Kidney temperature during living donor kidney transplantation is associated with short-term measured glomerular filtration rate - a prospective study.

The duration of warm ischaemia time is associated with short- and long-term kidney transplant function. A quick rise in graft temperature is reported during the vascular anastomosis. This study was initiated to gain insight into the effect of graft temperature on short-term transplant function. From 2013 to 2015, data of living donor kidney transplant recipients were prospectively collected. At set intraoperative time points, the graft temperature was measured using a noncontact infrared thermometer. Primary endpoint was measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) at 3- and 6-month post-transplantation. Univariable and multivariable associations were identified using linear regression analyses. Multivariable analysis included models with donor, recipient and procedure characteristics. We evaluated 152 patients, 83 (55%) were male, mean ±SD age was 50.3 ± 13.4 years, and 79 (52%) were pre-emptively transplanted. In univariable analysis graft temperature, after 10 min of warm ischaemia was significantly associated with 3- and 6-month mGFR, ß -0.22 (95% CI -0.39 to -0.04, P = 0.01) and ß-0.22 (95% CI: -0.44 to -0.01, P = 0.04). The association remained significant in multivariable models. An independent association between kidney graft temperature and 3- and 6-month mGFR was identified. This association opens up the opportunity to further investigate the clinical impact of kidney rewarming during transplantation.

Kidney temperature course during living organ procurement and transplantation.

Little is known about the actual kidney graft temperature during the 2nd warm ischemia time (WIT2). We aimed to determine the actual temperature course of the WIT2, with emphasis on the 15 °C metabolic threshold. Data of 152 consecutive adult living donor kidney transplantations were collected. The mean WIT2 was 41.3 ± 10.1 (SD) minutes with a temperature of 5.4 °C at baseline which gradually increased to 13.7, 17.4, and 20.2 °C after 10, 20, and 30 min, respectively. The percentage of kidneys with a temperature of 15 °C or higher was 81.2% after 20 min and 97.5% after 30 min. Duration of surgery (95% CI: -0.017 to -0.002, P = 0.02), multiple veins (95% CI: 0.0003-2.720, P = 0.05) and WIT2 (95% CI: 0.016-0.099, P = 0.006) were associated with a rapid temperature increase. No correlation could be determined between a rapid temperature rise and diminished graft function. This study showed a rapid increase in kidney temperature during WIT2, wherein the 15 °C threshold was reached within 20 min in more than 80% of the patients.