The Alternative Press

Kidney donors come from all walks of life, and the recipients of these kidneys may be a family member, friend, acquaintance, or even a stranger. But no matter who receives the precious organ, the main concern for any kidney donor who is undergoing living donation is the same: how will donation affect my own health?

“We believe living donors are extraordinary individuals who are passing on the gift of life, therefore their health and wellbeing are a priority,” says Sadanand Palekar, M.D. Program Director of the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Program at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC). “Our program has always focused on using the most advanced technology that ensures strict safety measures and enhances each donor’s surgical experience.”

Safety and Follow Up Always the Focus

The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Program of Barnabas Health, located at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, has New Jersey’s only Living Donor Institute. The outcome for transplant donors is excellent, with an average length of stay of only two days. All donor surgeries have been performed using minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure by one of the most experienced transplant surgical teams in the country.

The staff ensures that every aspect of the surgery and post operative care follows strict guidelines, using advanced medical safety measures for both kidney donors and recipients, such as safety checklists and “time-out” procedures.  These measures are intended to protect the patients from any adverse outcome.  Additionally, stringent protocols for infection prevention are utilized by the medical team during and after every surgery, every time.

During hospitalization, donors and recipients receive ongoing pain management. Recent novel pain management treatments decrease the post-operative discomfort to ensure that patients rest even more comfortably throughout the recovery period. In addition to special care during surgery, donors undergo long-term medical follow-up from experienced transplant professionals at The Living Donor Institute over the course of the next several years. The purpose of the long-term follow-up is to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of our donors.

Statistically, kidney donors actually enjoy better health than age-matched non-donors, which may be a function of the increased attention they pay to health concerns and more thorough follow-up care.

“We have policies in place for the medical management of donors after donation that ensures that they receive ongoing evaluation,” says Stuart R. Geffner, M.D., Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgery, Barnabas Health Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division.  “Medical care does not end with the donation.”

And should a kidney donor ever be in need of a kidney, which is extremely rare, national transplant policy dictates that the donor would be given priority on the waiting list by awarding significant points for donation.

Kidney Donation: The Best Option for Patients with Kidney Disease

The Living Donor Institute promotes living donation as the best treatment option for patients with chronic kidney disease. Someone with End Stage Renal Disease has three options for treatment: dialysis, a transplant from a deceased person, or a transplant from a living person.

Kidney donation from deceased donors has not been able to keep up with the need for kidney transplants. Over 5,000 people die annually waiting for a kidney transplant. Every year, more than 6,000 Americans become living organ donors.

Living donor kidney transplant provides a significant contribution to the organ pool and greatly reduces time on the wait-list. It also doubles the recipient’s life expectancy and vastly improves quality of life.

“We have an exceptional kidney transplant program with great outcomes,” said John A. Brennan, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.  “We are proud of the many lives that have been changed for the better at our Living Donor Institute.”

Get On Our Waiting List

The world-class Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division of Barnabas Health is one of the world's most progressive transplant programs and one of the largest programs among 240 in the United States. In 2011, the Division performed 298 transplants, which included 137 living donor transplants.

To get on the NBIMC transplant waiting list, or to discuss the option of living donation, please contact us to make an appointment at 1-877-878-7555.