Care of international living kidney donor candidates in the United States: A survey of contemporary experience, practice, and challenges

• DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14064
• Publication Date: 2020-08-28T03:07:09Z
• Authors: Krista L. Lentine; Jennifer D. Motter; Macey L. Henderson; Rebecca E Hays; Ellen Shukhman; Julia Hunt; Fawaz Al Ammary; Vineeta Kumar; Dianne LaPointe R...; Sarah E. Van Pils...; Angie G. Nishio‐L...; Heidi M. Schaefer; Matthew Cooper; Didier A. Mandelbrot
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Living Donors; Humans; Kidney; Kidney Transplantation; United States; 3. Good health

The evaluation and care of non-US citizen, residents who wish to come the United States serve as international living kidney donors (ILKDs) can pose unique challenges. We surveyed US transplant programs better understand practices related ILKD care. distributed survey by email professional society list-servs (Fall 2018, assessing 2017 experience). Eighty-five responded (36.8% program response rate), which 80 considered candidates. Only 18 had written protocols for evaluation. Programs a median 3 (range: 0,75) candidates initiated contact during year, from origin countries spanning 6 continents. Fewer (median: 1, range: 0,25) were approved donation. Program-reported reasons not completing evaluations included visa barriers (58.6%), inability complete (34.3%), concerns regarding follow-up (31.4%) or other healthcare access (28.6%), financial impacts (21.4%). that did evaluate ILKDs reported similar concerns. Staff time required was estimated 1.5-to-3-times (47.9%) >3-times (32.9%) needed domestic Among accepting ILKDs, on average 55% successful completion 1-year follow-up. is resource-intensive process with variable outcomes. Planning commitment are necessary this candidate group.