Why we use the donor left kidney in live related transplantation

In addition to the superior graft survival afforded by live related transplantation, this option has assumed an important role in the management of endstage renal failure in centres confronted with a scarcity of cadaveric kidneys. In pursuing this option, it is imperative that the donor has minimal morbidity. An ongoing dilemma is which side the kidney should be harvested from. This study reviews the anatomical basis for selecting the left kidney and the impact on outcome for patient and donor. A database comprising cadaveric and clinical subsets was analysed. The total sample size analysed was 1 244 kidney pairs (305 cadaveric; 939 clinical (61 live related left kidney transplants harvested by the extraperitoneal approach)).

Additional renal arteries (ARAs): Right first, second = 18.6%, 4.7%; left first, second = 27.6%, 4.4%. Additional renal veins (ARV): Right first, second = 26%, 3.3%; left first only = 2.6%. Length of renal vein (cm): Right 2.4 +/- 0.7, left 5.9 +/- 1.5. Other venous variations encountered were on the left side only (renal collar 0.3%, retro-aortic vein 0.5%). In the live related transplant series 24.6% ARAs were encountered (first 19.7%, second 4.9%). The postoperative course and outcome of both donor and recipient were not associated with increased morbidity. While greater length of the left renal vein (LRV) afforded easier technical manipulation, it is interesting to note that its length is shorter than that reported in the literature. ARVs are infrequent on the left and when encountered the smaller calibre vessel may be ligated with impunity due to rich intrarenal anastomosis. In selecting the donor kidney the surgeon has to balance the prospect of fewer ARAs on the right against the benefit of a longer LRV. The solution to this dilemma can only arise from a randomised clinical study. In our practice, consistent use of the left kidney has not affected clinical outcome.