Korean J Anesthesiol.  1979 Jun;12(2):157-162.

Cadaveric Kidney Transplantation

• Lee JM
• Chon SU

Abstract

Recently, with the help of medical development which is able artificially to control respiration, circulation, nutrition and excretion, human beings may still survive in spite of brain death. We have had experience with the first case of cadaveric kidney transplantation in Korea. Because the prognosis of kidney transplantation is relatively good in comparison to the five-year survival rate of cancer patients and because postoperative rehabilitation is fair, nowadays kidney transplantation is popular. With the limitations of confluent acceptance and supplimental functioning together of the living kidney, cadaveric kidney transplantation has been preferred, although several problems still exist. We have used the conventional method to maintain the cadaver donor's life after clarification of death. As soon as brain death was confirmed on EEG monitoring, then an artificial respirator was applied to the tracheotomy site, adequate urinary excretion was maintained and infection prevented. At the same time, the HL-A(human lymphocyte-antigen) compatibility test and ABO blood matching had to be performed before anesthesia. The patient's intraoperative and postoperative course was satisfactory and he now has no problems of physical or social activity. However cadaveric kidney transplantation is in the early phase in Korea, and therefore further improvement is needed, and several problems should be solved. We hope many cadaveric kidney transplantations will be performed.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Brain Death
Cadaver*
Electroencephalography
Hope
Humans
Kidney Transplantation*
Kidney*
Korea
Methods
Prognosis
Rehabilitation
Respiration
Survival Rate
Tracheotomy
Ventilators, Mechanical