[Initial experience with transplantation of a kidney from a non-beating heart donor (NHBD)]

The authors present their initial experience with transplantations of the kidneys from a donor with a non-beating heart (NHBD). This programme was developed because of the permanently declining number of cadaverous kidney donors with a beating heart. Since January 2002 the authors collected a total of three kidneys from NHBD 3 kidneys of which were used for transplantation. The first two started to function immediately, the third one restored its function three weeks after transplantation. The viability and suitability of use of kidneys from NHBD is evaluated with regard to vascular resistance and flow of the perfusion fluid through the kidneys when using a perfusion pump and by means of totalglutathione-S-transferase (tGST) assessed at intervals in the perfusion fluid. The values of the above parameters are limiting between the 6th and 8th hour after the onset of instrumental perfusion of the collected kidneys when the perfusion values should be within the range of 30-50 ml/min/100 g and the vascular resistance should be < 0.7 mmHg and tGST < 100 U/l. For immunosuppression the authors use during the fist days after transplantation basiliximab, rapamycin and corticoids, later in case of satisfactory function of the graft they add cyclosporin A. The initial results of renal transplantation from NHBD are promising and the programme will be developed further.