Kidney donation pre-surgery preparation

For the donor
Donors undergo thorough medical tests to ensure they are healthy and that their kidneys are functioning properly. These tests include blood work, urine analysis, and imaging to assess kidney structure.
Donors meet with counsellors to discuss their decision, ensuring they are emotionally prepared and fully understand the risks and benefits of donation.
Compatibility tests, such as blood type and tissue matching, are conducted to confirm the donor is a match for the recipient.
Donors are also advised to adopt healthy habits, such as stopping smoking and maintaining a balanced diet, to optimise their health before surgery.

For the recipient
Recipients go through extensive medical testing to confirm they are fit for surgery.
These tests assess overall health, including heart and lung function, and evaluate compatibility with the donor.
If the recipient is on dialysis, their treatment plan is adjusted to ensure they are stable leading up to the transplant.
They also begin taking immunosuppressive medication to lower the risk of rejecting the new kidney.
Counseling is provided to help recipients manage any anxiety or concerns about the surgery.

Final steps before surgery
Both the donor and recipient are admitted to the hospital a day or two before the procedure.
Final tests are performed to confirm readiness, and both are required to fast for several hours before surgery.
They sign consent forms after reviewing the surgical process with their medical team.
These steps ensure the safety and success of the transplant for both parties.
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