Hemodynamic Management During Kidney Transplantation: A French Survey

Hypovolemia or excess fluid load during kidney transplantation may have detrimental effects on the recipient and graft. The aim of our survey was to examine hemodynamic monitoring during kidney transplantation (KT) in French KT centers.

The online survey covered the organization of anesthesia, the type of hemodynamic monitoring available in each center, the frequency of use of each hemodynamic parameter, and the hemodynamic algorithm used to manage fluid administration.

Twenty-four centers answered the survey (70% of all the 34 French KT centers) and reported performing 2029 KTs in 2016. Anesthesia for KT was performed either by a general team (n = 12, 48%) or less often, by a specific team during open hours (n = 7, 28%), a specific 24-hour/24-hour team (n = 5, 20%), or an emergency team (n = 1, 4%). The centers reported that up to 8 different hemodynamic monitoring techniques were available for KT. Central venous pressure (CVP) is the most frequently used hemodynamic parameter (1278 KT, 63%). Among the 17 centers using CVP monitoring, 9 had no specific algorithm and the other 8 centers used a different algorithm to manage fluids with CVP. The total fluids administered during KT varied from 1000 mL to 3500 mL.

CVP was still the main hemodynamic parameter used in France during KT in 2016. Our results suggest that a large randomized controlled trial should be performed to specifically address the question of hemodynamic management during KT.