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.

Effectiveness and efficiency of teleimaging in the transplantation process: a mixed method protocol.

BACKGROUND: The transplantation process usually takes place without transplant teams being able to use imaging data to assess graft quality. The decision of whether to go get the graft or not is therefore limited and suboptimal. "Cristal images" is a teleimaging project allowing real-time visualization of images of the organs of the donor. The objective of our study is to assess whether the use of a secure teleimaging can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the procurement and transplantation processes. METHODS: We will use the exhaustive national registry of organ allocation and transplantation, and compare outcomes before the deployment of "Cristal images" (years 2015-2016) and after it becomes operational (years 2018-2019) for heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant in a before-after study, combined with a preference elicitation study. The primary endpoint will be the number of successful organ transplantations. Secondary endpoints will be related to the efficiency of the transplant process (decision making, transportation, cost) and a preference elicitation study will determine the relative preferences of transplant teams towards few "Cristal images"' components or potential developments, which are yet to be determined through a qualitative analysis based on interviews with professionals. DISCUSSION: This study will provide stakeholders data on the efficiency of real-time visualization for transplant teams and identify the levers likely to influence the technology use among these teams. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03201224 , 13 June 2017, retrospectively registered.

[Cost of a renal transplant: medico-economic analysis of the amount reimbursed by the French national health program to finance renal transplantation]. / Coût d'un greffon rénal: calcul médico-économique des montants remboursés par l'Assurance maladie pour financer les étapes préalables et périphériques à la transplantation rénale.

Successful organ transplantation relies on several ancillary activities such as the identification of a compatible donor, organ allocation and procurement and the coordination of the transplant process. No existing study of the overall costs, in France, of these additional transplantation activities could be identified. This study determines the total additional costs of ancillary transplantation activities by comparing the costs of kidney transplantations with living donors against those using deceased donors. The data used are drawn from the 2013 public healthcare tariff calculations, PMSI recorded activity and transplant activity in 2012 as assessed and reported by the Agence de la biomédecine. The results show that, in 2012, additional transplant costs varied from 13835.44 € to 20050.67 € for a deceased donor and were 13601.66 € for a living donor. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that all the costs covered by National Health Insurance need to be taken into account in the economic impact evaluation of renal transplantation and during the development of this national priority activity.