[Kidney transplant in children. Our experience]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pediatric Nephrology
• Transplant Surgery

Background:

• Kidney transplantation is a vital treatment for pediatric end-stage renal disease.
• Assessing outcomes and complications in pediatric kidney transplant recipients is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the experience and outcomes of 21 pediatric kidney transplant procedures.
• To analyze the causes of graft failure and associated complications.
• To evaluate the incidence and management of arterial hypertension post-transplant.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 21 kidney transplant cases (20 cadaveric, 1 living donor).
• Analysis of graft survival, causes of failure (thrombosis, rejection, infection, technical issues), and complications.
• Evaluation of arterial hypertension incidence and treatment response.
• Utilized duplex-Doppler ultrasonography for vascular assessment.

Main Results:

• 11 out of 21 kidney transplants remained functional at 2 years post-transplantation.
• Graft failure causes included arterial thrombosis (3), venous thrombosis (1), late rejection (2), septic necrosis (1), and intimal disruption (1).
• A high incidence (33%) of arterial hypertension was observed, with good response to medical and interventional treatment.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric kidney transplantation offers potential for long-term graft survival.
• Vascular complications and arterial hypertension are significant challenges requiring vigilant monitoring and management.
• Duplex-Doppler ultrasonography is valuable for diagnosing vascular complications like arterial stenosis.