Kidney transplantation - high long-term success rate!
Long-term success rate is the best indicator to evaluate a Transplant Center. Effective patient evaluation prior to transplant is the first step to success. Anticipating immunologic and concomitant medical risks when evaluating patients prior to transplant prevents adverse outcomes. The second step is to have advanced technologies applied by an experienced team of surgeons. Our success rate after surgery is 99.8%. The one-year survival rate is 97.4%. Five-year successful survival is 90%. We have proven to have the same success rate as most kidney transplant centers around the world.
Priority: Donor Safety
Donor safety is the most important factor in living donor transplantation. The donor is evaluated in detail. Blood tests, radiological tests and evaluation by specialists such as nephrologists, cardiologists and pulmonologists are the main steps in deciding whether a donor is healthy enough to give life or not. Our special surgery techniques ensure that donors have a safer operation. The post-operative peri-operative hospitalization period is 2-3 days for donors. We also provide check-ups for donors.
MINIMAL PAIN AND 3 DAYS HOSPITALIZATION. IT IS EASIER TO DECIDE TO DONATE A KIDNEY TO A LOVED ONE THANKS TO OUR ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY TECHNIQUE.
Retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy provides a minimally invasive technique with greater safety for the donor.
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has become the gold standard for nephrectomy from a living donor, as it results in a quick recovery and better quality of life. However, safety during surgery is a matter of debate, as entry into the peritoneum may incidentally lead to complications. Using the retroperitoneal approach, there is less chance of injury to organs inside the abdomen as the peritoneum is not opened. Hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy is an alternative approach that combines the safety of hand-assisted surgery with the advantages of endoscopic and retroperitoneal access. We began using retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy in 2009. We have over 400 cases without any serious complications. We have presented our surgical experience at international meetings in the United States and Europe.
The Most Advanced Tissue Typing Laboratory in Turkey
The Tissue Typing Laboratory at Florence Nightingale Hospital supports multiple kidney, liver and bone marrow transplant centers, both in the region and in Turkey. The state-of-the-art research that is conducted in the Tissue Typing Laboratory contributes greatly to our success rate. We are able to deal with highly sensitive kidney recipients as we have an excellent method of monitoring donor specific antigen and can determine the donor specific antigen index. Our state-of-the-art Tissue Typing Laboratory plays a major role in the immunological evaluation of the pre- and post-transplant period.
Paediatric Kidney Transplantation
There are many causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children, but they are quite different from those in adults. The most common causes of CKD in children are congenital abnormalities of the kidney or urinary tract, genetic/hereditary diseases, and diseases that occurred later in childhood due to some abnormality in the immune system. As CKD progresses, children will need different types of medications to keep them healthy and extend the life of their kidneys.
If the condition of children with moderate to acute CKD reaches the end stage of kidney disease, then they will need dialysis and, sooner or later, a kidney transplant. Dialysis and transplantation are usually needed when kidney function is significantly low. In children, dialysis is considered more of a temporary condition until a kidney transplant is found. In most, though not all, children, transplantation offers better long-term quality of life, better growth and fewer lifestyle restrictions. Some children undergo transplantation before they need dialysis. This is called anticipatory transplantation. Some children are not suitable candidates for transplant because of other medical conditions. Contact us to discuss the possibility of a transplant for your child.
Shared Donation
The Florence Nightingale Transplant Centre has been performing shared donor kidney exchanges for years. Shared donor kidney exchange, also known as a "kidney swap," occurs when a living kidney donor is incompatible with the recipient, and therefore exchanges kidneys with another donor/recipient pair. This shared donor kidney transplant allows two incompatible recipients to receive healthy, more compatible kidneys. All medically eligible donor/recipient pairs may participate in the kidney exchange program.
Two-way kidney exchange occurs when two donor/recipient pairs exchange organs for a better match.
In more complex cases, additional donor/recipient pairs may also be used.
Blood group incompatibility donation occurs when a transplant candidate receives a kidney from a living donor with an incompatible blood group. To reduce the risk of rejection of the donated organ, candidates receive special medication treatment before and after transplantation. This may include removal of the transplant candidate's spleen during the transplant.
Positive cross-donation involves a living donor and a transplant candidate who is not compatible, as this candidate has certain antibodies (protein substances) that immediately react against the donor's cells and lead to rejection of the transplanted organ. Therefore, medical treatment (plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive drugs) is provided to prevent rejection. This type of donation is usually considered when there is no other compatible living donor.
State-Of-The-Art Vascular Access Centre
Vascular access is lifelong for haemodialysis patients. Our centre is the region's benchmark for challenging vascular access cases. Professor Baris Akin runs both the Kidney Transplant Programme and the Vascular Access Centre, which takes 60 - 70 cases per month. We create an arterio-venous fistula, place an arteriovenous graft and in addition carry out monitoring of these vital sites. Restoration of dysfunctional access and rapid restoration of thrombosed access to prevent placement of a temporary catheter are the most important activities at our Centre. All patients are screened with Doppler ultrasonography for vessel mapping prior to surgery. Therefore, the best choice for vascular access is planned prior to surgery.
First Steps for Kidney Transplantation
First, you should call us for detailed information about your chances of transplantation. After making initial contact, we ask that you send us your medical records. If you are a suitable candidate for a kidney transplant, you will be invited to our Centre for a pre-transplant evaluation. You will also undergo blood and radiology tests in your country before coming to our hospital.