title: Quality of life after donor nephrectomy for living donor kidney transplantation at Srinagarind Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the quality of life (QoL) of donors who have undergone nephrectomy for living donor kidney transplantation at Srinagarind Hospital, using the Thai version of the Short-Form, 36-item, health survey (SF-36).
  
  
  METHODS
  The SF-36 questionnaires were sent by mail to 93 living donors who underwent nephrectomy between Jan 1, 1990 and Dec 31, 2008. The first part collected demographic data and the donor/recipient relationship, the second surveyed QoL, and the third asked about decision-making, donation-related stress and feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine questionnaires were returned completed (30 women; 19 men: mean age 44.2 +/- 9.5 (range, 28-65) years). Thirty-one participants (61%) were siblings of the recipients. The QoL scores were not significantly different from the general Thai population; albeit nominally higher for mental health and social function. Upon reflection, only 5 (10%) had second thoughts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Donor nephrectomy did not affect QoL; thus, from that perspective living kidney transplantation is a suitable procedure for donors.
authors: Department of Surgery, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors: Warakorn
authors: W
authors: Jaseanchiun
authors: Wichien
authors: W
authors: Sirithanaphol
authors: Ekkarin
authors: E
authors: Chotikawanich
authors: Siri
authors: S
authors: Chau-in
authors: Kachit
authors: K
authors: Pacheerat
authors: Thongueb
authors: T
authors: Uttaravichien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting