[The effect of various donor factors on primary and long-term function of the transplanted kidney]

Various factors such as cause of brain death, duration of intensive care, single or multiple organ procurement, renal function, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, requirement of catecholamines and metabolic derangement were investigated in 86 consecutive organ donors with respect to the possible influence on initial graft function in 86 kidney recipients. Donor conditioning and perioperative recipient management were standardized. Donors of kidneys with initial graft function (group I) showed a significantly higher incidence (80%) of brain death as a consequence of an isolated cerebral incident than donors of kidneys without initial graft function (group II), whereas the incidence of polytrauma (including cerebral) was much higher in donors of group II kidneys (42.9%). The donor requirement of catecholamines was higher in group II donors and the frequency of multiple organ donors was also higher in this group. Five-year graft survival was 80% for group I kidneys but only 62% for group II kidneys. The other factors had no influence on initial graft function. These data demonstrate that multiple injuries and multiple organ procurement have a negative impact on the initial function of the transplanted kidney, possibly due to prolonged ischemic insult.