[Experience with third, fourth and fifth kidney transplants and their complications.]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Surgery
• Immunology

Background:

• Chronic renal failure (CRF) often necessitates kidney transplantation.
• Patients with multiple previous renal grafts may still be candidates for further transplantation.
• Re-transplantation presents unique surgical challenges and potential complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze outcomes of third, fourth, and fifth kidney transplants.
• To evaluate surgical complications associated with re-transplantation.
• To assess graft and patient survival rates in this complex patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 73 third, fourth, and fifth kidney transplants.
• Data collected between February 1975 and December 2015.
• Statistical analysis using IBM SPSS 23.0.

Main Results:

• 62 third, 10 fourth, and 1 fifth graft recipients included.
• Median recipient age 48 years; median donor age 50 years.
• Median cold ischemia time 21 hours; 27.4% experienced relevant postoperative complications.
• 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates were 64.3%, 56.16%, and 50.69%, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Kidney re-transplantation (third, fourth, or fifth) is a viable option for CRF.
• Individualized patient assessment is crucial for successful outcomes.
• Despite increased complexity and complication rates, acceptable graft and patient survival can be achieved with appropriate surgical strategies.