Intestinal reconstruction of the lower urinary tract as a prerequisite for renal transplantation

OBJECTIVE To report a two-stage protocol for children in whom bladder reconstruction was followed by kidney transplantation, as about a quarter of children requiring a kidney transplantation show significant lower urinary tract dysfunction, and consequently their bladder is unsuitable for a kidney transplant. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twelve children (median age 9.5 years, range 4.2-16.8) with end-stage renal disease had a lower urinary tract reconstruction before kidney transplantation. The cause of bladder dysfunction and renal failure included posterior urethral valves in five, neuropathic bladder in two, prune-belly syndrome in two, anal-rectum and urethral atresia syndrome in one, primary obstructive uropathy in one and caudal regression syndrome in one. Two children were diverted with an ileal conduit; four had a bladder augmentation, and four had a bladder augmentation with additional continent cutaneous stoma. A continent urinary reservoir was constructed in one boy, and one boy had a Mitrofanoff-only procedure. Subsequently, 11 children were transplanted. RESULTS The graft survival rate was 11 of 12 at 1 year and eight of 12 at 5 years. No patient lost the graft related to the reconstructed lower urinary tract. During the median (range) follow-up of 5.4 (1.6-12.5) years all but one child had free drainage of the upper urinary tract. All 10 children who did not have an ileal conduit are continent. CONCLUSION Reconstruction of the lower urinary tract followed by renal transplantation is a safe and efficient approach. It has the advantage of restoring the lower urinary tract before immunosuppressive therapy, and supplies the best possible reservoir for a transplanted kidney.