Assessment of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Monitor Perfusion of Transplanted Kidney in Adults in the...

After renal transplant, identification of early graft dysfunction is crucial for graft survival. We aimed to assess the perfusion of the transplanted kidney using near-infrared spectroscopy and to see any correlations between regional saturation and serum creatinine and urine output.

We included male and female patients, aged 18 to 65 years, with end-stage renal disease and undergoing living related donor renal transplant in our study. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used for continuous monitoring of regional saturation. Urine output and serum creatinine were recorded at baseline and then every 24 hours until postoperative day 5.

Among 21 patients included in the study, mean age was 30.23 ± 4% at postoperative day 5. We found a significant negative correlation between regional saturation and serum creatinine at all time intervals (P < .05). A significant negative correlation between regional saturation and urine output was observed at baseline and at 24, 72, 96, and 120 hours (P < .05). Four patients developed postoperative complications. A significant change in regional saturation was detected at 40 hours, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 48 hours earlier by near-infrared saturation in 4 patients compared with other traditional indexes of renal function monitoring.

Monitoring with near-infrared spectroscopy is feasible and safe in postoperative renal transplant patients. Near-infrared spectroscopy may be projected as a surrogate tool for real-time monitoring of renal perfusion in renal transplant recipients.