title: Use of marginal donors in kidney transplantation: our experience.
abstract: The use of elderly donors has been advocated to expand the organ donor pool because of increased needs and the organ shortage. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the use of elderly donors and marginal kidneys affected the outcome of renal transplantations. Herein we presented data on 126 kidney transplantations performed from January 1996 to September 2003 using 32 marginal donors (group A) and 94 ideal donors (group B). We analyzed the medical and surgical complications and the graft survivals at a median follow-up of 18 months. Medical and surgical complications occurred in 22% and 5% versus 7% and 4% in groups A and B, respectively. The mean cold ischemia time and the mean age were greater for patients undergoing kidney transplantations from marginal donors. No differences were observed in graft survival in groups A and B. In conclusion, our data suggested that with an appropriate strategy and a correct selection of patients, marginal kidneys can be safely used to decrease the gap between demand and supply.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Palermo School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gioviale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Bona
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Virzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buscemi
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Lo Monte
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists