Outcome of transplantation using kidneys from controlled (Maastricht category 3) non‐heart‐beating donors

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Abstract
Background: Many renal transplant centres are reluctant to use kidneys from non‐heart‐beating (NHB) donors because of the high incidence of primary non‐function and delayed graft function reported in the literature. Here, we report our favourable experience of using kidneys from Maastricht category 3 donors (controlled NHB donors). Materials and methods: From January 1996 to June 2002, 42 renal transplants using kidneys from 25 controlled NHB donors were undertaken at our centre. The rates of primary non‐function, delayed graft function (DGF), rejection and long‐term graft and patient survival were compared with those of 84 recipients of grafts from heart‐beating (HB donors) transplanted contemporaneously. Results: Primary non‐function did not occur in recipients of grafts from NHB donors but was seen in two grafts from HB donors. DGF occurred in 21 of 42 (50%) kidneys from NHB donors and 14 of 84 (17%) kidneys from HBD donars (p < 0.001). The acute rejection rates in the two groups were similar (33% for grafts from NHB donors vs. 40% from HB donors). By 1 month after transplantation, there was no significant difference in serum creatinine concentration between the two groups. Over a median follow‐up period of 32 months (range 2–75 months), the actuarial graft survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 yr after transplantation were 84, 80 and 74% for recipients of kidneys from NHB donors, compared with 89, 85 and 80% for kidneys from HB donors. Conclusion: Controlled NHB donors are a valuable and under‐used source of kidneys for renal transplantation. The outcome for recipients of kidney allografts from category 3 NHB donors is similar to that seen in recipients of grafts from conventional HB cadaveric donors.