Algorithm for Safe Hospital Discharge of Patients Submitted to Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

Objective: To develop and validate an algorithm for safe hospital discharge after kidney transplantation (ASDKTx). Methods:This is a methodological study of algorithm development based on the following steps: 1) literature review; 2) historical cohort study, carried out in a reference transplant hospital in the city of Fortaleza - Ceará, including all isolated kidney transplant recipients, adults and children, that occurred between June 2017 and June 2019, who were discharged from the hospital for outpatient follow-up (n=265); 3) construction of the algorithm from the scientific evidence obtained in the literature review and information from the cohort study; 4) validation of the algorithm by expert judges, with the evaluation of the instruments in the domains: Objectives, Structure and Presentation and Relevance. Results: The sociodemographic profile of the patients in this study converges with the national literature. The overall mean length of hospital stay (HS) was 11 days, seven for living donor recipients and 11 for those who received a deceased donor transplant. The main early complications were: infection (25.6%), delayed graft function (31.6%), and surgical complications (8.3%), seven (2.7%) patients had rejection. All complications were associated with HS prolongation. The ASDKTx was validated by 19 expert judges in kidney transplantation, who considered the instrument adequate to support professionals in making decisions about patient discharge. All items of the evaluateddimensions presented an excellent Content Validity Index (CVI) equal to 1.00. Thus, the CVI of each domain was equal to 1.00, with a total CVI = 1.00. In the binomial analysis, the items presented p = 0.135, indicating no disagreement between the judges in the assigned score. The comments and suggestions supported the changes in the instrument that made it possible to define the final version of the algorithm.  Conclusion: Given the common context of prolonged HS, an algorithm for safe discharge can be an essential strategy to improve understanding of the post-transplant care line and assess each patient for an early and safe discharge.