Norepinephrine infusion in brain dead organ donor: A retrospective study on its effects on graft function after renal transplant

Objective: To investigate the effect of vasoactive drugs use in brain-dead organ donors in renal recipient graft function. Material and Methods: Clinical data from 30 brain-dead organ donors, and 30 recipients in our center were analyzed retrospectively between July 2017 and November 2021. Results: Norepinephrine infusion was used in all 30 cadaveric donors, where 11 donors had inotropic combinations. Norepinephrine was infused at a median dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min. There was no relationship between duration and doses of norepinephrine in donors and graft rejection, graft loss, and dialysis requirement in renal recipients. Conclusion: Intravenous norepinephrine infusion below 0.2mcg/kg/min had no effect on graft function in the renal recipient, where fluid restitution was sufficient in the cadaveric donor. Keywords: brain dead, organ donors, vasoactive drugs, graft survival