A kidney transplant is regarded as the best and most desirable medical option for many of the millions of patients suffering from Kidney failure. However, because so many patients require a new kidney, the transplantation process might take months or even years.
Registering on the national kidney transplant waiting list for a donor kidney is a crucial step if you don't have a live kidney donor or if your donor arrangements aren't complete. After registering, with assistance from your social worker and a referral, you will be put on the list to get a kidney transplant from a donor when a match arises.
How does the National kidney donation waiting list function?
In order to decide which organ should be provided to which recipient, UNOS operates a centralized computer network that connects all organ procurement organizations and transplant centers (hospitals that conduct transplants). Blood type, length of kidney disease, medical urgency, location (an organ must be transported safely the distance to the transplant hospital), and in some cases, your weight and size in comparison to the donor, among other things, all play a part in determining whether or not you will be given a particular organ. For instance, a little child might not be a suitable match for a dead donor's huge kidney.
The matching system, also known as the allocation system, is often revised in the US to make it more flexible and fair. A tighter match based on the donor and recipient's ages was included as a result of changes made to the US organ allocation system in 2014. This suggests that someone in that age group is more likely to receive a kidney from a donor who is 30 years old. The term for this is longevity matching.
Concerning patients who entered the waitlist after being on dialysis, there was another significant modification made in 2014. You can now start building wait time from the moment you started receiving dialysis, as opposed to when you were added to the queue.
The Kidney Allocation System, which was implemented in 2019, now considers distance between the donor and recipient to match donors and recipients geographically rather than doing so inside an area with predetermined borders.
Additionally, patients who are "highly sensitized" due to having high levels of antibodies from earlier transplants, blood transfusions, or pregnancies are given particular priority since they are extremely difficult to match. The Kidney Allocation System was modified in 2019 to make it simpler to locate kidneys for highly sensitive individuals who are difficult to match.
How a suitable organ is donated to a patient:
Organ recovery from dead donors and transportation to transplant facilities are the responsibility of organ procurement organizations (OPOs). They assist people in expressing their intentions for organ donation while they are still alive, discuss organ donation with bereaved families, and organize the procedure of deceased organ donation and distribution.
The OPOs can assist in addressing a thank-you card to the relatives of the deceased organ donor. Additionally, they promote organ donation and follow up on data on dead donors of organs.
Each organ retrieved by an OPO provides information to UNOS, which manages the matching process. UNOS will make an organ donation offer on your behalf to your transplant facility if it is a good match for you.
If that organ will work well for you is decided by the transplant facility staff. The staff will call you to ask whether you would want to accept the organ offer and if you could come into the facility right away if they believe the organ is a suitable match. To understand more about the offer procedure and to explore the sorts of organ offers you might be interested in, speak with your transplant team.
Does age impact in the kidney transplant waiting list?
Every transplant institution has its own standards for transplants. There can be limitations or guidelines regarding age at some transplant facilities. You may select the transplant clinic that best meets your needs by doing research.
The risk of a transplant for you might be impacted by a few medical issues. A recent or present cancer diagnosis is an example of a problem that might impact your candidacy for a transplant. Talk to your transplant team about your potential for receiving a transplant in the future once your cancer has been treated.
Other elements that might impact transplant eligibility include:
- Not being in good enough health to endure surgery
- Obesity
- Crucial heart disease
Every transplant facility is unique. Be important to confirm with your transplant facility all of their policies and procedures.
Questions to ask before joining a waiting list for kidney donors
You can use the questions below to learn more about the kidney transplant waitlist's operation and how to join it.
1. At what point may I join the kidney transplant waitlist?
If your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is 20 or less, you may be considered for a kidney transplant waitlist evaluation. A GFR of 20 indicates stage 4 chronic Kidney disease, which is marked by substantial loss of kidney function but not yet kidney failure.
2. How am I assessed and added to the waitlist?
You'll require a referral after deciding with your doctor that a transplant is the best course of therapy for you. Your doctor may recommend you, or you may refer yourself.
Locating a transplant hospital nearby is the next step. A list of more than 200 such institutions in the US is available from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). To meet your insurance, travel, financial, and support needs, you should seek for a facility.
The hospital's transplant specialists will conduct an assessment as the last step. The process normally begins with a phone call in which you schedule an in-person visit with the transplant care team. A comprehensive medical examination will also be performed on you.
You will be placed on the national waitlist if your examination reveals that you are a transplant candidate, which means you are both physically and psychologically fit for the transplant procedure. Your chances of finding a compatible donor increase the faster you can join the list.
3. Can I be listed at different transplant facilities?
It is possible to register with many transplant facilities, yes. People frequently select a transplant hospital that is nearest to their house out of convenience, but you can list at numerous transplant clinics if you so desire. This can occasionally reduce the length of time you wait. For additional information about multiple listing, go here.
4. Can I take any action to receive a kidney sooner?
The national organ transplant waiting list is managed by the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing). The distance between a donor and the transplant center is taken into account by the UNOS matching system when choosing a match since transplants are often more successful when the transit time for an available kidney to the transplant facility is minimal.
It should be mentioned that the criteria for accepting patients for transplants vary from one transplant hospital to the next.
5. How will I keep track of my transplant list status?
Your transplant consultant is going to send you a formal message informing you of your official placement on the waitlist and confirming your active status. If a matching kidney becomes available, your coordinator will inform you promptly.
6. How long does it take to get a kidney transplant?
In most transplant centres, the usual wait period is 3-5 years, however it might be longer in other areas of the countries. You should contact your transplant clinic to learn more about the wait times.
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