Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Delayed Graft Function in Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation

Objective. Delayed graft function (DGF) is the most significant complication of a cadaveric kidney transplant. We aim to evaluate the predictable risk factors of DGF and its effects on the recipient and graft survival. Method. From January 2014 to December 2017, the medical records from 62 patients who received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor were retrospectively reviewed. We classified recipients into 2 groups. The risk factors of DGF associated with donor, recipient, and transplant procedures were analyzed. DGF's effects on the graft survival were examined. Results. The incidence rate of DGF was 43.5%. Older ages of donors, marginal donors (n = 15), length of stay in the intensive care unit, and terminal serum creatinine concentrations were observed to be statistically significant compared to recipients without DGF (P <.5). The ratio of serum creatinine concentrations before/after brain death was found to be significant for the groups with DGF (P < .05). Cold ischemia time (CIT) was examined as the most significant risk factor on DGF (P = .001). One-year patient survival rates were 94.5% and 92.3%, and graft survival rates were 92.1% and 87.5% (P = .05), respectively, for the groups with and without DGF. Conclusion. Older ages of donors, occurrence of acute kidney injury, its grade just before harvesting, and long duration of CIT are the most important risk factors for DGF. Brain death management, shortening the time between brain death and harvesting, and also shortening the duration of CIT can decrease the risk of DGF and can increase the graft survival.