Choosing fluids to reduce the risk of delayed graft function after deceased donor kidney transplantation

Delayed graft function (DGF) after deceased donor kidney transplantation, defined clinically as the need for at least one dialysis session within the first week after transplantation, is a common occurrence.1 Use of organs that are predisposed to DGF is increasing,2 meaning it is important to consider the clinical sequelae of DGF. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 studies,3 DGF was associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes, including risk for rejection, graft failure, and (in single-centre studies only) all-cause mortality.