kidney donation

Question
I am considering donating a kidney to my brother who has Diabetic kidney disease, but I am also considering bariatric suegery. Can I donate a kidney after surgery or should I do it before? Can I have bariatric surgery after I donate a kidney? Thanks for your help.

Answer
Sonya,
We in the medical profession have the greatest respect for those who are willing to donate parts of their body in the service of others.  Many thanks to you for that wonderful contribution.

There is some advantage to having the bariatric surgery first, because the kidney donation procedure will be easier (safer) and because the remaining kidney will have less metabolic load in the setting of your decreased weight.

On the other hand, if your brother is medically ready to undergo kidney transplant then it is probably best to go forward before his body suffers more strain from the dialysis and existing kidney failure.  The factors I mentioned above are not overwhelming factors, and there should not be any interference with the kidney donation procedure and a later bariatric surgical procedure.

Last and most importantly, I definitely recommend for you to discuss this question with the doctors of the transplant team that would care for you and your brother.

Best wishes!
Dr JP

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