD and 111 transplants from different LDs for a total of 212 LD dual transplants. The first simultaneous or sequential dual organ transplants from either the same LD or different LDs were pancreas-kidney transplants (n = 92). Four additional LD organ transplant combinations have been performed in the United States: liver-kidney (n = 93), lung-kidney (n = 16), liver-intestine (n = 9), and intestine-kidney (n = 2). Only for dual pancreas-kidney (n = 49) and liver-intestinal transplants (n = 4), organs from the same LD have been procured simultaneously. Importantly, no donor deaths have been reported after any simultaneous or sequential procurement. LD dual organ outcomes in all recipient categories have been excellent.ConclusionsLD dual organ donation and transplantation is safe and successful. Any potential dual organ LD candidate must be subject to the highest level of evaluation scrutiny. A (dual) organ donor registry is warranted for long-term follow-up.
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« Last post by Clark on April 16, 2023, 06:55:38 PM »
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ctr.14927?campaign=woletocDonor's long-term quality of life following living-donor lobar lung transplantationKento Fujii, et al.Clinical TransplantationFirst published: 04 February 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/ctr.14927Social Media: Living lung donors in Japan maintained good long-term HRQOL after transplantation. However, some had risks of poor HRQOL, such as recipient death, lung allocation score, and donor and recipient age.AbstractIntroductionLiving-donor lobar lung transplantation is an alternative procedure to deceased donation lung transplantation. It involves graft donation from healthy donors; however, only a few reports have discussed its long-term prognosis in living lung donors and their associated health-related quality of life. This study aimed to examine living lung donors’ health-related quality of life.MethodsIn our cross-sectional survey of living lung donors, we assessed health-related quality of life-based on three key aspects (physical, mental, and social health) using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. We also evaluated chronic postoperative pain and postoperative breathlessness using the numeric rating scale and the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea scale, respectively.ResultsWe obtained consent from 117 of 174 living lung donors. The average scores of the living lung donors on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were higher than the national average. However, some donors had poorer physical, mental, and social health, with lower summary scores than the national averages. Low mental component summary predictors included donor age (<40 years; odds ratio = 10.2; p < .001) and recipient age (<18 years; odds ratio = 2.73; p < .032). Low role-social component summary predictors included high lung allocation score (≥50; odds ratio = 3.94, p < .002) and recipient death (odds ratio = 3.64; p = .005). There were no predictors for a physical component summary. Additionally, many donors did not complain of pain or dyspnea.ConclusionsLiving lung donors maintained an acceptable long-term health-related quality of life after surgery. Potential donors should be informed of relevant risk factors, and high-risk donors should receive appropriate support.
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« Last post by Clark on April 16, 2023, 06:51:51 PM »
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ctr.14908?campaign=woletocFactors enabling transplant program participation in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) Living Donor Collective: A national surveyKrista L. Lentine, Mary Amanda Dew, Huiling Xiao, Addie Wisniewski, Macey L. Levan, Fawaz Al Ammary, Asif Sharfuddin, David A. Axelrod, Amy D. Waterman, Bertram KasiskeClinical TransplantationFirst published: 09 January 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/ctr.14908AbstractBackgroundThe Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) Living Donor Collective (LDC), the first effort to create a lifetime registry for living donor candidates in the United States, requires transplant programs to register donor candidates while the SRTR conducts follow-up.MethodsTo better understand facilitators and barriers to program participation, we conducted a brief electronic survey of U.S. transplant program staff from October 26, 2021 to December 17, 2021.ResultsWe received 132 responses, with at least one response from 87 living donor programs (46 kidney programs, 33 kidney and liver programs, and eight liver programs alone). We found 86% of program representatives strongly agreed or agreed that funding adequate to cover the cost of data collection would facilitate LDC participation, 92% agreed or strongly agreed with importance of electronic data submission options, and 74% reported that elimination of requirements to submit duplicative pre-operative information to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) would be helpful. Other potentially enabling factors include reduction in duration of OPTN postdonation follow-up requirements, ease-of-use, protection from data use for regulation, adequate data security, and equity in data access.ConclusionThis survey identifies potential targets to strengthen participation in the effort to create a national living donor registry in the United States. Collaboration and investment to overcome barriers to LDC participation among transplant programs are vital to generate long-term data on living donation for donor candidates, donors, and patients in need of transplant.
