[Kidney cooling during multi-organ harvesting. Descriptive study]

To describe kidney cooling during multi-organ harvesting (MOH) from brain-dead donors and to evaluate harvesting practices.

The temperature of 12 kidneys (6 left and 6 right kidneys) was monitored continuously during MOH from brain-dead donors. After in situ cooling, the kidneys were separated on the table and washed for several minutes with UW preservation solution. The kidney temperature was studied as a function of the main phases of the operative procedure.

The mean minimum kidney temperature of 10.8 degrees C (3.7 degrees C to 16.6 degrees C) was reached at the beginning of mobilization of the liver, i.e. an average of 20 minutes (13 to 37 min) after cannulation. The mean cooling rate was 1.37 degrees C/min (0.73 to 2.19 degrees C/min). The mean temperature of the UW cooling solution was 9.4 degrees C (3.8 degrees C to 14 degrees C). For hepatic followed by renal dissection, the kidneys slowly reheated at a mean rate of 0.20 degree C/min (0.12 to 0.37 degree C/min) to reach a mean temperature of 21 degrees C (13.5 degrees C to 26.3 degrees C) at the time of resection. The mean kidney temperature at the time of placement in the container was 17.5 degrees C (13.2 degrees C to 22 degrees C).

The course of kidney temperature during MOH has not been previously described. This study, performed under usual harvesting conditions, demonstrated sometimes imperfect cooling that could be harmful to he kidneys, but which could be improved by simple measures: rapid dissection of the liver and kidneys and correct application of contact cooling.