Renal allograft survival in patients transfused perioperatively only

We investigated in a prospective study the effects of perioperative blood transfusions on the outcome of renal transplantation. All patients (n = 105) receiving their first cadaveric renal allograft were transfused perioperatively (i.e. 0-6 hours before transplantation) with two units of non-washed, unfiltered packed red cells. Forty-eight were transfused perioperatively only; 57 patients had received blood earlier and thus were transfused pre- and perioperatively. Graft survival one and two years post-transplant was 79 per cent at both time intervals in the group transfused perioperatively only, and 85 per cent and 74 per cent in the pre- and peroperatively transfused group. No adverse effects were observed concerning perioperative transfusions. In patients transfused perioperatively only, acceptable graft survival rates are obtainable. In these patients the risk or presensitisation is avoided, and thus their chance of successful transplantation increased.