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« Last post by Clark on April 15, 2023, 01:21:00 PM »
https://richmond.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/unos-organ-transplantation-network/article_cdbcbc24-d87c-11ed-8607-5ba6d8f4eeed.htmlRichmond's organ transplantation network sued over racial equity issue Eric KolenichA California man has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Richmond-based United Network for Organ Sharing, alleging UNOS failed to sufficiently address the racial equity problems of kidney transplantation.For years, Black Americans have waited longer for kidney transplants than people of other races. Plaintiff Anthony Randall alleges that because UNOS was slow to change and implement a new policy, Black patients unfairly suffered with kidney disease for longer periods of time.Randall, who is Black and awaiting a kidney transplant, filed the lawsuit last week in a federal court in Los Angeles. He is seeking at least $5 million from UNOS and Cedars Sinai Health Ventures, his transplant hospital.The suit touches on a significant debate in transplantation. UNOS for years used an allocation policy now considered racially discriminatory. The organization announced plans last year adjust it, but UNOS is giving hospitals until 2024 to respond.“Black Americans continue to suffer racial discrimination in the kidney donation process, despite all involved admitting that the current process is discriminatory to Black Americans,” the suit claims.Kidney function is measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR. A patient’s eGFR score is used to determine when a patient can be placed on the national kidney waitlist.When the tests for eGFR were developed, doctors noticed that Black Americans produce higher levels of creatine, a chemical the body uses to make energy for muscles. Doctors falsely assumed the high levels were the result of Black people having greater muscle mass than white people. A more recent study stated that it is unclear why Black people have higher levels of creatine.Because of this flawed notion, the creators of eGFR added a race-based coefficient that inflates the scores of Black residents by 16-18%. In essence, the test makes Black Americans look healthier than they really are, pushing them further back in line for kidney transplants.The National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology recommended removing Black race as a factor in the calculation. The lawsuit calls the racial coefficient “junk science supported only by racial stereotypes and not any valid scientific studies.”“It’s racially biased and means people of color are deprioritized in terms of access to the list,” said Molly McCarthy, vice chair of UNOS’ patient affairs committee. “That’s terrible.”In June of last year, UNOS announced it would outlaw the use of the race-based coefficient when measuring eGFR scores. But for six months, it did nothing to move up Black patients closer to the front of the waitlist.In January, UNOS instructed donor hospitals to investigate whether Black members of the donor list should be moved up. UNOS gave donor hospitals until January 2024 year to complete this process.But people desperate for a kidney cannot wait that long, the suit claims.Black Americans are “missing out on donor kidneys they rightfully should have been awarded, incurring significant economic losses, suffering from worsened kidney disease, and in some instances, dying,” the suit states. Black Americans are more likely to suffer kidney failure than any other race, according to the American Kidney Fund.UNOS’ patient affairs committee brought up the matter to UNOS leadership three years ago, McCarthy said. The committee pleaded for a fast response, but UNOS has moved methodically.The eGFR problem is emblematic of UNOS’ inability to respond to needed change, McCarthy said. The organization is under a Congressional investigation for issues in its technology, delivering organs to their destinations and disciplining struggling organ procurement organizations.“It’s yet another symptom of the same problem and behavior we see way too consistently,” McCarthy said. “Nothing happens despite the urging of communities like ours driven by patients.”Randall, the plaintiff, developed the symptoms of kidney disease 24 years ago. He took eGFR tests for years, but the results indicated he was not sick enough to join the kidney transplant wait list.Patients wait an average of three or four years for a kidney, depending on their blood type and geographic location, McCarthy said. Kidneys are allocated depending on the length of a time a patient has waited and the health of the patient’s kidneys.Randall has waited more than five years, the suit claimed. He asserted that, had his tests been conducted correctly, he would have received his kidney already.Randall filed the lawsuit on behalf of the nearly 28,000 Black people on the national kidney waitlist. There are roughly 100,000 Americans on the list.The suit claims there are 205 Black patients at Cedars Sinai waiting for a kidney. The hospital announced last month it would begin reviewing the waitlist and would re-order it if needed. But the process will take several months. A spokesperson for UNOS declined to comment.Dr. Jayme Locke, head of transplantation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said last year that the process of changing eGFR is broader than organ transplantation and involves how hospital labs function and how they dose medication.But McCarthy said there is no reason to wait to allocate kidneys in a fair manner.“There’s no pass because it’s hard,” McCarthy said. “You do the work.”https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/richmond.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/48/3485e2fc-d8b2-11ed-885e-43645fa98c78/6435d52322e1a.pdf.pdfANTHONY RANDALL, Plaintiff, vs. UNITED NETWORK FOR ORGAN SHARING; CEDARS SINAI HEALTH VENTURES, Defendant.COMPLAINT FOR: VIOLATION OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964; VIOLATION OF THE UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT [CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 51]; BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY; AND VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA’S UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW [CAL. BUS. & PROF. CODE § 17200 ET SEQ.] Action Filed: April 5, 2023…
