Impact of acetylsalicylic acid on perioperative bleeding complications in deceased donor kidney transplantation

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the perioperative outcomes and complications associated with the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in deceased donor kidney transplantation (KTX), with a particular focus on bleeding events.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 157 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) who underwent KTX at Charité Berlin, Department for Urology, between February 2014 and December 2017. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with ASA in their preoperative medication (Group A, n = 59) and patients without ASA use (Group B, n = 98). Data on demographic information, medical conditions, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Group A had significantly older donors (59.7 ± 12.9 years vs. 52.0 ± 14.1 years, p < 0.001) and a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (42.4% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in perioperative hemoglobin loss and perioperative bleeding events between the groups, but a tendency towards higher rates of intraoperative bleeding (15.3% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.17) and postoperative transfusions (22% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.15) in Group A. Mortality was higher in Group A (18.6% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.003), with one death attributed to a cardiac event. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly inferior overall survival for Group A (p = 0.02), but no significant difference in graft survival (p = 0.18).

Conclusion: ASA use is associated with a trend towards increased intraoperative bleeding and postoperative blood transfusion but does not significantly increase major postoperative bleeding complications. Careful perioperative monitoring of patients with ASA is recommended.