Kidney temperature during living donor kidney transplantation is associated with short‐term measured glomerular filtration rate – a prospective study

The duration of warm ischaemia time is associated with short‐ and long‐term kidney transplant function. A quick rise in graft temperature is reported during the vascular anastomosis. This study was initiated to gain insight into the effect of graft temperature on short‐term transplant function. From 2013 to 2015, data of living donor kidney transplant recipients were prospectively collected. At set intraoperative time points, the graft temperature was measured using a noncontact infrared thermometer. Primary endpoint was measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) at 3‐ and 6‐month post‐transplantation. Univariable and multivariable associations were identified using linear regression analyses. Multivariable analysis included models with donor, recipient and procedure characteristics. We evaluated 152 patients, 83 (55%) were male, mean ±SD age was 50.3 ± 13.4 years, and 79 (52%) were pre‐emptively transplanted. In univariable analysis graft temperature, after 10 min of warm ischaemia was significantly associated with 3‐ and 6‐month mGFR, β −0.22 (95% CI −0.39 to −0.04, P = 0.01) and β−0.22 (95% CI: −0.44 to −0.01, P = 0.04). The association remained significant in multivariable models. An independent association between kidney graft temperature and 3‐ and 6‐month mGFR was identified. This association opens up the opportunity to further investigate the clinical impact of kidney rewarming during transplantation.