An assessment of the need for the voiding cystourethrogram for urologic screening prior to renal transplantation

A retrospective review of the records of 450 patients who were evaluated for renal transplantation was undertaken to determine whether a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) influenced the surgical care of the recipient. Three hundred and forty eight of these patients proceeded to transplantation, with 333 of them receiving a VCUG as part of their evaluation. A urologic abnormality was identified by VCUG in 51 individuals, 19 of whom had a known urologic abnormality as the etiology of their renal disease. None of the other 32 patients with abnormalities discovered by VCUG required surgical correction. In the remaining 282 patients the VCUG was normal. The VCUG is not essential for the preparation of potential recipients for renal transplantation and should be utilized selectively in individuals with a history of urologic disease or when urinary tract abnormalities are identified by physical examination or an abnormal urine analysis.