title: Ex vivo normothermic perfusion for quality assessment of marginal donor kidney transplants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant proportion of kidneys procured for transplantation are discarded because of concerns about their suitability. In this study ex vivo normothermic perfusion (EVNP) was used as a quality assessment device before renal transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four human kidneys deemed unsuitable for transplantation following retrieval underwent 60 min of EVNP with an oxygenated red cell-based solution at 36°C. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify thresholds of renal blood flow and urine output. These thresholds and a grading of macroscopic appearance were incorporated into an EVNP assessment score (highest quality, 1; lowest, 5). This was applied to a series of 36 kidneys transplanted after EVNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the discarded kidney series, 60 (81 per cent) scored 1-4 and 14 (19 per cent) scored 5. Although none of these kidneys was transplanted, those with a score from 1 to 4 were considered suitable for transplantation. In the 36 transplanted kidneys, the score ranged between 1 and 3 (score 1, 17; score 2, 11; score 3, 8). All of these kidneys were transplanted without any complications or primary non-function. The delayed graft function rate was 6 per cent (1 of 17) in kidneys scoring 1, 0 per cent (0 of 11) in those scoring 2 and 38 per cent (3 of 8) in those scoring 3 (P = 0·024). The mean(s.d.) estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12 months was 51(16), 63(15) and 38(21) ml in kidneys scoring 1, 2 and 3 respectively (P = 0·015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVNP combined with a simple scoring system is an innovative technology for pretransplant assessment of kidney quality and acceptability for transplantation. This study suggests that a high percentage of retrieved kidneys are being discarded unnecessarily.
authors: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Transplant Group, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK.|Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge. Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Hosgood
authors: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Transplant Group, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK.|Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge. Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Barlow
authors: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Transplant Group, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK.
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Hunter
authors: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Transplant Group, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK.|Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge. Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D012372:ROC Curve; D013696:Temperature