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Incollingo P, Peluso G, Pelosio L, Jamshidi AA, Montanaro V, Dodaro C, Vernillo A, Minieri G, Esposito A, Atontsa F, Capezzuoli L, Apostolico G, Menkulazi M, Paternoster M, Calogero A, Santangelo ML. Ethical Issues in the Use of Suboptimal Kidneys for Transplants: An Italian Point of View. Transplant Proc 2018; 51:106-110. [PMID: 30655131 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2018.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The shortage of organs leads to the need for utilizing suboptimal kidneys for transplantation. The distinction between optimal, marginal, and suboptimal kidneys leads surgeons to face not only technical problems but also ethical and legal issues related to clinical advantages offered by the transplant of a nonstandard kidney and the acquisition of consent. Between 1999 and 2015, we performed 658 transplants, 49 (7.5%) using suboptimal kidneys. All patients were alive and with vital graft throughout follow-up. We did not encounter any major surgical complications. From a technical point of view, our experience and literature review confirm that transplant of suboptimal kidney leads to good clinical results but exposes patients to a increased risks of surgical complications. Therefore, these interventions must take place in hospitals fully prepared for this type of surgery and performed by experienced transplant surgeons with proper matching between organ and recipient. Considering the insufficient resources available, from an ethical and legal point of view, doctors play an essential role in optimizing the use of these kidneys by avoiding wastage of organs, ensuring that transplants are done in suitable patients, and that patients are fully informed and aware of the risks and benefits associated with the specific suboptimal kidney being transplanted. We believe that, in highly specialized centers, the number of suboptimal kidney transplants should be increased, as their use has shown good clinical results and carries fewer ethical issues compared with marginal kidneys. Further, suboptimal kidneys may also be proposed for use in young patients with end-stage renal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Incollingo
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
| | - G Peluso
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - L Pelosio
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - A A Jamshidi
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - V Montanaro
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - C Dodaro
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - A Vernillo
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - G Minieri
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - A Esposito
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - F Atontsa
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - L Capezzuoli
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - G Apostolico
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - M Menkulazi
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - M Paternoster
- Operative Unit of Forensic and Bioethical Medicine, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - A Calogero
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - M L Santangelo
- Operative Unit of General Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Advanced Biomedical Science Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
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Abstract
Transplantation of nonstandard or expanded criteria donor organs creates several potential ethical and legal problems in terms of consent and liability, and new challenges for research and service development; it highlights the need for a system of organ donation that responds to an evolving ethical landscape and incorporates scientific innovation to meet the needs of recipients, but which also safeguards the interests and autonomy of the donor. In this article, the use of deceased donor organs for transplants that fail to meet standard donor criteria and the legitimacy of interventions and research aimed at optimizing their successful donation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia J Cronin
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, Fifth Floor Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK.
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