An ESICM Talk powered by the NEXT Committee

Kidney transplantation is the most common solid organ transplant performed worldwide. New advances in transplant medicine have expanded the indications for kidney transplantation, and nowadays, many kidney recipients are elderly patients who possibly have more comorbidities.

Up to 6% of kidney transplant recipients experience a life-threatening complication requiring intensive care unit admission, primarily in the late post-transplant period (≥6 months). The most common medical complications requiring ICU admission in the immediate postoperative period are cardiac events and infections.

Approximately 40% of recipients throughout their ICU stay require renal replacement therapy. In-hospital mortality can be as high as 30% and is related to the severity of the acute illness and the reason for admission to the ICU.

To further discuss the challenges involved in managing these patients in the ICU, we invited Dr Clare MacEwen, a specialist in the field.