A controlled clinical trial of machine perfusion of cadaveric donor renal allografts

Outcome in eighty-eight recipients of cadaveric donor renal allografts preserved before implantation by machine perfusion with a solution of human albumin was compared to that for eighty-three recipients of similar kidneys implanted after simple cold storage. Average total ischaemic intervals for machine-perfused and cold-stored kidneys were 18 and 4 1/4 hours, respectively. Machine-perfused kidneys were implanted regardless of perfusion characteristics. Initial function and 1-month and 1-year graft survivals for the machine-perfused group (58%, 85%, 68%, respectively) were either similar or improved compared to those of cold-stored kidneys (58%, 81%, 52%, respectively). Improved 1-year survival for machine-perfused grafts was dependent upon reduced rejection. Careful donor selection and management ensured good machine perfusion of kidneys on 90% of occasions. In the other 10%, despite poor perfusion characteristics, outcome for kidneys was similar to those with good perfusion characteristics. Antilymphocyte globulin treatment reduced rejection whether allografts were machine perfused or not. In the absence of antilymphocyte globulin treatment, machine-perfused kidneys did much better than cold-stored kidneys. Machine perfusion had important advantages and improved the results in kidney-graft recipients.