En-bloc pediatric kidney transplantation together with a partial bladder segment: a case report

There is a continuing debate about the techniques of kidney transplantation from small donors because of the high vascular thromboses and ureteric leak rates. Transplantation of en-bloc pediatric kidneys with a partial bladder segment has potential benefits over established techniques. We transplanted cadaveric en-bloc kidneys together with a partial bladder segment from a 1.5-year-old donor to a 12-year-old boy with end-stage renal disease due to vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) of a solitary kidney. En-bloc kidneys were transplanted together with both ureters and a partial bladder segment. Using donor bladder segment augmented the recipient bladder. Thereby, potential complications of bilateral ureteroneocystostomies of small ureters were avoided. During the following 12 months, the clinical course was normal and there was no evidence of VUR. In conclusion, the technique of using en-bloc pediatric kidneys together with a partial bladder segment is feasible and safe as well as an efficient procedure to preserve the natural anti-reflux mechanism in childhood.