BACKGROUND Delayed graft function is a frequent complication of kidney transplantation that requires dialysis in the first week posttransplant. METHODS We searched for the most relevant articles in the National Institutes of Health library of medicine, as well as in transplantation, pharmacologic, and nephrological journals. RESULTS The main factors that may influence the development of delayed graft function (DGF) are ischemia-reperfusion injury, the source and the quality of the donated kidney, and the clinical management of the recipient. The pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion injury is complex and involves kidney hypoxia related to the duration of warm and cold ischemia, as well as the harmful effects of blood reperfusion on tubular epithelial cells and endothelial cells. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is more frequent and severe in kidneys from deceased donors than in those from living donors. Of great importance is the quality and function of the donated kidney. Kidneys from living donors and those with normal function can provide better results. In the peri-operative management of the recipient, great attention should be paid to hemodynamic stability and blood pressure; nephrotoxic medicaments should be avoided. Over time, patients with DGF may present lower graft function and survival compared to transplant recipients without DGF. Maladaptation repair, mitochondrial dysfunction, and acute rejection may explain the worse long-term outcome in patients with DGF. Many different strategies meant to prevent DGF have been evaluated, but only prolonged perfusion of dopamine and hypothermic machine perfusion have proven to be of some benefit. Whenever possible, a preemptive transplant from living donor should be preferred.