Results in 158 consecutive cadaveric renal transplantations

We investigated the outcome of deceased donor kidney transplantations performed in a single center in a developing country.

A total of 158 patients (69 male and 89 female patients, including 32 children) received kidney grafts obtained from deceased donors between March 1996 and October 2004. Cadaveric renal grafts were transplanted after a cold ischemia time of 4 to 24 hours (mean, 12.5 hours). Retransplantation was performed in 19 recipients. Induction immunosuppression was achieved with antithymocyte globulin. The diagnosis of acute graft rejection was based on histopathological findings.

Primary graft function was observed in 77% of cases. Posttransplantation complications were: surgical (n = 60; 38%), systemic bacterial and viral infections (n = 33; 21%), acute rejection (n = 47; 30%), and malignancy (n = 2; 1.3%). Seventeen recipients died with a functioning graft, and 23 more grafts were lost. The 7-year actuarial survival rates were 89% and 75% for recipients and grafts, respectively.

The kidney transplantation program in Kuwait is steadily growing. Kidney grafts obtained from deceased donors contributed 28% of the transplantation activity and were associated with a high rate of primary function. Overall actuarial recipient and graft survival rates were comparable to those reported by larger centers.