Random Questions - Prospective Kidney Donor

[wanderer]

Hello Experts:

I am considering being a living donor.  Ultimately, it's going to take more time for me to decide one way or the other.  Not what I'm asking about here.  But as I've pondered that, I've come up with the questions that won't quite leave my mind   Or maybe it's because I'm trying to wrap my head around why there is such a shortage in the first place.

Wondering if your wonderful folks could assist in getting some of these questions answered.

I know most 'traditional' organ donors are brain dead - often through car accidents.  But how long after death can someone's organs be transplanted?  Do they really have to be on a ventilator and intubated at the time of death in order for it to work?  Or can there be like  30 minutes between death and when they arrive say at the hospital  Do they really open someone up right after they've died in order for the organs to remain viable?

Do people who die on the operating table in surgeries often have their organs harvested if the surgery goes awry and they pass during it?  Or are the attempts to bring them back so violent to the body that it destroys any chance for viable donation of organs most of the time.

When someone says they want to be an organ donor and then passes prematurely, can their organs almost always be used?  Or is there a large degree of chance/randomness in whether it is successful.  Like is it common for someone to pass, be opened up, to find some kind of a problem, and then to have the whole thing fail.

Finally, and perhaps the most relevant - for people who do give a kidney, do you have to be careful about some things?  For example, not drink too much water at one time, or be more careful about what medications you take than you would be otherwise?

Anyways, sorry for the weirdness.  Just the way my mind works.

Thanks again.

[Fr Pat]

Hi. I don't know all the answers to your questions about after-death organ donation, but you might find more info at www.kidney.org . Also keep in mind that while organs can be harvested for transplant, TISSUES likewise can be harvested (heart valves, bone pieces, etc.) so some things need to be harvested fast while other things can be harvested somewhat later.
     Regarding life after living kidney donation you just have to follow a healthful life-style. You should, however, avoid the class of pain meds called "NASADES" as too much may cause damage to the remaining kidney. Drink plenty of liquids and keep well hydrated.
     Keep in mind that living organ donation is major surgery, and in any surgery something can go wrong. And some donors do have complications, especially fatigue problems, and the U.S. lacks LONG-TERM follow up on living donors to see how they do 20 or 30 years down the line.
     I donated a kidney at age 56, 15 years ago, with no complications and am doing fine at age 71.
                       best wishes,
                             Fr. Pat

[sherri]

If you are considering becoming an organ donor after brain death or cardiac death you can look online for more information to start. here is one website https://www.organdonor.gov/about/process.html. different states have what is called organ procurement organizations (OPO). You can look in your state to see where that organization is. they may have educational sessions for prospective organ donors. If you ultimately do decide to become an organ donor, make sure that your family is aware of your wishes. You can also ask if there are ways to designate only specific organs for donation, organs only or tissue only, cardiac death versus brain death. I think it is great that you are researching this and not just checking a box.

In terms of living donation, there is a lot of information on this website about inclusion criteria to be a kidney donor (weight, health history, mental status, financial status, health insurance, good support system). Like Fr. Pat said, post donation you will need to make sure you maintain your healthy status, avoid anything that may increase the likelihood of high blood pressure, or diabetes. in order to protect your one remaining kidney avoid long term use of NSAIDs which stands for non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, aspirin, aleve. these are processed in the kidneys. this may be an issue if you have inflammatory pain that you treat with these types of medication. you would always want to let health care providers know that you have a single kidney and avoid contrast dyes if possible. at one time, transplant centers required that donors have their own health insurance, not sure if that is still the case. but you need to follow up with your doctor regularly for blood work and urine. I like to see a nephrologist (kidney specialist) every year for labs so I know that someone who is trained in kidney disease is looking at my labs.

There have been some studies which showed that kidney donors are at a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure or protein in the urine and sometimes increase risk of cardiac issues. But there have not a lot of long term studies on living kidney donors. most donors go through the surgery and recovery perfectly fine, however there are those who have suffered as a result of the surgery or their remaining kidney did not compensate. Sounds like you have the luxury of time to educate yourself.

Good luck with the process and let us know what you find out.

Sherri

[Paparafa]

The only thing I can say to you is that after seeing all of the struggles my relative has gone through even after the donation, if I ever needed a kidney I would want a live donor instead of a cadaver's kidney.  I am glad my kidney was strong and healthy to begin with...as it needed to be to make it through what is going through right now.