Preservation of ischemically damaged canine kidneys. Cold storage versus perfusion

Abstract

Dog kidneys subjected to a period of warm ischemia followed by either simple cold storage or hypothermic pulsatile perfusion were autotransplanted 24 hr after harvesting, and a contralateral nephrectomy was performed at the same time. Renal function was comparable with both techniques, and all dogs survived. When kidneys were subjected to 30 min of warm ischemia followed by one of the two preservation methods, renal function was again comparable and 50 per cent of the animals in each group survived. We conclude, therefore, that for 24 hr of canine renal preservation, cold storage is as effective as pulsatile perfusion even when the kidney has been initially subjected to 30 min of warm ischemia.