Kidney Transplants: The Most Needed Organ in Germany
Organ Demand Outpaces Supply in Germany, Causing Severe Shortage
Germany performs over 2000 kidney transplants annually, yet more than 6000 people are on the waiting list. Not all of them survive the long wait times.
Meet Bettina Lange from Brandenburg's Brieselang, who received her husband's kidney in 2009. With failing kidneys for decades and undergoing dialysis, she couldn't afford to wait. "I didn't feel well on dialysis, sometimes very poorly," she recalls.
Dialysis, although necessary, is far from a perfect solution. It involves cleaning the blood of most patients' toxins outside the body because their own kidneys can no longer do so. The procedure has been in use for nearly 80 years but can't fully replace the body's own function, leading to a slow deterioration of the patient's health. The only way out is a foreign kidney, making it the most needed organ in Germany.
The first successful human-to-human kidney transplant took place 75 years ago, on June 17, 1950, in a US hospital. The operation was performed by surgeon Richard H. Lawler but had to be removed after ten months due to the body rejecting it. Despite this, it marked the start of organ transplantation research.
In 1963, the first such operation in Germany took place in West Berlin. While it ended tragically for the first recipient, subsequent transplants have been successful. To date, around 100,000 kidneys have been transplanted in Germany.
Patients can receive a new kidney from a healthy donor, a family member, or an emotionally close person. Preparation for the operation can take up to a year, ensuring the organs match the recipient's body values.
Recipients must take strong medications to suppress their immune system and prevent the body from rejecting the kidney, increasing their risk of infection. They should pay attention to their diet and avoid certain foods like blue cheese, certain citrus fruits, or pomegranates.
Healthy donors can return to their previous lives soon after the transplant, despite regular examinations. They typically retain about 70 percent of their original kidney function, sufficient for a normal life. Approximately two-thirds of the organs come from deceased donors, with one-third coming from living donors.
The shortage of volunteers is a significant issue in Germany. With only 11.4 donors per million inhabitants, Germany ranks low compared to countries like Portugal and Spain, where the value is three times higher. The organs are distributed through the intermediary Eurotransplant, which includes eight European countries, and Germany receives more transplants than it contributes.
The waiting time between starting dialysis and surgery can be long, up to seven years for people aged 18 to 64. Children and the elderly can receive organs through specific programs, although these transplants have shorter lifespans.
The long waiting times result from the persistent shortage of donors. Some advocate for an opt-out system, where everyone is considered a donor unless they opt out. Such a system was used in the GDR for decades but was discontinued in 1990 following nationwide legislation.
The case of Guido Lambrecht, who has lived with three foreign kidneys, highlights the need for more donors. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, calling the transplants "indescribable feelings of joy."
- Community policy could be implemented to increase awareness and encourage more individuals to donate organs, thereby reducing the waiting list for chronic kidney disease patients in Germany.
- For vocational training, alongside health-and-wellness programs, mental health education and skin-care courses could be beneficial for kidney transplant recipients, promoting their overall well-being and self-care.
- Research into alternative therapies and treatments, such as CBD, could potentially improve the success rate and longevity of kidney transplants, providing better health outcomes for patients.
- In the field of science, medical-conditions like chronic diseases, particularly chronic kidney diseases, require continuous study to develop more effective treatments and transplant procedures.
- Fitness-and-exercise routines tailored for post-transplant patients could help improve their overall health and reduce the risk of complications, contributing to their long-term wellness.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in the recovery process of kidney transplant recipients, as maintaining a balanced diet can help manage medical-conditions, supportthe kidney's function, and ensure the body accepts the transplanted organ more easily.
