Perioperative, recipient, and donor related factors affecting delayed graft function in kidney transplantation

Objectives: Delayed graft function is a frequent complication in deceased-donor kidney transplant, with an incidence ranging from 10% to 50% among different centers; it is also associated with lower graft survival. In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors for delayed graft function, particularly those associated with perioperative management (including cold ischemia time) and nonmodifiable recipient- and donor-related factors. The effects of delayed graft function on graft and patient outcomes were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: Our retrospective analyses included 125 adult patients who underwent deceased-donor kidney transplant. Delayed graft function was diagnosed if at least 1 dialysis treatment was required during the first week posttransplant according to Perico’s definition. Results: Prevalence of delayed graft function was 30.4% (n = 38). Cold ischemia time was significantly prolonged in patients with delayed graft function compared with those without it. Multivariate regression showed that cold ischemia time was the only predictor of delayed graft function. A cutoff of 9 hours and 12 minutes was found as a limit beyond which delayed graft function occurred (sensitivity = 90%; specificity = 29%; area under the curve = 0.68). Greater donor and recipient age and longer pretransplant dialysis time in recipients were associated with occurrence of delayed graft function. In patients with delayed graft function, hospital stay duration was significantly greater and 1-year graft survival was significantly lower. Conclusions: Efforts should be focused on limiting cold ischemia time and associated injury to reduce occurrence of delayed graft function and consequently improve long-term graft survival in kidney transplant recipients. Optimization of posttransplant renal function with the help of new technologies, such as pulsatile perfusion, could be crucial for minimization of cold ischemia time.