Do the Benefits of Transplant Tourism Amongst Nigerian Patients Outweigh the Risks? A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Background: Transplant tourism (TT) is the term used to describe travel outside one's country of abode for the sole purpose of obtaining organ transplantation services.

Objective: This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of kidney transplant tourists who were followed up in our institution.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent kidney transplantation outside the country and were followed up in our institution from 2007 to 2015.

Results: 26 patients were followed up; 19 (73%) were males. The mean±SD age of patients was 40.5±10.3 years. The majority (n=20) of the transplantations were carried out in India. Living-unrelated transplants were most common (54%). Complications encountered were infections in 11 (42%) patients, new-onset diabetes after transplantation in 9 (35%), chronic allograft nephropathy in 8 (31%), biopsy-proven acute rejections in 3 (12%), and primary non-function in 2 (8%). 1-year graft survival was 81% and 1-year patient survival was 85%.

Conclusion: Kidney transplant tourism is still common among Nigerian patients with end-stage renal disease. Short-term graft and patient survival rates were poorer than values recommended for living kidney transplants. We therefore advise that TT should be discouraged in Nigeria, given the availability of transplantation services in the country, and also in line with international efforts to curb the practice.

Keywords: Intraoperative complications; Kidney transplantation; Medical tourism; Postoperative complications; Risk; Treatment outcome.

Figure 1

Primary renal disease leading to end-stage renal failure