Eligibility -

Eligibility

Overview: A donor can be a living person who has consented to organ donation. Donors play a crucial role in kidney transplantation, as their healthy kidneys can save lives and significantly improve the quality of life for recipients.
Living Donors: Living donors are often family members, friends, or altruistic individuals who donate a kidney while they are still alive. This type of donation generally has excellent outcomes because the donor and recipient can be well-matched, and the surgery can be planned in advance.

Health Requirements: Living donors must be in excellent health, free from diseases that could complicate the surgery or the recipient's health. They undergo extensive medical evaluations, including blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes biopsies.
Compatibility: Donors must have a compatible blood type and tissue type with the recipient. Cross-matching tests are conducted to ensure the recipient's body is less likely to reject the donor kidney.
Age and Fitness: Generally, donors should be between the ages of 18 and 60. They should be physically fit, with healthy kidney function and no history of kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer.
Informed Consent: Potential donors must fully understand the risks and benefits of donation and give informed consent. They are typically counseled about the potential impact on their health, lifestyle, and future well-being.

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): Recipients usually have end-stage renal disease, meaning their kidneys have failed, and they require dialysis or a transplant to survive.
Overall Health: Candidates must be healthy enough to undergo major surgery and the subsequent immunosuppressive therapy. This includes having stable heart and lung function.
Compliance: Recipients need to demonstrate their ability to follow medical instructions, take medications as prescribed, and attend regular follow-up appointments.
Age Considerations: While there is no strict age limit, younger and healthier patients often have better outcomes. However, older patients can still be considered based on their overall health and potential benefits from the transplant.

Comprehensive Testing: Both donors and recipients undergo thorough medical evaluations to assess their health and suitability for transplantation. This includes blood tests, imaging studies, and organ function tests.
Infection Screening: Candidates are screened for infections that could complicate the transplant process, such as hepatitis, HIV, and other communicable diseases.
Cardiovascular Assessment: Heart health is crucial for transplant candidates. Cardiovascular evaluations, including EKGs and stress tests, are often performed to ensure the heart can handle the stress of surgery and recovery.
Kidney Function Tests: Specific tests are conducted to evaluate kidney function and ensure that both the donor (for living donations) and recipient are suitable for the procedure.

Mental Health Assessment: Candidates for both donation and transplantation undergo psychological evaluations to ensure they are mentally prepared for the surgery and the lifestyle changes that follow. This includes assessing for conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Support System: Evaluations include an assessment of the patient's support system. A strong network of family and friends is essential for post-transplant recovery and adherence to medical regimens.
Informed Decision-Making: Psychological evaluations ensure that potential donors fully understand the risks and benefits of donation and are making an informed, voluntary decision.
Counseling and Support Services: Psychological evaluations help identify the need for pre- and post-surgery counseling and support services to help manage the emotional and psychological impact of transplantation.