title: Ex-vivo perfusion machines in kidney transplantation. The significance of the resistivity index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With a growing shortage of organs for transplantation, finding ways of increasing the donor organ pool remains of utmost importance. Perfusion machines (PM) have been proven to enhance the potential for kidney transplants to function sooner, last longer, giving patients the opportunity for a better life quality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation between the resistance index provided by the PM, the postoperative resistance index measured by Doppler ultrasound and the initial graft outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2012-December 2012, clinical data obtained from 82 consecutive renal transplants from brain death donors (BDD) which underwent PM maintenance were analyzed in a transversal study. Prior transplantation we recorded the solution temperature, filtration rate and the resistance index provided by PM. After the surgical intervention, each patient had standard follow-up. Doppler ultrasound resistivity index (RI) was recorded on the first postoperative day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 115 renal transplants, 98 (85.21%) were performed with grafts from BDD. The PM was used for 82 renal grafts. The Doppler resistance index in relation to the resistance index shows a highly statistical correlation by linear regression (R=0.813, p<0.0001). Primary graft function was recorded in 74 patients (90.24%) and it was highly statistically significant correlated with the resistance index measured by PM. Out of 8 patients with primary non-function, 6 patients recovered with normal graft function at one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The resistivity index recorded by the life-port machine is correlated with the vascular resistivity index measured by Doppler ultrasound and thus it may predicts the primary graft outcome.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Florin Ioan
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Elec
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Ciprian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Liviu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghervan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Silviu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moga
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suciu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Enache
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elec
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbos
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Gheorghita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iacob
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Urology and Renal Transplantation Cluj-Napoca.
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucan
keywords: Graft quality; perfusion machine; post-transplant Doppler ultrasound; renal transplantation