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« Last post by Clark on April 15, 2023, 01:10:04 PM »
https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/06/health/doctor-donates-kidney/index.htmlThis Chicago doctor donated her kidney to a woman in Virginia she’d never metBy Kyla RussellMore than 90,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney donation, but Dr. Aleksandra Gmurczyk helped take two people off the waitlist when she donated her own kidney to Ginger, a woman she had never met, and launching a kidney-paired donation.A kidney-paired donation happens when a person is willing to donate a kidney to someone in their life who needs it, but they aren’t a good match, so they swap recipients with another donor.In this case, Gmurczyk’s kidney was donated in February to Ginger, who had “hard-to-match” kidneys. Ginger’s husband, Gary, was not a match for his wife. He donated his kidney to a Northwestern Medicine patient.Ginger and Gary did not want their last name reported.“I am so glad to meet you,” Gmurczyk, a nephrologist and associate professor at Northwestern Medicine, told Ginger when meeting her at a news conference Thursday. “I’m so glad you got my kidney, and I can tell you’re going to take really good care of it.”“I did not want to donate specifically to one person,” Gmurczyk told CNN, adding that with a kidney-paired donation, she felt like she had a chance to help more people.In 2020, there were 22,817 kidney transplants performed in the United States because of conditions like kidney disease or failure, according to the National Institutes of Health. On average, it takes about three to five years for a patient to be matched with a kidney donor, according to the National Kidney Foundation.Doctors have donated their own kidneys to patients before: According to Maine Health, Dr. Aji Djamali, chair of the Department of Medicine at Maine Medical Center, donated his kidney to a former patient last year.In 2002, Dr. Susan Hou, a nephrologist at Michael Reese Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and Loyola University Medical Center, donated her kidney to a patient, according to the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest.But Gmurczyk wanted to donate to help educate patients.She often sees patients who have kidney failure, which renders their kidneys unable to filter waste and toxins out of their bloodstream. Many undergo dialysis, a taxing treatment that helps remove waste and extra fluids from the blood.Although treatment varies depending on the level of care needed, dialysis is typically done three times a week for about four hours at a time, according to the National Kidney Foundation.“It’s like a part-time job,” Gmurczyk said. “It is stressful, and it is sad, and they feel isolated and lonely. Many of them work, but not many of them can.”Before the transplant, Ginger was undergoing dialysis.“It would have been two years yesterday that I started dialysis,” she said. “About a week or two before I got my transplant … it started getting worse.”Despite the long list of people awaiting donation, some of Gmurczyk’s patients are still leery of undergoing a transplant because of things like mistrust of the health care system or the requirements for donation.Nine years ago, Gmurczyk began thinking about how she could change those people’s minds. She decided to donate one of her own kidneys to help increase the level of trust in the procedure and to inspire others to donate.“The reason why I wanted to donate is that … I can go to them and say, ‘I donated my kidney, and I believe that people who receive a kidney transplant live longer, healthier lives, and I believe in this so much that I donated,’ ” she said.Gmurczyk says kidney donations from living people usually begin working immediately and can function for twice as long as those from deceased donors: 15 to 20 years vs. 10 to 12 years, respectively.She applied to join a donation pool, which led to the kidney-paired model.After she was matched with Ginger in Virginia, Gmurczyk’s donor journey was a typical one, including things like kidney function tests and abdomen screenings to find the smaller kidney, which is ultimately donated.Her care team included another nephrologist, a pharmacist, a surgeon, a social worker and a donor advocate.Donor advocates work to ensure that donors are not being coerced or paid to have the procedure. Social workers help the donor set up the best social support to make sure they are taken care of at home after the procedure.“People who get a transplant need a social support person, and a lot of people do not even have one person to help them after the transplant,” Gmurczyk said.After she had the surgery and spent the night in the hospital, a friend came to help her get home, but Gmurczyk felt well enough to walk.“I was able to take care of my dog the next day,” she said. “I was doing everything for myself.”She took two weeks off work and did not have any problems returning.Her decision to donate has already paid off, she says: One of her patients who had been skeptical of getting a kidney transplant was inspired to begin the evaluation process.At Thursday’s news conference, Gary also met his recipient, Arturo “Art” Reyes.Reyes was particularly emotional.“I didn’t think there was any hope anymore,” he said. “There’s really no words to say thank you. You’ve given me life back.”
