Evaluation of outcomes in renal transplantation with hypothermic machine perfusion for the preservation of kidneys from expanded criteria donors.

In 2012, an expert working group from the French Transplant Health Authority recommended the use of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) to improve kidney preservation and transplant outcomes from expanded criteria donors, deceased after brain death. This study compares HMP and cold storage (CS) effects on delayed graft function (DGF) and transplant outcomes. We identified 4,316 kidney transplants from expanded criteria donors (2011-2014) in France through the French Transplant Registry. DGF occurrence was analyzed with a logistic regression, excluding preemptive transplants. One-year graft failure was analyzed with a Cox regression. A subpopulation of 66 paired kidneys was identified: one preserved by HMP and the other by CS from the same donor. Kidneys preserved by HMP (801) vs CS (3515) were associated with more frequent recipient comorbidities and older donors and recipients. HMP had a protective effect against DGF (24% in HMP group and 38% in CS group, OR = 0.49 [0.40-0.60]). Results were similar in the paired kidneys (OR = 0.23 [0.04-0.57]). HMP use decreased risk for 1-year graft failure (HR = 0.77 [0.60-0.99]). Initial hospital stays were shorter in the HMP group (P < 0.001). Our results confirm the reduction in DGF occurrence among expanded criteria donors kidneys preserved by HMP.

Transplantation of kidneys from uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death: comparison with brain death donors with or without extended criteria and impact of normothermic regional perfusion.

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of kidney transplants from uncontrolled DCD (uDCD) with kidney transplants from extended (ECD) and standard criteria donors (SCD). In this multicenter study, we included recipients from uDCD (n = 50), and from ECD (n = 57) and SCD (n = 102) who could be eligible for a uDCD program. We compared patient and graft survival, and kidney function between groups. To address the impact of preservation procedures in uDCD, we compared in situ cold perfusion (ICP) with normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). Patient and graft survival rates were similar between the uDCD and ECD groups, but were lower than the SCD group (P < 0.01). Although delayed graft function (DGF) was more frequent in the uDCD group (66%) than in the ECD (40%) and SCD (27%) groups (P = 0.08 and P < 0.001), graft function was comparable between the uDCD and ECD groups at 3 months onwards post-transplantation. The use of NRP in the uDCD group (n = 19) was associated with a lower risk of DGF, and with a better graft function at 2 years post-transplantation, compared to ICP-uDCD (n = 31) and ECD. In conclusion, the use of uDCD kidneys was associated with post-transplantation results comparable to those of ECD kidneys. NRP preservation may improve the results of uDCD transplantation.

Kidney Transplant From Uncontrolled Donation After Circulatory Death: Contribution of Normothermic Regional Perfusion.

BACKGROUND: The French uncontrolled donors after circulatory death (DCD) protocol restricts donor age to <55 years, no-flow time to <30 minutes, and functional warm ischemia time to <150 minutes. In situ kidney perfusion can be performed at either 4°C (in situ cooling [ISC]) or 33-36°C (normothermic regional perfusion [NRP]). Hypothermic machine perfusion is systematically used. Only nonimmunized first transplant recipients were eligible. To improve the management of uncontrolled DCD, we tried to identify factors predictive of outcome. METHODS: We identified all kidney transplants from uncontrolled DCD between 2007 and 2014 from the French Transplant Registry. Risk factors for primary nonfunction (PNF; n = 37) and poor renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min or graft loss at 1 y, n = 66) were analyzed by using a multivariate logistic model. RESULTS: This study analyzed 499 kidney transplantations, 50% of which were performed with NRP. Mean functional warm ischemia time was 135 minutes. Mean cold ischemia time was 14 hours. The principal PNF risk factor was young donor age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; P = 0.002). A sensitivity analysis showed a higher risk of PNF with ISC than with NRP (OR = 4.5; P = 0.015). Risk factors for poor renal function were donor body mass index (OR = 1.2; P < 0.001) and ISC versus NRP. Univariate analysis of uncontrolled DCD-specific risk factors showed no-flow time, functional warm time, and cold ischemia time did not affect the risk of PNF or poor renal function. CONCLUSIONS: Uncontrolled DCD kidneys are an additional source of valuable transplants. NRP appears to decrease graft failure by restoring oxygenated blood as the first step of preconditioning.

Propofol and sufentanil titration with the bispectral index to provide anesthesia for coronary artery surgery.

BACKGROUND: To provide anesthesia for cardiac surgery, hypnotics and opioids are frequently titrated on variables such as mean arterial pressure and heart rate. In this study conducted in patients scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting, propofol and sufentanil, both administered by computer-controlled infusion, were titrated on the Bispectral Index (BIS) values using a predefined algorithm. METHODS: After written informed consent, 110 patients, 95 men and 15 women aged 61 (9) yr [mean (SD)], were randomly allocated to receive predicted sufentanil effect site concentrations (Ce) of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5 ng/ml, decreased by a third after sternotomy (groups 1-5). Target induction propofol concentration was 1.5 microg/ml and subsequently adjusted on BIS values. The following parameters were recorded: BIS values, predicted propofol Ce, the number of changes of propofol target, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, the number of bolus injection and doses of vasoconstrictor and vasodilator drugs, time to tracheal extubation, postoperative awareness and satisfaction scores, and cumulative morphine doses for the first postoperative day. RESULTS: One patient randomized to group 1 required 0.75 ng/ml sufentanil Ce instead of 0.5 ng/ml for increased BIS values on tracheal intubation. BIS values were similar in the five groups. The predicted propofol Ce values were different (P < 0.05; analysis of variance) among the five groups: 1.59 (0.47) to 1.23 (0.25) microg/ml in group 1 and group 4, respectively. Significantly fewer changes of propofol target were required in group 4 as compared to group 1. There were no differences among the five groups for mean arterial pressure, heart rate, time to tracheal extubation, awareness, satisfaction scores, and morphine requirements. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the BIS, as part of an algorithm that uses both the absolute BIS value and its increase following tracheal intubation, can be used to effectively titrate both propofol and sufentanil. A predicted sufentanil Ce of 1.25 ng/ml before and 0.8 ng/ml after sternotomy was associated with the lowest predicted propofol Ce and fewer changes of propofol target. Lower sufentanil concentrations required higher propofol concentrations and more frequent changes of the target propofol concentration and were associated with similar hemodynamic tolerance.