Kidney Transplantation as a Solution to Limited Dialysis Access: A Case Report From Coastal Fukushima 13 Years After the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Accident

Maintaining dialysis care in disaster-affected regions is challenging, especially where health care access is already limited. This case from coastal Fukushima highlights a woman in her 30s with diabetic nephropathy who required dialysis 3 times a week at a hospital 80 kilometers away due to local capacity shortages. Her visual impairment necessitated her father's help for transportation. To ease this burden and support her return to work, she underwent a successful living donor kidney transplant, with her father as the donor. Post-transplant, her hospital visits were reduced to monthly follow-ups, significantly improving both her and her caregiver's quality of life. This case illustrates the potential of kidney transplantation to address dialysis access issues in disaster-affected areas by reducing logistical and caregiving challenges. While not suitable for every patient, transplantation should be considered as part of health care recovery strategies in regions with limited dialysis availability.