A Standardized Porcine Kidney Auto-transplant Protocol for Studying Delayed Graft Function

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Surgery
• Animal Models

Background:

• Delayed graft function (DGF) lacks standardized diagnostic criteria, hindering clinical assessment and research.
• Current DGF definitions rely on subjective judgment, impacting accuracy and comparability.
• Swine models present challenges for DGF research due to undefined endpoints and dialysis difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish objective thresholds for defining delayed graft function (DGF) in swine models.
• To develop a reproducible protocol for inducing and assessing DGF in porcine kidney auto-transplantation.
• To create a standardized endpoint for DGF studies in swine that mirrors the clinical presentation.

Main Methods:

• Developed a protocol for porcine kidney auto-transplantation involving 30 minutes of isolated renal warm ischemia.
• Utilized non-invasive Foley catheterization for accurate urine output measurement.
• Employed central venous access and arterial line monitoring for comprehensive intraoperative assessment and daily laboratory analysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully induced and characterized DGF in swine models using the defined protocol.
• Established objective criteria for DGF based on quantifiable urine output and serum renal function.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of detailed monitoring and assessment in swine, recapitulating the clinical DGF phenotype.

Conclusions:

• The proposed protocol provides objective, reproducible criteria for defining and studying DGF in swine.
• This standardized approach enhances the reliability of DGF research in preclinical models.
• The findings facilitate better understanding and management of DGF in kidney transplantation.