October 13, 2023
Doctors at Radboud university medical center have been performing kidney transplants for 55 years. At the beginning of October they performed the 5000th kidney transplant. The first transplant at Radboud University Medical Center in an adult patient took place in 1968. One of the first patients has now lived for almost 50 years with a well-functioning transplanted kidney.
Every year, 130-140 kidney transplants are performed at Radboud university medical center, five to ten of which are in children. In the majority of kidney transplants, the kidney comes from a living donor. For patients who do not have a living donor, the waiting time for a kidney from a deceased donor is still very long, on average two to three years.
Results
The technology has not changed much over the years, but the population that is transplanted has. The average transplant patient is getting older; the share of people over 65 was less than 10% 20 years ago and is now 25%. The patient now often has other conditions in addition to the kidney disease.
Despite the older recipients with more concomitant diseases, the results show that patients are living longer and longer with a donor kidney; and that the donor kidney also lasts longer and longer. This improvement in results is related to refinement of immunosuppressive medications and better treatment of complications such as infections.
Week of the donor interview
This week is the Week of the Donor Conversation in which we encourage you to discuss a choice in the Donor Register with each other (Week of the Donor Conversation: ‘Just ask!’ | NTS (transplantstichting.nl))
More information about kidney transplants and donorship Kidney transplant – From a living or deceased donor – Radboud university medical center
2023-10-13 10:47:22
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