Effect of perioperative management on early graft function in living donor paediatric kidney transplantation

Background Paediatric kidney transplantation has an increased risk of surgical and vascular complications, with intensive care monitoring required postoperatively. This study aimed to determine if perioperative management affects early graft function in living donor paediatric kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data was extracted from the electronic medical record for living donor kidney transplants at two paediatric centres covering the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia from 2009 to 2021. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 7 days and 1-month post-transplant were calculated as measures of early graft function. Results Thirty-nine eligible patients (female n (%) 13 (33%)) with a median (IQR) age of 6 (3–9) years and pre-transplant eGFR of 7 (6–10) mL/min/1.73 m 2 were analysed. Mean (SD) central venous pressure (CVP) after revascularisation was 11 (4) mmHg. Intraoperatively, mean volume of fluid administered was 84 (39) mL/kg, and 34 (87%) patients received vasoactive agents. Average systolic blood pressure (BP) in the first 24-h post-transplant was 117 (12) mmHg. Postoperatively, median volume of fluid administered in the first 24 h was 224 (159–313) mL/kg, and 17 (44%) patients received vasoactive agents. Median eGFR 7 days and 1-month post-transplant were 115 (79–148) and 103 (83–115) mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively. Linear regression analyses demonstrated that after adjusting for age, the average CVP after revascularisation and average systolic BP in the first 24-h post-transplant were not associated with eGFR in the first month post-transplant. Conclusions Targeted intraoperative and postoperative fluid and haemodynamic characteristics were achieved but did not correlate with early graft function. Graphical Abstract A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information .