A record number of organ transplants were performed last year in BC and many involved kidneys.
Three hundred and forty-six transplants were carried out in 2013, about 40 more than the year before. Of these, 127 involved kidneys from living donors, up from 83 in 2012, and 107 from deceased donors, roughly on par with the year before.
“It all begins with a donor,” said BC Transplant executive director Dr. Greg Grant, adding that his agency will continue to work with transplant centres and hospitals to support and encourage British Columbians to become organ donors.
In all, 197 British Columbians—130 living and 67 deceased—donated organs last year. Kidney donations contributed to the largest increase in transplant numbers.
According to an agency spokesperson, BC leads the country for living donation at a rate of 28 per million in population. The rate for deceased donation, however, is on par with the national average.
Almost 500 people in BC are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. Currently, six Powell River patients are receiving regular hemodialysis at the Powell River Community Dialysis Unit, and a few more are performing their own dialysis at home, said Dr. Monica Beaulieu from BC Renal Agency. Four patients are receiving peritoneal dialysis, where the patient’s abdominal cavity is filled with dialysis fluid through a catheter inserted into the abdomen and then drained.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is celebrating March as kidney health month and promoting early screening for kidney disease to those at the highest risk: people with high blood pressure or diabetes, seniors and individuals from aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian or African descent.
According to the foundation the rate of kidney disease has increased at an alarming rate of 60 per cent over the past decade and now affects one in 10 Canadians. The disease can destroy up to 80 per cent of kidney function before symptoms are noticed.
The earlier someone knows they have compromised kidneys, the higher the chance of delaying the onset of kidney failure, said kidney foundation spokesperson Poonam Sharma.
Since 2011, the foundation has run a screening program to encourage early detection. The program offers free screening events throughout communities around the province with nurses and pharmacists on-site who test kidney function, blood pressure, blood glucose levels.
For more information on how to register as an organ donor, readers can visit BC Transplant’s website or learn more about kidney health on the foundation's website.
