Rare combined heart and kidney transplant in a pediatric patient: a case study

Multiple reports of successful combined heart and kidney transplants adults suggest that this may be a viable option for a small subset of patients with coexisting end-stage heart and kidney failure. A review of the literature, however, reveals that few combined heart and kidney transplants have been reported in children. This article presents the case of a 13-year-old boy who underwent unsuccessful palliative surgery for a congenital heart defect. The patient developed heart failure with subsequent acute renal failure, and ultimately required a combined heart and kidney transplant. The combined procedure was successful in this patient and he is alive and well 27 months postoperatively.