INTENSIVE-CARE MANAGEMENT OF KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTATION IN CHILDREN

Over a 4 yr-period, 60 children (aged 10 months to 17 yr) received 66 kidney transplants with the same surgical intensive care program, the first 48 hr-period of which has been analysed in this study. Thirty percent of recipients were transplanted without previous dialysis and in 8%, body weight was below 10 kg at the time of surgery. The duration of anesthesia was 4.4 +/- 1.0 h and 32% received locoregional anesthesia. The mean duration for cold ischemia was 14.7 +/- 11.7 h and 26 +/- 7 min for warm ischemia; diuresis began during the operation in 79% of the patients. Routine vascular filling consisted of standard isotonic solute (11 +/- 4 ml/kg/h) associated with mannitol infusion; 59% of recipients required 20% human serum albumin and 42% blood transfusion. Post-operative diuresis was 7.4 +/- 6.0 ml/kg/h during the first 24 h, and sometimes resulted in hypovolemic episodes; 9% of the patients had primary non-functioning kidneys (4 transient acute tubular necrosis; 2 vascular thrombosis) and 4% required dialysis; the 1-yr survival rate was 82% for the grafts and 98% of the patients.