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Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO948

Hospitalisations Following Kidney Transplantation in Children

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 1702 Transplantation: Clinical and Translational

Authors

  • Kim, Siah, Sydney Children's Hospital, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Spicer, Rebecca A., None, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Mccarthy, Hugh J., Syndey Children''s Hospital Network, Westmead, NSW, New South Wales, Australia
  • Mackie, Fiona, Sydney Children's Hospital, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Kennedy, Sean E., Sydney Children's Hospital, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
Background

Although there is extensive published information about graft survival and acute rejection among paediatric kidney transplant recipients, there a paucity of published data on hospitalisations within the first twelve months post kidney transplant.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of children who received kidney transplants at Sydney Children’s Hospital from 2009 to 2015. We collected data on length of stay (LOS) in hospital immediate post-transplant, LOS in intensive care, elective and non-elective readmissions over the first twelve months following kidney transplant.

Results

35 children received kidney transplants over 2009 to 2015, 20 female (57%) and 15 male (43%). 20 received deceased donor grafts, 15 living related including one ABO incompatible and one paired kidney exchange. Mean age of the kidney transplant recipients was 10 years (sd 5 years). Median length of stay was 15 days (IQR 11 to 22 days), with median intensive care LOS 4 days (IQR 3 to 6 days). There were 136 admissions to hospital within the first twelve months with 80 (59%) elective and 56 (41%) non-elective. 22 (63%) of children had non-elective admissions post transplant. Planned admission was due to biopsy (40 admissions) and stent removal (25 admissions). The most common cause for unplanned admission was AKI (14 admissions), UTI (13 admission) and infective illness (23 admissions). Median cumulative days of hospital admission over the first twelve months was 5 days (IQR 1 day to 16 days) for patients.

Conclusion

Hospitalisation within the first year post kidney transplant is common, however cumulative inpatient days in hospital in the first year post-transplant is relatively short for most children. Our data shows that kidney transplantation is associated with low levels of hospitalisation within the first twelve months and will help counsel children and their families about their post-transplant course.