Cold ischemia time in renal transplantation is reduced by a timesheet in a French transplant center.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cold ischemia time (CIT) is associated with delayed graft function (DGF) and transplant outcome. Several strategies to reduce CIT have been proposed. We retrospectively analyzed the effect of using a timesheet on CIT in our center. METHODS: In the last 2 years, we have introduced a timesheet to study the course of organ procurement and transplantation during CIT. Results of our 2-year program (121 transplantations) were compared to those in the preceding 2 years (151 transplantations). The timing of each intervention and the influence of national sharing policy and priority recipients were recorded. RESULTS: CIT decreased significantly from 21.45 to 13.27 hours (P<0.0001) and the DGF rate from 34.7 to 20.7% (P=0.011). Usually, human leukocyte antigen typing was done before kidney removal and the recipient was evaluated in the evening or at night for a transplant procedure starting in the morning. Only 1 of 121 transplantations started during the night. The availability of an operating room was the limiting factor. Sharing organs for national priority with a crossmatch having been performed increased CIT twofold (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Using a timesheet significantly reduced CIT to the shortest in France. The timesheet is an indicator of motivation and requires the collaboration of all transplantation personnel. It identified certain habits that may be improved to minimize CIT without reorganizing the unit. Providing quicker access to the operating room should further reduce CIT, the key to better graft survival.