HOSPITALIZATION IN CHILDREN DURING THE 1ST YEAR AFTER KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTATION

Length of hospital stay post-renal transplant was investigated in 2171 North American pediatric patients. Hospitalization for those survivin g one year with a functioning graft was 28.8 versus 36.0 days (P < 0.0 5) for living donor (LD) compared with cadaveric donor (CAD) recipient s during the first year post-transplant. Significantly prolonged hospi tal stays were recorded for LD recipients who (a) were less than one-y ear-old, (b) were receiving prophylactic ALG/OKT3, and (c) had a histo ry of prior dialysis, and for CAD recipients who (a) were non-White an d (b) received kidneys with cold ischemic times over 24 hours. In peri od II (2 to 6 months post-transplant), 51% and 68% of LD and CAD recip ients, respectively were hospitalized while the corresponding values w ere 27% or 31% in period III (7 to 12 months post-transplant). Hospita lization was due mainly to graft loss or rejection episodes. Prolonged hospital stay coupled with poor graft survival might help to determin e which aspects of the clinical practice of transplanting children war rant changes.