Results of Kidney Transplants From Deceased Donors Discarded From Transplantation by a Regional Transplant Center but Accepted and Transplanted by Another Center

Abstract

BackgroundKidney allocation policy in Poland is strictly patient oriented. Kidneys are transplanted by the same center that made procurement. Sometimes kidneys are transferred for transplantation to another center due to medical or logistic reasons or according to allocation rules. AimThe aim of the study was to compare early graft and recipient survival rates in cases of kidneys exported for transplantation to another center and in cases of kidneys transplanted typically. MethodsData came from national transplant registry. Kidney transplants from the years 2008 to 2017 were divided into several groups. One-year graft and patient survival rates were calculated for each group, and statistical differences were cross-calculated between groups. ResultsGroups were compared by using the χ2 test. Statistical analysis showed significantly lower graft and recipient survival rates: in the group of kidney transplantations performed in another transplant centers vs group of kidneys not transferred, where kidney transplantations were performed in a regional transplant center (P = .005 and = .02); and in the group of kidneys transferred due to logistic reason and allocation rules vs group of kidneys not transferred, where kidney transplantations were performed in regional transplant center (P = .01 and = .04). ConclusionEarly results of kidneys procured and transplanted by the same regional transplant center are significantly better than kidneys that have been transferred for transplantation to another center, but this result concerns only the subgroup of kidneys shifted due to logistic or allocation reasons. Early results of kidneys discarded by a regional team due to medical reasons and transplanted by another team are not different from results of transplantations performed by the same center that made the procurement.