Q
: 1
10/15/2009 |
On a scale of 1-10 how bad is the pain after surgery for a kidney donation?
That is purely a subjective evaluation as pain is very different from one person to another. As most centers are, or should, perform the operation laparoscopically, pain should be quite manageable.
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Q
: 2
10/08/2009 |
Is it common procedure in a kidney transplant, to remove the donors adrenal gland that sits over the donor kidney?
The adrenal gland stays in place during the donor operation and all attachments to the kidney are carefully clipped or cut.
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Q
: 3
10/06/2009 |
Can a person still donate a kidney if they have been diagnosed with Herpes?
Yes. Patients should not have an active outbreak at the time of donation.
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Q
: 4
10/04/2009 |
Can an O negative blood type be a possible donor to type O positive?
Yes. The Rh factor (+ or -) does not impact upon one's compatibility to be a donor.
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Q
: 5
08/19/2009 |
I have HPV. Will I still be able to donate a kidney?
Yes. This is not a contraindication to kidney donation
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Q
: 6
06/11/2009 |
If you haven't had any pregnancies yet and you want to donate a kidney, can you still get pregnant?
Absolutely. There are many women who become pregnant and deliver healthy babies following donation.
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Q
: 7
05/28/2009 |
I would like to know if there is any way that I can donate my kidneys to my brother in the event of my death without them going to somebody else.
Absolutely. We call that directed donation. It is something that could be placed in your living will or expressed to your power of healthcare if you have one or simply needs to be stated by your loved ones at the time of your death that this is your wish.
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Q
: 8
05/27/2009 |
I donated a kidney in 2001. I just turned 50 and want to run a marathon. I have run 2-3 1/2 marathons a year. I was wondering if I have to do anything special only having 1 kidney? Health is great.
Congratulations. The only thing is to keep well hydrated during such an effort but a healthy lifestyle as you seem to be living is the best medicine along with yearly checkups by your primary care physician to evaluate your blood pressure and to obtain a blood and urine specimen.
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Q
: 9
05/07/2009 |
Can you donate a kidney if you have cervical cancer or hpv?
A patient must be cancer free for 5 years prior to donating and may require a letter of clearance from their treating oncologist to that fact. Inactive HPV is not a contraindication.
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Q
: 10
04/23/2009 |
What are the blood type and any other requirements that would help to know if you are a possible match for someone in need of a kidney transplant?
The blood type of the donor that is compatible for donation depends upon the blood type of the recipient. Blood type O donors are the 'universal donor' and are compatible with any other blood type. Blood type A can donate to recipients of blood type A. Blood type B can donate to B. And blood type AB can donate to type AB. The remainder of the testing is completed after a donor completes a medical questionnare indicating and personal or family medical conditions. Depending upon that history additional testing may be neccessary to clear the individual for donation. If interested in our center please call 410-328-5408 to request a questionnaire to begin the process.
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Q
: 11
04/22/2009 |
How many days can a kidney can be preserved after it has been removed from the body?
For deceased donation, most transplant centers will allow a maximum of 48 hours.
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Q
: 12
04/18/2009 |
I am already compatible to donate a kidney to my nephew and I am really healthy. Does it really take 2-3 weeks to heal from operation?
It depends upon the type of donor operation performed. At the University of Maryland we perform all our donor operations laparoscopically so that the majority of patients are back to their 'normal' activity in less than two weeks. The only restriction is no lifting greater than 15 pounds for a total of 4 weeks after surgery.
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Q
: 13
04/02/2009 |
I am going to donate a kidney and my question is: If I need a transplant in the future, as a former donor, would I be placed higher on a transplant list than the average person?
Excellent question - yes, all previous organ donors are automatically placed at the top of the deceased donor waiting list.
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Q
: 14
03/08/2009 |
My son is donating his kidney to his wife this month. I heard recently that the life span of the doner kidney is only about 10 years. Is this a correct figure?
Then mean national graft (kidney) survival for a living donor transplant is approximately 16 years. There are those, of course, that last much longer and those that for no obvious reasons are lost earlier.
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Q
: 15
02/22/2009 |
My brother is currently a dialysis patient, and I am considering donating a kidney (assuming we are compatible). I would like to be evaluated in order to be a donor for my brother, but it seems rather impractical to fly to the east coast for the initial screening, especially if it turns out that I cannot be a match. Can I have the screening done locally? In regards to post-operative follow-up, can that also be done on the West Coast?
The donation process begins by requesting a Living Donor questionnaire that asks basic medical questions to screen for absolute contraindications. Assuming none are present then perspective donors are sent a package including blood drawing tubes that can be obtained locally and sent back in the postage paid envelope. After donation, followup can occur locally as well with an identified individual/practice as we are required to provide followup data at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after donation. Questionnaires can be requested through our living donor office at 410-328-5408.
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