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« Last post by Clark on April 15, 2023, 01:06:17 PM »
https://unos.org/transplant/improve-organ-donation-and-transplant-system/UNOS Actions to strengthen the U.S. organ donation and transplant systemDriving system-wide improvement to better serve patients“Our national donation and transplant system saves thousands of people’s lives every year, but as long as there are patients on the waiting list, there is more we need to do.”Maureen McBride, Ph.D.UNOS Interim CEOIntroduction[/url][/font]
Patient empowerment
Equity
Data collection
Transparency
Transportation
IT improvement
Oversight
Governance[/font][/size]
More than 42,800 organ transplants were performed in the U.S. in 2022, an increase of nearly 1,500 over the previous year. The system’s success reflects its commitment to continuous improvement, which has driven 10 consecutive years of increases in the number of deceased-donor transplants performed. Thanks to the efforts of the national transplant network, 23 percent more deceased-donor transplants are performed today than five years ago.But there is more work to do.More than 100,000 people are waiting for a transplant. Every day, they count on the organ donation and transplant community to do everything it can to strengthen the system and ensure that patients have equitable access to lifesaving organs.United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the mission driven non-profit that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government, is proposing reforms that will improve the U.S. organ donation and transplant system. We have also outlined changes to the OPTN contract that we believe will hold all parts of the system accountable to better serve the patients who rely on us every day. Below, we have detailed:[/color]Actions we are taking now and will take soon, as they are currently within UNOS’ capabilities and/or within the authority of the current OPTN contract[/size]
[/color]Tasks UNOS recommends are added to and funded within future OPTN contracts[/size]
Actions and recommendationsHow we plan to meet the needs of the broader donation and transplant community1.Patient empowermentIncrease direct services and resources to patients, donors, caregivers and families2.EquityImprove equity in access to the transplant healthcare system3.Data collectionEnable the OPTN to collect donor potential data directly for hospitals to drive improvement in OPOs, diversify donor pool4.TransparencyIncrease transparency in OPO, hospital and system performance by making more comparative performance data available publicly5.TransportationReduce risk of organ delay, damage or loss in transport6.IT improvementMaintain a safe, modern and reliable systems and infrastructure7.OversightEnhance oversight and increase transparency of peer review process8.GovernanceMake the OPTN an organization independent of the OPTN contractorALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING UNOS, SHARE A COMMON MISSION:Get as many usable transplant organs as possible to patients who need them, fairly, equitably and efficiently.All parts of the national system must be held accountable for making sure that this happens. The OPTN contractor must provide the highest level of service to patients and the greatest level of transparency to the public who has charged it with this lifesaving work.“We can do better, we must do better, and we will do better.”Maureen McBride, Ph.D.UNOS Interim CEO
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« Last post by Clark on April 15, 2023, 12:59:22 PM »
https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/op-ed-living-kidney-donation-is-a-life-affirming-experience,24866Op-Ed: Living kidney donation is a life-affirming experienceBy Helene Fellows, RNWe tell stories all the time. If we want to inform or educate on an important topic we need to tell a good story because most people are not motivated by data.It is no accident that traditions and cultures are often preserved through storytelling and narrative. We process a call to action through an emotional lens. It is through that lens that we choose to act or not act.One of my stories is how and why I became a living kidney donor. As a young girl, I couldn’t wait to check that box on my driver’s license application to sign up as an organ donor. I have no idea where that “need” came from. But it was deep inside of me.Decades later, in 2017, I donated my “spare” kidney to my husband, Arthur, who was diagnosed with Alport syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive kidney disease. I did the right thing for me and my family. I was fortunate to be able to donate to my husband, but ultimately I saved his life for our kids. I would have given my kidney to anyone, but we got lucky it worked out the way it did.Because March is National Kidney Month and April is National Donate Life Month, it’s a good time to share my story. Some living donors report moments of doubt; others say they never had any doubt. For them, they just knew it