[Serendipity, beneficial error, and chance in the development of kidney transplantation].

Serendipity played an essential role in two major developments of organ transplantation: the method of continuous hypothermic perfusion of the kidney and the introduction of ciclosporin in the clinical setting. An erroneous reasoning lead to the creation of an efficient preservation fluid: Collins's solution. However, these investigations would have failed without the open-mindedness and the tenacity of the clinicians.