Over five years ago, Przemysław Saleta gave his daughter his own kidney. Last week, the Polish media reported that Nicole Saleta needs a second transplant. The kidney stopped working.
The first successful kidney transplant was carried out in Poland in 1966. Until 2012, a total of 24 thousand. organ transplants. Kidney transplants are in the first place – 18,6 thousand. The following places are followed by: 2,8 thousand. liver implantation surgery, 2 thousand. heart transplants, 365 simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplants, and 77 lung transplants. Organ transplants are one of the greatest achievements of medicine. It might seem that this is the final solution to the patient’s problems. In fact, this is not the case at all. Transplantation is a form of treatment that involves further sacrifices. Transplanted organs don’t last forever. You have to take this into account. We are programmed so that our body defends itself against a foreign organ or tissue. Therefore, the patient must take immunosuppressants to suppress these reactions for the rest of his life (organ). Each subsequent transplant is more difficult. However, there are record holders where a kidney has been transplanted up to five times.
We don’t want to be donors
When Przemysław Saleta made the decision to give Nicole his own kidney, there were many voices of admiration. On the other hand, there were those who said it was no heroism, because any father would have done it. It is not at all obvious. Compared to other countries, in Poland, the so-called family transplants are rare. Doctors emphasize that organs obtained from relatives give a greater chance for the success of the procedure. The patient may live up to 20 years. In Poland, the average national function of a transplanted kidney is about 7-8 years.
In the United States and in large parts of the European Union, living donors have more kidneys than deceased ones. In Poland, the number of transplants from living donors is growing, but it is still insufficient. According to Poltransplant data, in 2012 only 51 kidney transplants were performed from people who donated their organ. On the other hand, 1094 deceased donors. By the end of September this year, these numbers are: 43 and 815 respectively. In a statement for PAP, Dr. Maciej Głyda explained: This requires commitment from families, for which there is not always time. Potential family donors never say no, because no, there is always a positive attitude to such a possibility, but when they learn about the consequences, doubts often arise as to whether they will be able to live a normal life, whether they will be able to look after their own children and whether they will not lose. work.
Why does living donation offer a chance for greater success? If only because the donor can be carefully examined and the procedure planned. In the case of a deceased donor, the entire procedure must be much faster. It is impossible to check everything. What is the risk of the donor? Doctors argue that there are no serious threats. Life changes little. Of course, after such a procedure, you need to take more care of yourself and monitor your health. Your body may be more prone to infections, such as the flu. The kidney is a dual organ for a reason, but you can easily lead a normal life with one. All donors are registered and undergo systematic checks.
Kidney transplantation primarily improves the quality of life. For patients, dialysis means continuous, several-hour visits to clinics and enormous stress. In addition, they put a strain on other organs, especially the heart. They can lead to osteoporosis and other complications. Doctors emphasize that the longer dialysis treatment takes, the worse the results of the transplant. Transplantation is also a cheaper method of treatment. The cost of annual dialysis therapy for one patient is estimated at PLN 60. zloty. Caring for a patient after transplantation is about 20-30 thousand. PLN per year.
Record holder thanks to the family
It is normal for the graft to deteriorate over time. The organ won’t last forever. It depends on many individual factors. As for the kidneys, second transplants are not unusual. They are more difficult, but only the third or even fourth is a challenge. With each subsequent one, there is a greater chance that the kidney will not catch on. Such multiple transplants are rare but do happen.
Gustavo Chavez, who lives in Los Angeles, is one of the record holders when it comes to the number of transplants. In 2010, at the age of 46, he received his fifth transplant. The kidney was given to him by his brother. Patients often wait years for a transplant, so it’s easy to break down after organ rejection. Gustavo always tried to be positive, even though the disease destroyed his kidneys when he was still a child.
He received his first transplant at the age of 11. It was the first time that he felt like a normal child. However, at 18, the body began to reject the kidney. The second only lasted a year. At 21, he already got a third. This one lasted 5 years. After three transplants from deceased donors, his younger brother Adrian came to the fourth. Gustavo’s operation was a success and the kidney lasted 20 years. In 2009, it was known that another transplant would be necessary. This time, the other brother, Santiago, offered help. Doctors feared that Chavez might already have acquired the antibodies that would prevent another transplant. However, Gustavo turned out to be very lucky because the operation was also successful. The body accepted the kidney and Chavez was able to return to normal life. Once again.
Youngest donor
Recently, British media reported the unusual case of a 22-year-old woman. Samira Kauser lost both kidneys as a result of the disease. Her condition was critical and eligible for a quick transplant. A 5-week-old baby who died of a heart defect turned out to be a potential donor. The operation was performed in a Leeds hospital. It lasted 7 hours. The removed kidney was only 4 cm long, but was supposed to continue to grow in the recipient’s body.
After six months of monitoring the patient, the procedure was considered a success. The kidney has grown and is now 7 cm. Doctors believe that it will get a size equivalent to 75 percent. body of an adult person. This is enough for Samira to function normally. The whole story has sparked a wide debate in Britain about child organs. The main question is whether to consider infants sustained alive in incubators, but with no signs of brain activity, as organ donors? There are currently over 7 people waiting for transplant on the islands. sick. The ethics committee is to deal with this matter in the near future.
Tekst: Rafał Karol Wójcicki