Objective: To estimate the potential increase in renal donation rates if elderly donors (those over 60 years of age) were considered.
Design: Patients dying from acute brain damage resulting from stroke were identified using the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Stroke Service Register. Their records were retrospectively analysed to assess their eligibility as potential renal donors.
Setting: One hundred and ninety-eight patients dying from acute brain damage caused by stroke at a large metropolitan teaching hospital (RMH), from May 1987 to December 1990 inclusive. PATIENT ASSESSMENT: Patients were considered "eligible", "ineligible" or "possibly eligible" (requiring further assessment) as donors according to existing strict criteria (see methods) but irrespective of age.
Results: Of 198 stroke patients dying of brain damage, 92 satisfied the criteria of eligibility for renal donation; 51 of these were over 60 years old, yet only one became a renal donor.
Conclusion: There is good evidence that elderly donors are acceptable for renal transplantation, yet they are not being referred. The consideration of elderly stroke victims as renal donors could have a dramatic effect on decreasing transplant waiting lists, increasing recipient patient well-being, and reducing hospital costs.