PERIOPERATIVE MONITORING OF THE CORTICAL MICROCIRCULATION IN CLINICALRENAL-TRANSPLANTATION BY THERMODIFFUSION

Quantification of renal cortex microcirculation during transplantation as well as in the early postoperative period proved to be a sensitive tool for the assessment of graft function. Reliable monitoring of cor tical microcirculation was performed in patients with uncomplicated co urse and with impaired renal function for 7 days postoperatively. Pers istent reduction of cortical microcirculation during 60 min after graf t reperfusion was correlated to delayed renal function. Grafts from li ving related donors showed less microcirculatory alteration than cadav eric kidneys, which may be due to shorter ischemic period and limited reperfusion injury. Continuous evaluation of kidney perfusion could be of future value for the early implementation of specific therapy to c ounteract microcirculatory impairment, irreversible parenchymal injury , and graft loss.