6 minute read
Studies show living kidney donations provide better survival rates
A LIV
VING DONOR
BY AMI FELKER
hen Roman Dominguez discovered his diabetes had reached the point of needing dialysis because his kidneys could no longer function on their own, he and his wife called a family meeting.W “I’ll do it, Dad,” one of his five children said. “No, I will,” said his youngest son Ricky. All five of Dominguez’ children volunteered to donate a kidney to their father, and amazingly, all five were a match. But Ricky, just 22 years old at the time, was adamant — his kidney was going to save his father’s life and prevent him from undergoing dialysis. Just a few weeks later, Ricky and Roman underwent surgery together at the Methodist Transplant Center, and within hours, Ricky’s kidney was functioning normallyin his father’s body. Living kidney donation is on the rise at Methodist and across the nation, as people like Ricky Dominguez give the ultimate gift of life. Three years later, father and son are doing well and enjoy spending time together as a family. “We’re a real close family,” Roman Dominguez said. “It was such an honor to have all my children come forward to donate their kidneys. We’ve always teased Ricky about his unexpected arrival in this world, but now I think we all know why we were blessed with him.” “Organ donation is perhaps the greatest gift one human could offer another,” said Dr. Osama Gaber, director of transplantation at The Methodist Hospital. “Literally giving a piece of yourself in order to save another person’s life and prolong your time with that person … it is remarkable.” Dr. Wadi Suki, a nephrologist who has been part of Methodist’s kidney transplant program since its inception in the 1960s, said he believes Americans are altruistic by nature. Suki once treated a patient who needed a pancreas and kidney transplant. The patient’s friend volunteered and was a match to donate the kidney. That friend put his life on hold while he waited months for a donor pancreas to become available for the patient. “What a friend,” Suki said. Diabetes cases are skyrocketing across the nation, dialysis centers are popping up everywhere and the national waiting list for kidney transplants continues to grow quicker than donor organs become available. More than 75,000 Americans are currently awaiting lifesaving kidney transplants, and nearly 6,000 of those are Texans. Sadly, the lack of deceased organ donors means only 17,094 kidney transplants were Construction supervisor Ricky Dominguez (left) donated one of his kidneys to his father performed nationwide last year, and nearly 7,000 people died waiting. Roman so he would not have “Unless there is a change in laws regarding organ donation, to undergo dialysis. there will not be quantum leaps in transplant volumes,” Suki said. But he said there is encouraging news. Living kidney
Dr. Wadi Suki
donation in the United States has doubled in the last five years.
Methodist physicians encourage every patient to ask family and friends to become donors to treat their diabetes. Referrals for living kidney donation have quadrupled at Methodistrecently. The hospital performs about 65 kidney transplants each year and is one of the top renal care centers in Houston.
Transplant patients at Methodist also have the opportunity to participate in research studies that offer new medications andprotocols that could improve their outcomes.
“Diabetes is a devastating disease, and while dialysis will save a patient’s life by doing the work of the kidneys, it’s a temporary solution, one with complications and that really affects quality of life,” said Dr. Horacio E. Adrogue, a nephrologist at Methodist and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. “Our goal here is to treat diabetes and other forms of kidney disease in a manner that is best for our patients, and currently kidney transplant is considered the best treatment.”
idney disease is a silent killer that affects other vital areas of the body, especially the heart. Reduced kidney function can eventually cause cardiovascular disease, along with anemia, bone disease, cognitive issues, neuropathy, skin cancer and calcification of blood vessels. Adrogue said kidney transplant drastically improves quality of life and length of life for patients with end-stage renal disease.
According to Methodist physicians, the progression of kidney disease is fairly predictable, making it easier for the transplant team to begin discussing dialysis and transplant with patients long before either treatment is necessary.
“Kidney transplant is not necessarily a walk in the park, so we wait until patients are near to the need of dialysis in order to get the best results and the longest benefit of a donated kidney,” Suki said. “If they can live comfortably with their own kidneys, they should. Once they
20,000
NUMBER OF DONORS 15,000
10,000
5,000 U.S. Organ Donors 1996 to 2005
TOTAL
LIVING
0
K
experience tiredness, trouble concentrating, appetite issues and other obstacles to a good quality of life, then it’s time to proceed with transplant.”
With living donation, patients have plenty of time to approach family members, friends and others about donating a kidney. Living donation also provides a very controlled and planned process, giving physicians time to plan for the unexpected.
“We’ve seen great outcomes,” Gaber said. “In fact, recent studies show that patients who undergo transplants with kidneys from living donors have a 15 percent better survival rate than those who receive deceased donor kidneys.”
The kidney donor always goes into surgery first to ensure it is indeed safe to remove that person’s kidney. As with any surgery, there are risks to the living donation operation, but Gaber and Suki said they are very similar to any other elective procedure in a healthy person.
“We take risks of kidney donation very seriously, which is why all patients undergo a very thorough evaluation for medical, social and psychological well-being,” Gaber said. “These evaluations and the support we provide to donors and recipients help to keep risks under control. The donor comes first. We want to make sure that both patients will lead healthy lives after the transplant.”
Just about anyone can be evaluated as a kidney donor. Donors must simply be in general good health, have enough function in the kidney that would remain, and be willing to give the gift of life. Most kidney donors are younger, but many people in their 50s and 60s have donated kidneys. There are almost no long-term effects for living kidney donors, and they live normal lives after surgery.
“The body is an amazing thing,” Suki said. “When a person donates one kidney, the other one grows and compensates for the function of the missing kidney.”
Ricky said he doesn’t even notice the fact that he walks around every day with just one kidney. “It was worth it, and it was an easy decision,” he said. “I think anyone who has the opportunity to do what I did should just do it.”
To download an organ donor card, visit www.methodisthealth.com/transplant.
Dr. Osama Gaber
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Methodist Hospital System Day First 10,000 fans will receive an Astros jersey
Thursday,July 26 7:05 p.m. Astros vs.San Diego Padres
Methodist DeBakey Heart Center Heart Disease Awareness Night First 10,000 fans will receive an insulated lunch bag
The Methodist Hospital System Weight Management and Diabetes Awareness Night
The Methodist Hospital System Night First 10,000 fans will receive Berkman Hobby Bobble
The Methodist Hospital System Women’s Health Awareness Day
