Kidney transplantation in children: a 50-case experience

The aim of this article was to report our experience with kidney transplantation in children.

From June 1980 to December 2003, 690 kidney transplants were performed in our institution, among which 50 were in patients with less than 18 years old. Technical aspects as well as clinical and surgical evolution were reviewed in this study.

Patient's mean age was 12 years (2-17 years). Twenty-nine patients were male and 21 female. Live related donors were responsible for 75% of the cases (38 patients) and 25% (12 patients) came from cadaver donors. The main complications were ureteral fistula in 6 patients (12%), arterial stenosis in 2 (4%), wall infection and dehiscence in 1 case (2%). The overall rate of surgical complication was 20%. No case of hyperacute rejection was reported. During the follow-up 20 grafts were lost due to chronic rejection and 2 patients died. No loss of graft due to surgical complications was reported. The graft survival rate was 71% in 1 year, 64% in 3 years and 57% in 5-year follow-up.

Kidney transplantation in children is a viable treatment option for terminal kidney disease presenting success and surgical complication rate similar to kidney transplantation in adults.