What is Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant (DDKT)?

A Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant is a life-saving surgical transplantation of the kidney of someone (declared brain-dead) into a patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) performed as per the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and the regional organizations (ROTTO & SOTTO) as a special treatment procedure in which a kidney of a person with organs still functional and fit, providing new life to a needy one.

Prerequisites for Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant

• The donor must be certified brain-dead by medical authority (CMO) or doctors/surgeons.
• Organ donation must be by written consent of the donor family.
• Donors are matched with recipients and ranked on a waiting list based on medical need, compatibility, and waiting time.
• A transplant from a deceased donor is a significant option for recipients without a suitable living donor.

How to get/find a Deceased Kidney Transplant Donor?

Registration with NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO

• The patient is required to be registered with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) or regional counterparts (ROTTO/SOTTO) through the hospital.
• Your medical history, including blood group, tissue type, and medical urgency, must be registered on the national waiting list.

Medical Evaluation

• The patient is medically examined to ascertain whether he or she is suitable for a transplant or not.
• Blood groups, tissue groups, and donor compatibility tests are conducted to establish the most satisfactory match.

Waiting Period

• The patient remains on the waiting list till a compatible kidney donor comes forward via legal procedure.
• Duration of waiting could vary depending upon the donor pool and health condition of the patient.

Organ Allocation

• Upon availability of a compatible kidney, it is allotted to the patient based on his/her medical priority, compatibility, and position on the waiting list.
• The hospital coordinates through NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO to provide transparent and equitable dispensation of DDKT.

Transplant Surgery

• Our board-certified team of transplant doctors at Tender Palm implants kidneys with the latest advanced technology and process.
• The surgery is conducted in a state-of-the-art operation theatre with the highest standards of safety and accuracy.

Post-Transplant Care

• The patient receives prolonged post-operative care, such as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent organ rejection.
• The patient is followed up and monitored regularly to determine long-term success following the transplant.

How Deceased Kidney Transplant is performed?

Procedure:-

Organ Retrieval

• The donor's kidneys are removed surgically and safely by a team of transplant surgeons in the process of organ harvesting.
• The kidneys are stored in a special cold preservation solution to preserve them in a healthy state.

Kidney Transport

• The excised kidney is hurried to the recipient hospital.
• The kidney is put in a cold preservation solution and shipped in a sterile, temperature-controlled package.

Time Duration for Kidney Transplant

• Critical Time Framework - A cadaveric donor kidney has to be transplanted within 24 to 36 hours of retrieval. The viability of the kidney decreases with time even when kept in cold storage.
• Preservation Techniques - The kidney is preserved using cold storage solutions or machine perfusion to improve the viability during transport and until the transplant procedure.

Transplant Surgery

• The recipient is prepared for surgery, and the transplant process is initiated.
• The recipient's body receives the donor kidney through surgery, typically in the lower abdomen.
• The new kidney's vessels are attached to the recipient's circulatory system, and the ureter is attached to the bladder.

Post-Transplant Care

• The recipient is closely monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) for any signs of complications.
• Immunosuppressive medications are administered to prevent organ rejection.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant and Living donor Kidney Transplant

Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant

Advantages:-

• Provides an opportunity for patients to get a Kidney without a living donor.
• Saves lives by reusing organs that would otherwise be wasted.
• The allocation is made in a transparent and equitable system run by NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO.
• No risk to a donor.

Disadvantages:-

• Long waiting lists because of the unavailability of organs.
• Returns may be uncertain based on the health of the donated organ.
• Outcomes may vary depending on organ quality.
• Limited availability of organs.

Living donor Kidney Transplant

Advantages:-

• There is no queue for waiting..
• Kidneys from living donors last longer.
• The recipients live a healthy life.
• Despite the mismatch, kidney transplant is done quickly through a con-compatible donor option.

Disadvantages:-

• Mismatch with family members.
• Individuals may be hesitant to come forward to donate.

• It may have some unwanted syndromes. However, they cease over time. Confound.

Comparison between Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant (DDKT) and Living Donor Kidney Transplant (LDKT)

Source of the Kidney

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - The kidney is obtained from an individual who has been certified as brain-dead but whose organs are still functional.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - The kidney is provided by a living individual, typically an immediate relative (parent, brother, child, or spouse) or, in some cases, an altruistic donor.

Waiting Time

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - Months or even years can pass before patients get a compatible kidney, depending on how quickly organs are available and are listed in order of priority on the waiting list.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - The surgery can be done once the donor and recipient have both been cleared and evaluated medically, saving waiting time by a lot.

Compatibility & Matching

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - Kidney allocation depends on medical urgency, tissue type, and blood group. Matching cannot always be perfect.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - Donors tend to be relatives, so the likelihood of good genetic matching is high, resulting in positive outcomes.

Success Rate & Long-Term Outcome

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - Success is mostly fine in most cases, although long-term outcomes depend on the quality of the donated organ and the duration of preservation.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - It is found to exhibit higher success rates and better graft survival owing to greater compatibility and shorter preservation periods.

Timing of Surgery

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - The surgery should be carried out within 24 to 36 hours when the kidney is procured so that its viability may be ascertained.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - Surgery can be done at the convenience of the donors or recipient, where adequate preparation may be undertaken.

Risk to the Donor

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - No risk to a donor as the kidney is harvested from a cadaver.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - The living donor undergoes surgery, which carries insignificant but inherent risks of infection, bleeding, or complications from anaesthesia.

Ethical & Legal Considerations

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - Governed by strict rules under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, and conducted by NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO. Transparent and need-based distribution and compatibility.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - Governed also by THOTA, 1994. Donations from relatives or altruistic donors are allowed only after thorough scrutiny by the Authorization Committee to prevent organ trade or coercion.

Cost

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - Generally less costly than LDKT as donor surgery and recovery are free of cost.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - Costlier perhaps with two surgeries (donor and recipient) and post-operative treatment to be done.

Availability

• Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant - Subject to the availability of dead donors, this is scarce and unpredictable.
• Living Donor Kidney Transplant - Subject to the availability of a willing and medically compatible living donor.

Why Tender Palm Hospital in Lucknow?

Tender Palm Hospital, Gomtinagar, Lucknow, is a name to trust for kidney transplantation offering:-

• Expert Team - Experienced team of nephrologists, transplant surgeons, and support staff with more than 10 years of transplant experience.
• Advanced Technology - State-of-the-art operation theatres, advanced diagnostic centres, and intensive care units.
• Comprehensive Care - Round-the-clock care, from pre-transplant evaluation to post-transplant observation and rehabilitation.
• Cost-effective Services - Great transplant services at reasonable prices, making it accessible to a large category of patients.
• Governed by strict rules under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, and conducted by NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO.

To seek an expert consultation

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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