The Vital Demand: Kidney Transplants in Germany Remain Staggeringly High
Germany Experiences High Demand for This Crucial Body Part
Germany performs around 2000 kidney transplants each year, but over 6000 people are still waiting—some won't make it through the lengthy wait. Bettina Lange, a 68-year-old from Brandenburg's Brieselang, is one of the lucky ones. She's the proud recipient of her husband's kidney, donated to her in 2009. Prior to the transplant, Lange had been battling kidney disease for decades, undergoing dialysis—a procedure that ultimately falls short of fully replacing the body's own function.
Dialysis, first used successfully decades ago, is a lifesaver for thousands undergoing the treatment permanently. It typically involves spending several hours, three times a week, hooked up to a machine while the blood is cleaned outside the body due to failing kidneys. However, this treatment deteriorates a patient's health over time. The only viable solution: a foreign kidney, the most needed organ in Germany.
Pioneering Transplants: From Humble Beginnings to Progress
On June 17, 1950, a small US hospital in a Chicago suburb performed the world's first successful human-to-human kidney transplant. While the operation initially succeeded, the body rejected the organ after ten months. The surgeon, Richard H. Lawler, never performed this type of transplant again. Modern kidney transplants have come a long way since Lawler's attempt, with hundreds of thousands of patients now benefiting from the life-saving procedure.
In Germany, the first successful kidney transplant occurred in 1963. The recipient was a 21-year-old West Berliner who received a kidney from her mother. Today, Germany boasts over 100,000 kidney transplants.
Handpicking a New Kidney
Finding a matched kidney can take time, but it brings hope to those on the waiting list. Healthy partners, family members, or close acquaintances can volunteer to donate a kidney, like Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who donated a kidney to his wife in 2010.
After preparing for the operation for about a year, Lange and her husband ensured that the organ matched her body values. Post-surgery, both recipients and donors must remain diligent with regular health checks and medications that suppress the immune system to prevent rejection, increasing their risk of infection. A balanced diet and avoiding certain foods like blue cheese, certain citrus fruits, and pomegranates are essential to maintain the kidney's health.
Sources of Transplants: Living and Deceased Donors
Approximately one-third of kidney transplants come from living donors, with the remaining two-thirds coming from deceased donors. Despite the lengthy waiting times, most dialysis patients rely on organs from the deceased. In 2024, there were 953 deceased donors, from whom 2855 organs were harvested, including 1391 kidneys.
Navigating the Organ Shortage: Current Challenges and Solutions
With many patients waiting for life-changing transplants, shortages of volunteer donors remain a persistent problem. Aside from a lack of awareness, cultures, and personal beliefs, German law requires explicit consent for organ harvesting. Debates surround the potential implementation of an opt-out system, where everyone is considered an organ donor unless they opt-out, to increase donor numbers. In some countries, such as Portugal and Spain, this system has led to higher donation rates.
As of now, many patients face lengthy waiting times, with up to seven years between the start of dialysis and the operation for those aged 18 to 64. One solution to address this issue is the "Old for Old" program, where older people can receive organs from other older donors. While the supply increases in this circumstance, transplants for elderly recipients tend to have shorter life spans.
Source: DSO figures
Initiatives like the 'Camper Week for Organ Donation' aim to increase awareness and encourage more people to register their decisions, potentially alleviating the shortage in the future. By making informed decisions and taking action, we can help reduce the organ donor shortage and save lives.
- The community policy on organ donation in Germany could consider implementation of an opt-out system, similar to Portugal and Spain, to increase the number of donors and address the ongoing organ shortage.
- Vocational training programs for health and wellness professionals could incorporate specialized courses on managing chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, and the therapies and treatments associated with kidney transplants.
- Science and medical advancements have significantly improved kidney transplant success rates since the first successful human-to-human kidney transplant in 1950, but the need for vocational training in this field remains crucial to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients receiving transplants.
