Follow-up of kidney donors at a single center in South Africa

  • S Naicker Renal Unit, Addington Hospital and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban
  • M Azor Renal Unit, Addington Hospital and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban
  • A Sukool Renal Unit, Addington Hospital and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban
  • I Holmes Renal Unit, Addington Hospital and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban
  • A Muranda Renal Unit, Addington Hospital and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban
  • AA Haffejee Renal Unit, Addington Hospital and Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban

Abstract

Background:There is a worldwide shortage of organ donors. Inour province, KwaZulu / Natal, this problem is morepronounced as the rate of cadaveric donation is verylow. Thus both patients and nephrology staff areunder pressure to seek living donors.

Methods and results:We studied 135 living kidney donors in ten yearsperiod: 85 females and 50 males; 78 (57.8%) were ofIndian origin, 33 (24.4%) Black, 15 (11.1%) Whiteand 9 (6.7%) of mixed race groups. The majority ofdonors (57%) were siblings, while 14.8% wereparents, 6.7% children, 17.8% spouses and 3.7%were cousins. The mean age of donors was 34.2 years(range 21-56 years). Donors were hospitalised for amean peroid of 6.1 days (range 3-15). Post-operativecomplications were left lobe atelectasis and chestinfection in 11.1 %, other infections in 5.2%,pneumothorax in 2.2%, ileus in two cases, depressionin one and prolonged pain at the site of surgery in11.1%. Proteinuria was noted in three cases (0.26gm/d and 0.66 gm/d in two donors at 2 years and 0.27gm/d in the third case at 10 years).Blood pressure levels were virtually unchanged frompre-nephrectomy data.

Conclusion:This study confirms that unilateral nephrectomy innormal individuals is associated with few major adverse effects and living donors in renal transplantation is a viable option.

Published
2016-08-07
How to Cite
Naicker, S, M Azor, A Sukool, I Holmes, A Muranda, and AA Haffejee. 2016. “Follow-up of Kidney Donors at a Single Center in South Africa”. African Journal of Nephrology 2 (1), 18-20. https://doi.org/10.21804/2-1-856.
Section
Original articles