Early graft function defined by area under the curve serum creatinine 7 days post-transplant in a series of live donor kidney transplantation.

Background: There is a degree of variability in early graft function that is often not highlighted in live kidney donor transplantation. We used the calculation of area under the curve of serum creatinine (AUC Cr) in the first 7 d post-transplant to assess early graft function and examine the influence on longer term outcome.

Methods: A total of 188 live donor renal transplants performed between 1998 and 2007 were analyzed.

The great saphenous vein for central venous access and haemodialysis.

Background: Utilising an open surgical technique the Great Saphenous vein in the proximal thigh can be used for the insertion of central venous catheters for haemodialysis. This approach is safe and efficacious, and may be performed under local or general anaesthesia. This technique is of particular importance in patients requiring vascular access for haemodialysis in whom the upper central veins are stenosed and the femoral vessels are not amenable to percutaneous cannulation.