Hypothermic Machine Perfusion in DCD Kidney Transplantation: A Single Center Experience.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Donation after cardiac death (DCD) began in 2011 after the program hosted by the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in China. The aim of this study is to report on our experience regarding the method of preserving donated kidneys for DCD kidney transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 37 donors and 73 primary kidney transplant recipients during the period 2011-2014 in the Urology Center of the First Hospital of Jilin University were enrolled in the study. Recipients were assigned to traditional static cold storage (SCS) group and hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) group based on the preservation environment of donated kidneys after organ harvest. Clinical data were collected for each group. RESULT: The HMP group had a lower rate of delayed graft function (DGF), better postoperative recovery and kidney function compared with that of SCS group. There is no significant difference in postoperative rejection incidence between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: DCD kidneys stored by hypothermic machine contribute to a lower rate of DGF and promoted the rehabilitation progress.