Current Management of Critically-Ill Kidney Transplant Recipient

Abstract

Renal transplantation represents the best therapeutic option for end-stage renal failure and is widely performed. Recent advances in immunosuppressive drugs have improved the graft survival but has led to an increase in cardiovascular and infectious events. Severe complications that need intensive care have occurred in about 5% of renal transplant recipients. Reasons of admission are frequently acute respiratory failure and causes are mostly infectious. Acute kidney injury is common and may impact both short- and long-term graft functions. Current management should take into account the specificity of kidney transplant recipient and adverse effects of immunosuppression in order to improve the ICU mortality which remains above 30%.