HYPOTHERMIC STORAGE OF FELINE KIDNEYS FOR TRANSPLANTATION - SUCCESSFUL EX-VIVO STORAGE UP TO 7 HOURS

Objective-To describe the effect of hypothermic storage on transplante d feline kidneys. Study Design-Kidneys were stored in University of Wi sconsin (UW) sodium gluconate (n = 3) or phosphate-buffered sucrose (n = 5) solutions before transplantation. Animal Population-Eight cats w ith renal failure and seven normal cats as kidney donors. Methods-Kidn eys were perfused through the renal artery with cold (10 degrees C) st orage solution and immersed in the solution on ice until transplantati on. Results-Mean ex vivo storage time was 4.8 +/- 0.36 hours (range, 3 .5 to 7 hours). Seven recipient cats survived surgery. Five of the cat s had decreased serum creatinine concentrations from a mean of 8.2 mg/ dL (range, 4.0 to 15.8 mg/dL) preoperatively to 1.7 mg/dL (range, 1.3 to 2.2 mg/dL) within 4 days of surgery. In one cat, serum creatinine c oncentration dropped from 15.1 to 3.7 mg/dL in 3 days, but the cat dev eloped a ureteral stricture that required revision. One graft did not function, and the cat died on day 19. The mean postoperative survival time of cats that were discharged from the hospital (n = 6) was 254 da ys (range, 49 to 717 days) at the time of this report. Long-term renal function (>60 days postoperatively; n = 5) was excellent with mean se rum creatinine concentrations of 1.6 +/- 0.15 mg/dL. Conclusions-Hypot hermic storage is feasible for short-term preservation of feline kidne ys. The maximal length of feasible storage remains unknown. Clinical R elevance-Hypothermia protects against ischemia-induced nephron loss du ring ex vivo manipulation of the allograft and allows longer safe vasc ular anastomosis times. Short-term hypothermic storage also provides t ime to accommodate modifications in scheduling or anesthetic managemen t of the recipient operation. (C)Copyright 1998 by The American Colleg e of Veterinary Surgeons.