Multiple organ donation: its impact on the recovery of cadaver kidneys.

Cyclosporin A not only has improved renal allograft survival but it also has caused a renewed interest in cardiac and hepatic transplantation. The South Texas Organ Bank was sensitive to the need for multiple organ donors and also concerned that the recovery of multiple organs could have a negative impact on the quantity or quality of kidneys recovered. From July 1983 through March 1985 cadaveric kidneys were obtained from 43 renal donors and multiple vital organs were obtained from 11 additional donors. There was no statistical difference between the renal and multiple organ donors in the incidence of renal contamination, post-transplant acute renal failure or renal discard rate (p greater than 0.3 in each comparison). No donor family rescinded permission for renal donation because other vital organs were requested. Urologists involved in cadaveric renal recovery are encouraged to view every cadaver donor as a potential multiple organ donor.