Background
Live kidney donation has increased steadily over the past decade,
both in Australia and internationally. In some centres more than
50% of patients receiving a kidney transplant do so from a living
related or unrelated donor. Live nondirected or altruistic donation has
become more popular, as have paired exchange programs. General
practitioners may be involved in pre-donation counselling and the
assessment and follow up of otherwise healthy kidney donors.
Objective
This overview outlines the clinical pathway and considerations
required pre- and post-live kidney donation and highlights some of
the uncertainties of donor nephrectomy.
Discussion
Live donation requires comprehensive physical, psychological and
immunological assessment of the donor-recipient pair. Assessment
requires an integrated approach that incorporates the skills of
a number of clinicians and allied health practitioners. General
practitioners have a crucial role in the counselling, assessment and
follow up of live kidney donors.
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