Retrospective Cohort Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Transplant. Apr 18, 2021; 11(4): 114-128
Published online Apr 18, 2021. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v11.i4.114
Table 1 Preoperative characteristics of recipients with and without delayed graft function

All patients
DGF
No DGF
P value
n = 294
n = 79
n = 215
Transplant, yr, n (%)0.18
2016175 (60)52 (66)123 (57)
2017119 (40)27 (34)92 (43)
Age, yr56 (44-64)58 (50-63)54 (41-64)0.06
Male, n (%)186 (63)50 (63)136 (63)0.99
Race, n (%)0.35
Caucasian48 (16)8 (10)40 (19)
Afro-American153 (52)45 (57)108 (50)
Hispanic88 (30)25 (32)63 (29)
Other5 (2)1 (1)4 (2)
BMI, kg/m228 (24-32)29 (26-35)27 (24-30)0.001a
BMI ≥ 30 kg/m297 (33)37 (47)60 (28)0.002a
Redo transplant, n (%)26 (8)4 (5)22 (10)0.17
Dialysis type, n (%)0.26
Peritoneal24 (8)6 (8)18 (8)
Hemodialysis263 (90)73 (92)190 (88)
Pre-dialysis7 (2)0 (0)7 (3)
Duration of dialysis, mo67.4 (29.1-88.7)67.4 (52.5-92.9)67.1 (46.6-87.2)0.37
Preoperative baseline laboratory
WBC, × 103/µL6.6 (5.5-8.2)6.8 (5.7-8.5)6.6 (5.4-8.1)0.22
Hgb, g/dL11.1 (10.2-12.1)11.1 (10.2-12.9)11.2 (10.1-12.2)0.66
Hct, %34.5 (31.0-37.6)34.7 (31.2-37.0)34.5 (30.9-37.8)0.97
K+, mmol/L4.7 (4.3-5.2)4.9 (4.4-5.4)4.7 (4.3-5.1)0.05
HCO3-, mmol/L26 (23-29)26 (23-28)26 (23-29)0.36
Na+, mmol/L140 (138-142)140 (138-143)140 (138-142)0.25
Creatinine, mg/dL8.9 (6.7-11.2)9.11 (7.1-11.1)8.9 (6.7-11.2)0.88
Medical history, n (%)
Hypertension285 (97)77 (97)208 (97)0.75
Diabetes108 (37)42 (53)66 (31)0.001a
Dyslipidemia159 (54)57 (72)102 (47)0.001a
CAD67 (23)28 (35)39 (18)0.002a
Smoking79 (27)19 (24)60 (28)0.51
Preoperative medications, n (%)
ACEi/ARB99 (34)19 (24)80 (37)0.03a
CC-blocker134 (46)35 (44)99 (46)0.79
Beta-blocker168 (57)47 (59)121 (56)0.62
Diuretic33 (11)12 (15)21 (10)0.19
Statin107 (36)43 (54)64 (30)0.001a
Aspirin94 (32)35 (44)59 (27)0.006a
Clopidogrel122 (7)11 (14)11 (5)0.01a
Midodrine8 (3)2 (3)6 (3)0.9
Echocardiography
LV EF < 50%, n (%)8 (3)3 (4)5 (2)0.49
DD Grade 2 or 3, n (%)44 (15)14 (18)30 (14)0.42
LVH, n (%)183 (62)55 (70)128 (60)0.11
RVSP, mmHg28 (23-34)27 (22-34)28 (23-33)0.91
Table 2 Intraoperative characteristics for recipients with and without delayed graft function

