NORMOTHERMIC EXTRACORPOREAL PERFUSION IN SITU IN DECEASED ORGAN DONORS WITH IRREVERSIBLE CARDIAC ARREST AND ONE HOUR OF ASYSTOLE. 5-YEAR OUTCOMES OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

Aim. The global shortage of deceased organ donors caused increasing interest to the transplant program based on the use of organs from the donors with sudden irreversible cardiac arrest, or asystolic donors (DCD). Ischemia-reperfusion injury as a result of cardiac arrest remains a key problem that limits the use of organs from DCD. Our clinical study was intended to determine the acceptability of renal transplants derived from the DCD using extracorporeal perfusion in situ after 60 minutes of asystole. Materials and methods. In 2009–2014, St. Petersburg Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) obtained kidneys from 29 DCD with critically expanded warm ischemic time (WIT). The design of this study was approved by the Scientifi c Board and Ethics Committee of the State Research Institute for Emergency Medicine (Decision 7/0615/09). Initially, no one of died patients was considered as potential organ donors. In case of failed advanced CPR the death of a patient was declared initiating the protocol of subnormothermic extracorporeal abdominal perfusion with ECMO, thrombolytics (strepokinase 1.5 mln U), and LD. The procedures were established by the authorized OPO team which arrived with perfusion equipment in 30–40 minutes after declaration of donors’ death. Mean WIT was 58.1 (19.39) minutes (Mean (SD). Resuscitated grafts were transplanted into 58 recipients. The outcomes of transplantation of resuscitated kidneys were compared to those of 112 KTx from 115 brain death donors (BDDs). Results. Immediate functioning of kidney grafts was observed in 28 (48.3%) of 58 recipients. There were 4 cases of primary graft non-function. By the end of the fi rst post-transplant year there was an acute rejection rate of 12.1% (9 episodes of rejection) in the DCD group vs. 23.2% (26 episodes of rejection) in the BDD group (p < 0.05). The actuarial 5-year graft survival rate was 82.8% (n = 48) in DCD group, and 87.5% (n = 98) in BDD group (p > 0.05). Creatinine levels at the end of the fi fth year were 0.094 (0.06) and 0.103 (0.07) mmol/l in DCD and BDD groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Kidneys from DCDs with critically expanded WIT could be successfully used for transplantation if in situ organ “resuscitation” perfusion procedures are included into procurement protocol. The 5-year outcomes meet the generally accepted criteria for grafts’ and recipients’ rates of survival and functioning. This approach could substantially expand the organ donors’ pool.

Keywords

• donors with sudden irreversible cardiac arrest
• 60-min asystole
• ischemia-reperfusion kidney transplantation
• extracorporeal perfusion in situ