Objective To explore the effect of perioperative anesthesia⁃associated factors on the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF) in patients undergoing donation after cardiac death (DCD) renal transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 232 patients who underwent DCD renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed, and patients suffering from DGF after surgery were enrolled into DGF group, whereas patients experiencing postoperative immediate graft function (IGF) were into the IGF group. The effect of perioperative anesthesia⁃associated factors for the occurrence of DGF after DCD renal transplantation was analyzed by employing the multivariate Logistic regression model. Results The IGF group exhibited higher intraoperative urine volume, total intraoperative fluid volume, intraoperative sevoflurane use frequency, and postoperative hydromorphone use frequency as compared with the DGF group (P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that intraoperative urine volume of 1-300 mL, and postoperative hydromorphone use were the protective factors for the occurrence of DGF after DCD renal transplantation (P<0.05). Conclusion During the perioperative period of DCD renal transplantation, maintaining appropriate intraoperative urine volume and postoperative use of hydromorphone for analgesia can reduce the occurrence of DGF after DCD renal transplantation.