Long-term survival after cadaveric renal transplantation.

In a series of 404 consecutive first cadaver kidney transplants performed since 1967 the actuarial five- and 10-year survival of patients were 61% and 47% respectively and of grafts 46% and 36%. In more than four-fifths of the patients surviving these intervals the original cadaveric grafts were functioning at these times, and most of the remainder were sustained by subsequent grafts. Although graft survival has remained static since 1967, patient survival improved. Results for 43 consecutive second cadaver transplants were similar after five years to those of first grafts. These results promote the acceptability of cadaveric transplantation as a long-term treatment for chronic renal failure.