When a person's kidneys permanently stop excreting waste products and body fluids, chronic end-stage renal disease occurs. Kidney transplantation is one method of treating this disease. Dialysis is another commonly used treatment. Brain death, or the determination of death by neurological criteria, is the irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain. In the event of brain death, consent for organ donation is obtained from the donor's family or next of kin.
Artificial support keeps the donor's other organs functioning until donation occurs.
Since there is a nationwide shortage of organ donors, patients who need cadaveric kidney transplants usually go on a waiting list. A national computer must consider many factors when matching these potential recipients with appropriate cadaveric donor kidneys. Some patients have relatives or close friends willing to give them one of their kidneys. Most people have two kidneys, so one can be safely donated, although major surgery is required of the donor and recipient. Generally, they are between the ages of 18 and 50.