1.Current Management for Patients on the Waiting List of Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation in Korea.
Kitae BANG ; Myung gyu KIM ; Nyeonim BYEON ; Yoonjung KIM ; Jong Cheol JEONG ; Han RO ; Yun Kyu OH ; Sang il MIN ; Jongwon HA ; WonHyun CHO ; Jaeseok YANG ; Curie AHN
The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation 2010;24(4):272-283
BACKGROUND: Health maintenance and monitoring of transplant candidates, the great majority of whom are undergoing chronic dialysis, can be a determinant of post-transplant prognosis. New issues such as malignancy, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and psychosocial problems might arise among potential recipients, which may lead to cancellation of the transplantation. METHODS: A questionnaire, including questions regarding follow-up monitoring, was sent to 66 transplant centers, and responses to the survey were obtained from 35 centers (53%). A similar questionnaire was sent to 217 wait-listed patients, and 164 (76%) responded. RESULTS: Regular contact between the transplant center and patients was maintained by only 37% of the centers. No consistent pattern of contact was observed for 11%. Sixty percent of the centers monitored patients by telephone. Three-fourths of the transplant centers monitored their patients annually or every 6 months. A cancer screening program was run by only 17% of the centers, and 29% did not routinely request cardiac screening. Most centers (83%) informed their patients of the features of marginal kidneys. However, many patients (69%) reported not hearing about marginal kidneys, and 43% indicated that a cadaver transplant was cancelled because of a cadaver donor problem. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey indicates that the necessity for routine follow-up monitoring is broadly recognized by 86% of transplant centers and 78% of wait-listed patients However, no formal monitoring guidelines currently exist for wait-listed patients in Korea. Therefore, guidelines are absolutely necessary for improving the quality of post-transplant life.
Cadaver
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Cardiovascular Diseases
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Dialysis
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Early Detection of Cancer
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Follow-Up Studies
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Hearing
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Humans
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Inflammation
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Kidney
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Kidney Transplantation
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Korea
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Mass Screening
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Prognosis
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Surveys and Questionnaires
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Telephone
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Tissue Donors
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Transplants
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Waiting Lists