Ten-yr results of the trans-Atlantic kidney transplant airlift between the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands

• Published in: Clinical transplantation 2011-03, Vol.25 (2), p.302-307
• Main Authors: Minnee, Robert C., Lardy, Neubury, Ajubi, Nouaf, Idu, Mirza M., Kock, Romeo V., Legemate, Dink A., van Donselaar-van der Pant, Karlijn A.M.I., Bemelman, Frederike J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Caribbean Region; Child; cold ischemia; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Graft Rejection - prevention & control; Graft Survival; HLA antigens; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Patient Transfer; perfusion; Postoperative Complications; Renal Dialysis; Retrospective Studies; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the urinary system; Survival Rate; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2010.01239.x

Minnee RC, Lardy N, Ajubi N, Idu MM, Kock RV, Legemate DA, van Donselaar‐van der Pant KAMI, Bemelman FJ. Ten‐yr results of the trans‐Atlantic kidney transplant airlift between the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands. 
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 302–307. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. :  The prevalence of end‐stage renal failure in Curaçao (Dutch Caribbean) is one of the highest in the world. In 1998, the St. Elisabeth Hospital started a unique trans‐Atlantic collaboration with the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the Eurotransplant Foundation. The partnership aimed to achieve a structured transplantation program for patients in the Dutch Caribbean, who otherwise would need lifelong dialysis. This study is an analysis of the 10‐yr transplantation results of this trans‐Atlantic program. In 41 consecutive transplantations performed between January 1998 and April 2007, one‐yr graft survival and complication rates were retrospectively studied. Twenty‐four men and 17 women with a median age of 54 were transplanted. The median dialysis period prior to transplantation was 6.8 yr. The one‐yr graft survival rate was 69% (95% confidence interval: 52–80%). Initially 28 grafts functioned (68%); four grafts showed primary non‐function (10%) and delayed graft function developed in nine patients (22%). Ten recipients had 16 post‐operative complications. Our trans‐Atlantic program affords patients with end‐stage renal failure, who otherwise would need lifelong dialysis, a chance to be transplanted.