Prophylactic Anticoagulation Reduces the Risk of Kidney Graft Venous Thrombosis in Recipients From Uncontrolled Donation After Circulatory Death Donors With High Renal Resistive Index.

Background: Uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD) increases organ availability for kidney transplantation (KT) at the expense of a higher risk of primary graft nonfunction (PNF). At least half of the cases of PNF are secondary to graft venous thrombosis. The potential benefit from prophylactic anticoagulation in this scenario remains unclear. Methods: In this single-center retrospective study we compared 2 consecutive cohorts of KT from uDCD with increased (≥0.8) renal resistive index (RRI) in the Doppler ultrasound examination performed within the first 24-72 h after transplantation: 36 patients did not receive anticoagulation ("nonanticoagulation group") and 71 patients underwent prophylactic anticoagulation until normalization of RRI in follow-up Doppler examinations ("anticoagulation group"). Results: Anticoagulation was initiated at a median of 2 d (interquartile range, 2-3) after transplantation and maintained for a median of 12 d (interquartile range, 7-18). In 4 patients (5.6%), anticoagulation had to be prematurely stopped because of the development of a hemorrhagic complication. In comparison with the nonanticoagulation group, recipients in the anticoagulation group had a lower 2-wk cumulative incidence of graft venous thrombosis (19.4% versus 0.0%; P < 0.001) and PNF (19.4% versus 2.8%; P = 0.006). The competing risk analysis with nonthrombotic causes of PNF as the competitive event confirmed the higher risk of graft thrombosis in the nonanticoagulation group (P = 0.0001). The anticoagulation group had a higher incidence of macroscopic hematuria (21.1% versus 5.6%; P = 0.049) and blood transfusion requirements (39.4% versus 19.4%; P = 0.050) compared with the nonanticoagulation group. No graft losses or deaths were attributable to complications potentially associated with anticoagulation. Conclusions: Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation in selected KT recipients from uDCD with an early Doppler ultrasound RRI of ≥0.8 within the first 24-72 h may reduce the incidence of graft venous thrombosis as a cause of PNF.

Influence of donor capnometry on renal graft evolution in uncontrolled donation after circulatory death.

AIM: To analyse the association between donor capnometry data and the short-term evolution of kidney grafts in cases of uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD). METHOD: We used an ambispective observational study design, conducted in the Community of Madrid between January and December 2019, inclusive. Patients who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) with no response to advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were selected as potential donors. Donor capnometry levels were measured at the start, midpoint and transfer to hospital then compared with indicators of renal graft evolution. RESULTS: The initial selection included 34 possible donors, of which 12 (35.2%) were viable donors from whom 22 (32.3%) kidneys were recovered. There was a correlation between the highest capnometry values and less need for post-transplant dialysis (≥24 mmHg, p < 0.017), fewer dialysis sessions and fewer days to recover correct renal function (Rho -0.47, p < 0.044). There was a significant inverse correlation between the capnometry values at transfer and 1-month post-transplant creatinine levels (Rho -0.62, p < 0.033). There were no significant differences between the capnometry values at transfer and primary nonfunction (PNF) or warm ischaemia time. One-year patient survival was 100% for patient receiving organ donation, while graft survival was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Capnometry levels at transfer are a useful predictor of the short-term function and viability of kidney transplants from uncontrolled donations after circulatory death.