Clinical audit and long-term evaluation of renal transplant recipients

Renal transplant recipients now have an increased life expectancy, and this has highlighted the need for increased concern about the long-term complications associated with transplantation. To better manage renal transplant recipients over the long term, it is essential to schedule periodic clinic visits to detect problems and intervene in a timely fashion. Besides enabling early detection and possible treatment, periodic visits permit continuing patient education. Unfortunately, there is no scientifically based consensus that indicates what the optimal frequency and timing of such visits should be, although the AST has recently issued some guidelines. At the MINT, an Annual Review Clinic has been implemented to provide better service to renal transplant recipients over the long term. The clinic offers a comprehensive medical assessment, identifies and quantifies risk factors for CVD, and initiates referrals to appropriate specialists. The Annual Review Clinic increases patient awareness in a number of areas specific to transplantation, promotes a positive approach to healthcare, enables collection of structured data for analysis, and, with hope, engenders a significant degree of patient well-being and satisfaction. The medical community needs to continue long-term patient evaluation and clinical audit as means to improve long-term patient and graft survival, as well as patient quality of life.