was the right thing to do. The vast majority of living donors say if they could, they’d donate again, because their donation was a life-affirming, humbling gift that enriched their lives – and saved a life.The process to become a living kidney donor is not fast and without challenges, nor should it be. A team will walk you through the process of a full medical workup, compatibility testing, coordinating care once a match is identified and addressing financial concerns.High on a potential donor’s list of concerns is, “who’s going to pay for this?” The recipient’s insurance covers all testing as well as surgical and inpatient expenses for donors. There are stipends for incidentals such as travel, lodging and food for the donor.The process has gotten easier for donors over the years. Surgery and recovery time have improved exponentially. Along with a much easier surgical process for donors, the success rates for recipients has greatly improved, too. I can attest that choosing to donate is all voluntary and there is no coercion.I’m a registered nurse, so I recognize that data matters but stories are the motivator.• 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for kidney disease • Diabetes is the top cause of kidney disease• High blood pressure is the second top cause• Kidney disease can strike anyone• 37 million U.S. adults have kidney disease• 48 percent of people with severely reduced kidney function and not on dialysis are not aware they have kidney disease• Every 24 hours, about 340 people begin dialysis treatment for kidney failure• Over 90,000 people are on the kidney transplant waiting listIf you or someone you know is considering becoming a living kidney donor, or simply want to know more about it, contact Helene Fellows
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« Last post by Clark on April 15, 2023, 12:57:32 PM »
https://www.miragenews.com/uc-davis-health-performs-first-robotic-981991/UC Davis Health Performs First Robotic Nephrectomy on Living Kidney DonorUC Davis Health transplant surgeons have performed the first fully robotic nephrectomy on a living donor in the Sacramento region.A living donor nephrectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a healthy kidney from one person for transplant into someone else whose kidneys no longer function properly.Transplant surgery is one of 14 specialties in which UC Davis Medical Center offers minimally invasive, robotic-assisted technology.“The application of these next-generation technologies underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in patient care,” said Bahareh Nejad, medical director of Robotic Surgery. “The institutional support we have received to grow the UC Davis Robotics Program has allowed us to provide novel approaches to patient care leading to more minimally invasive surgeries. I look forward to pushing the envelope of patient care and supporting further expansion of our robotic surgery program.”Advances in kidney transplantationThe robotic living donor nephrectomy surgery was carried out using the latest Intuitive Surgical Robotic System that has small robotic arms that imitate natural dexterity. The robotic arm was controlled by a team of surgeons from a console which enabled the removal of the donor kidney through small incisions.“The robotic arm’s instrumentation offers a greater range of motion than the human wrist with efficient and precise action,” said Junichiro Sageshima, surgical director of the living donor kidney transplant program, who performed the procedure. “This provides us with easier access to areas that are hard to reach and better visualization.”Traditionally, living donor nephrectomies have been performed using either a laparoscopic technique or open surgery. Robotic-assisted procedures enable smaller incisions to perform the transplant, which often leads to a quicker recovery with less pain and scarring than a traditional surgery.“The advantage of this approach lies in its safety as the smaller incisions, combined with greater precision, help reduce pain and scarring, which ultimately leads to rapid recovery, less hospitalization, and a faster return to normal life,” Sageshima added.Transplant center growthThe robotic living donor nephrectomy program is a multidisciplinary collaboration. It includes operating room staff, nurses, the transplant and robotic surgery teams and leadership, who provided the necessary tools and facility space to deliver the best care possible.“This new procedure positions the UC Davis transplant program for continued growth and advancement in the services it provides and the quality of care it delivers,” said Sophoclis Alexopoulos, chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery. “This expanded use of robotic tools in transplantation is an example of our faculty’s ongoing mission to introduce new techniques to enhance patient care and safety.”Moving forward, kidney removal or nephrectomy procedures, will be done using robotic and laparoscopic techniques, depending on the availability of robotic systems.