All patients
DGF
No DGF
P value
n = 294
n = 79
n = 215
Surgery time, h2.7 (2.0-3.9)2.5 (1.8-4.4)2.8 (2.2-3.9)0.03a
Warm ischemia time, min29 (24-36)27 (23-34)29 (24-36)0.08
Fluid and electrolytes
Crystalloid, L2.0 (1.5-2.5)2.0 (1.5-2.2)2.0 (1.5-2.5)0.97
Plasmalyte/Isolyte, n (%)94 (32)23 (29)71 (33)0.82
Normal saline, n (%)161 (55)45 (57)116 (54)
Combined, n (%)39 (13)11 (14)28 (13)
Weight based crystalloid (mL/kg)24 (19-32)22 (18-31)25 (19-33)0.11
Albumin, grams25 (12.5-50)25 (25-50)25 (12.5-50)0.66
Packed red blood cells, n (%)0.46
None 224 (76)60 (76)164 (76)
1 unit39 (13)11 (14)28 (13)
2 units25 (9)8 (10)17 (8)
3+ units6 (2)0 (0)6 (3)
Fresh frozen plasma, n (%)0.38
None287 (98)79 (100)208 (97)
1 unit2 (1)0 (0)2 (1)
2+ units5 (2)0 (0)5 (2)
Platelets, n (%)0.58
None290 (99)79 (100)211 (98)
1 unit4 (1)0 (0)4 (2)
Estimated blood loss, mL 100 (95-200)150 (100-300)100 (50-200)0.01a
NaHCO3, mEq50 (50-112.5)50 (50-100)50 (50-150)0.76
CaCl2, n (%)210 71)59 (75)151 (70)0.56
CaCl2, g1 (0.75-1.5)1 (0.75-1.25)1 (0.75-1.5)0.65
Furosemide infusion, n (%)192 (65)44 (56)148 (69)0.04a
NaHCO3, n (%)54 (18)11 (14)43 (20)0.31
Urine output, mL75 (15-200)28 (5-80)100 (20-250)< 0.0001a
Hemodynamics and inotropes
MAP at baseline, mmHg109 (96-122)107 (95-118)112 (96-123)0.08
Baseline MAP < 110 mmHg, n (%)159 (54)51 (65)108 (50)0.02a
MAP 5 min post-reperfusion, mmHg90 (81-100)91 (79-97)90 (82-100)0.45
5 min post-reperfusion MAP < 100 mmHg, n (%)220 (75)61 (77)159 (74)0.61
Drop in MAP ≥ 30 mmHg from baseline -5 min post-reperfusion, n (%)74 (25)18 (24)56 (26)0.55
MAP 30 min post-reperfusion, mmHg 91 (82-100)92 (82-101)91 (83-99)0.85
30 min post-reperfusion MAP < 100 mmHg, n (%)218 (74)54 (68)164 (77)0.15
Drop in MAP ≥ 30 mmHg from baseline -30 min post-reperfusion, n (%)70 (24)13 (16)57 (27)0.07
MAP 1st post-operative, mmHg104 (95-113)102 (92-110)105 (96-113)0.09
1st post-operative MAP < 100 mmHg, n (%)117 (40)35 (44)82 (38)0.34
Drop in MAP ≥ 30 mmHg from baseline -1st post-operative, n (%)27 (9)7 (9)20 (9)0.9
Dopamine, n (%)5 (2)2 (3)3 (1)0.61
Ephedrine, n (%)74 (25)25 (32)49 (23)0.12
Ephedrine dose, mg10 (5-20)10 (5-20)10 (5-18)0.62
Phenylephrine, n (%)64 (22)25 (32)39 (18)0.01a
Phenylephrine dose, mcg200 (100-400)200 (125-400)200 (100-400)0.64
Phenylephrine timing:
None, n (%)230 (78)54 (68)176 (82)0.06
Before reperfusion, n (%)39 (14)14 (18)25 (12)
After reperfusion, n (%)10 (3)4 (5)6 (3)
Both before and after, n (%)15 (5)7 (9)8 (4)
Phenylephrine and Ephedrine, n (%)37 (13)16 (20)21 (10)0.02a
Table 3 Donor and hypothermic machine perfusion pump characteristics for recipients with and without delayed graft function

All patients
DGF
No DGF
P value
n = 294
n = 79
n = 215
Donor characteristics
Donor kidney0.35
Left, n (%)136 (46%)33 (42%)103 (48%)
Right, n (%)158 (54%)46 (58%)112 (52%)
Donor location0.001a
Local, n (%)158 (54%)27 (34%)131 (61%)
Import, n (%)136 (46%)52(66%)84 (39%)
Kidney donor profile index, %53 (33-81)61 (40-85)49 (28-75)0.006a
Donor age, yr44 (32-56)49 (36-56)42 (30-55)0.04a
Donor body mass index, kg/m227 (23-31)28 (25-33)26 (23-31)0.009a
Donation after cardiac death, n (%)50 (17%)23 (29%)27 (13%)0.001a
Donor cause of death0.6
Anoxia, n (%)119 (40%)31 (39%)88 (41%)
Head trauma, n (%)76 (26%)18 (23%)58 (27%)
Stroke, n (%)99 (34%)30 (38%)69 (32%)
Donor cardiac arrest, n (%)141 (48%)40 (51%)101 (47%)0.58
Donor medical history
Hypertension, n (%)104 (35%)32 (41%)72 (33%)0.28
Diabetes, n (%)34 (12%)12 (15%)22 (10%)0.24
Coronary artery disease, n (%)27 (9%)16 (20%)11 (5%)0.001a
Smoking, n (%)70 (24%)20 (25%)50 (23%)0.73
Heavy alcohol use, n (%)65 (22%)13 (16%)52 (24%)0.15
Admit creatinine, mg/dL1.1 (0.9-1.4)1.1 (0.9-1.5)1.1 (0.9-1.30)0.2
Terminal creatinine, mg/dL1.0 (0.7-1.6)1.3 (0.81-2.8)0.9 (0.7-1.4)0.001a
Terminal creatinine ≥ 1.9 mg/dL63 (21%)31 (39%)32 (15%)0.001a
Donor Biopsy: % glomerulosclerosis3.9 (0-8.3)4.6 (1.7-10)3.4 (0-7.6)0.14
HMP pump characteristics
Cold ischemia time28.5 (21.5-34.5)30.6 (25.8-36.4)26.4 (21.2-33.8)0.009a
Cold ischemia time ≥ 26 h172 (59%)58 (73%)114 (53%)0.002a
Cold storage time, h10.6 (6.8-20.6)18.4 (7.1-24.7)9.6 (6.8-18.9)0.002a
Cold storage duration ≥ 16 h120 (41%)46 (58%)74 (34%)0.001a
Total pump time, h13.3 (8.4-19.2)13.1 (8.2-18.9)13.4 (8.4-19.7)0.37
Final pump parameters
Flow, mL/min141 (123-156)127 (117-148)142 (126-159)0.001a
Resistance, mmHg/mL/min0.20 (0.15-0.25)0.24 (0.16-0.29)0.19 (0.15-0.24)0.001a
Systolic pressure, mmHg34 (29-40)35 (30-40)33 (27-39)0.009a
Diastolic pressure, mmHg24 (18-29)26 (19-30)23 (18-29)0.09
Pump flow < 150 mL/min190 (65%)65 (82%)125 (58%)0.001a
Pump resistance ≥ 0.23 mmHg/mL/min115 (39%)47 (59%)68 (32%)0.001a
Table 4 Postoperative characteristics for recipients with and without delayed graft function

