Improving kidney retrieval from cDCD using normothermic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

Introduction & Objectives: during the past decade, kidneys obtained after controlled circulatory death (cDCD) have significantlyincreased, in order to increase the number of donors. It achieved 24% of total Kidneys transplant during the last year in Spain. However, it implies warm ischemia times, resulting ina greater risk for organs. Focusing on graft quality optimization, abdominal Normothermic Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (NECMO) has been implemented in order to restore blood flow before organ recovery. NECMO perfusion provides promising results for the use of liver grafts for cDCD. The aim of this study is to evaluate cDCD kidneys, obtained from NECMO technique compared with cDCD ultra-rapid retrieval.