Collapsibility Index of the Inferior Vena Cava and Kidney Transplantation

Delayed graft function following renal transplantation is common occurrence and is associated with an increased risk of acute rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy. Post transplant patients are usually hyperhydrated to optimize renal blood flow and thus graft function. However, cardiac failure to respond adequately to volume expansion can lead to renal venous congestion and visceral interstitial sodium and water overload, both of which are associated with the delayed kidney graft function. To our knowledge, no predictive index for fluid responsiveness has been evaluated in post-renal transplantation setting. In intensive care, the inferior vena cava variability index measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) under standardized breathing conditions, is a simple, non-invasive and effective tool for predicting fluid responsiveness in patients hospitalized for sepsis. Applying this index in the post-renal transplantation period could potentially optimize early management and enhance the recovery of kidney graft function. In this study, we aim to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the inferior vena cava variability index in predicting fluid responsiveness after renal transplantation. This is a monocentric, prospective, and observational study conducted in the nephrology intensive care unit at University Reims Hospital.