All patients
DGF
No DGF
P value
n = 294
n = 79
n = 215
Post-operative location, n (%)0.95
PACU230 (78)62 (78)168 (78)
ICU64 (22)17 (22)47 (22)
Extubation in OR282 (96)74 (94)208 (97)0.24
Reintubation, n (%)
Within 48 h4 (1)3 (4)1 (0.5)0.06
Within 1 wk6 (2)4 (5)2 (1)0.05
Pulmonary edema, n (%)
Within 48 h11 (4)5 (6)6 (3)0.16
Within 1 wk13 (4)6 (8)7 (3)0.11
Adverse cardiac events, n (%)
Within 48 h10 (3)2 (3)8 (4)0.62
Within 1 wk15 (5)3 (4)12 (6)0.54
Within 1 mo17 (6)4 (5)13 (6)0.1
Clavien-Dindo at 1 mo, n (%)1
None238 (81)54 (68)184 (86)0.002a
Grade I4 (1)0 (0)4 (2)
Grade II14 (5)6 (8)8 (4)
Grade IIIa19 (6)11 (14)8 (4)
Grade IIIb13 (4)4 (5)9 (4)
Grade IVa4 (1)3 (4)1 (0.5)
Grade IVb1 (1)1 (1)0 (0)
Grade V1 (1)0 (0)1 (0.5)
Total complications56 (19)25 (32)31 (14)
Length of stay, d6 (5-8)8 (6-12)6 (5-7)0.001a
eGFR, 6 mo, mL/min65.3 (48.4-81.6)50.6 (36.2-71.0)73.3 (58.6-89.5)0.001a
eGFR < 60 mL/min at 6 mo, n (%)120 (41)51 (65)69 (32)0.001a
Graft survival at 1 yr, n (%)2283 (96%)71 (90)212 (99)0.002a
Patient survival at 1 yr, n (%)292 (99)79 (100)213 (99)0.34
Table 5 Perioperative predictors associated with delayed graft function

OR
95%CI
P value
Preoperative recipient risk factor
Recipient BMI ≥ 30 kg/m23.81.947-7.5480.0001a
Intraoperative recipient risk factor
Baseline MAP < 110 mmHg2.21.098-4.3260.0260a
Phenylephrine usage2.21.040-4.8200.0392a
Donor risk factors
Cold storage time ≥ 16 h2.81.378-5.6660.0044a
Donation after cardiac death 4.41.872-10.2250.0007a
Donor with history of CAD5.82.133-16.0330.0006a
Terminal creatinine ≥ 1.9 mg/dL 4.32.041-8.8550.0001a
HMP pump risk factor
Resistance ≥ 0.23 mmHg/mL/min2.21.132-4.3070.0201a

  • Citation: Mendez NV, Raveh Y, Livingstone JJ, Ciancio G, Guerra G, Burke III GW, Shatz VB, Souki FG, Chen LJ, Morsi M, Figueiro JM, Ibrahim TM, DeFaria WL, Nicolau-Raducu R. Perioperative risk factors associated with delayed graft function following deceased donor kidney transplantation: A retrospective, single center study. World J Transplant 2021; 11(4): 114-128
  • URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3230/full/v11/i4/114.htm
  • DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5500/wjt.v11.i4.114