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« Last post by Clark on April 15, 2023, 12:54:39 PM »
https://atriumhealth.org/dailydose/2023/04/04/laura-laxton-patient-storySelfless Giving: Living Kidney Donors Like Laura Laxton Are Saving LivesEvery 14 minutes, someone in need is added to the kidney transplant list. April is National Donate Life Month, a time to raise awareness about the need for donations. Laura Laxton, a copywriting strategist for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, donated a kidney in 2021. Outcomes from a living donor are often better for the recipient, and the chance of living donors having any problems with their remaining kidney is only 0.3%.Kidneys are the most donated organ, and a record 25,000-plus kidneys were donated in 2022. Because people have two kidneys but only need one to survive, they are the most common living organ donation.Unfortunately, despite the increase in donations, the need still outweighs the supply. According to the National Kidney Foundation, every 14 minutes, someone is added to the kidney transplant list. April is National Donate Life Month. It is essential to raise awareness about what the donation process entails and how it impacts donors’ lives post-donation.Helping a Family FriendLaura Laxton decided to donate due to the need of a family friend. The copywriting strategist for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist began the testing process along with her husband. He was eliminated early on, but she proceeded even after discovering she wasn’t a match for her friend.Laura found the process fascinating. “There’s so much involved in trying to find the best match,” she explains. Laura spent several mornings at the hospital, undergoing a variety of tests. “If you have one kidney that’s better than other, they leave you with that one,” she says. “They really make the health of the donor their primary consideration.” The Donation Process Dr. Colleen Jay, a renal transplant surgeon with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, performed Laura’s surgery. She explains that the evaluation of who can be a living kidney donor involves a team that considers all aspects of the individual donor’s health. The team includes medical and surgical doctors, a social worker and an independent living donor advocate.“One of our commitments is if the donor is ever feeling pressured, we help them by saying they’re not eligible,” Jay explains. “We want to protect the donors and ensure they are truly there voluntarily.”While people in need of a kidney can receive the organ from a deceased person, outcomes from a living donor are often better in terms of the longevity of the recipient and the kidney. For living donors, Jay says the chance of them having any problems in the future with their remaining kidney is only 0.3%.“Our approach at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is to work hard to match people with the best organs for them as quickly as possible,” explains Jay. The hospital participates in multiple programs to help facilitate that, including the National Kidney Registry.The surgery is done laparoscopically and robotically. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, donors typically only spend one night in the hospital. Jay tells most donors to plan to take three to four weeks away from work to recover.Surgery and BeyondLaura became part of a chain donation as a match for a woman in Minnesota. “Someone was donating for her, but that person’s kidney was a match somewhere else,” she says. But the night before the surgery, the chain fell apart. Laura was quickly matched again. “My kidney didn’t fly around the country,” she laughs. “It just went down the hall.”She credits her family’s support with making the process easy. “My kids and husband made it so that I could do this.”Laura does not know who received her kidney in November 2021, but she knows his surgery went well. As for her recovery and ongoing health, it has been much easier than she imagined.“It really had zero impact on my quality of life,” says Laura, who adds that she went through a period of feeling guilty for not having donated a kidney earlier. “If more people knew how easy it is, they would be willing to donate.”Eventually, Laura’s friend found a match. “It is shocking the need for kidneys in this country. I didn’t know how great it was,” she shares. “The more I learned about dialysis and their quality of life, the more I thought, ‘If donation can save someone from going through all that, why wouldn’t I?’’”
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