Renal autotransplantation results in pain resolution after left renal vein transposition

Left renal vein transposition is often the preferred treatment of nutcracker syndrome. However, pain returns in some patients despite surgery. One solution to this problem is renal autotransplantation. Here we report our initial results of renal autotransplantation in patients with persistent flank pain despite a previous left renal vein transposition. We used the University of Wisconsin loin pain hematuria syndrome test as a diagnostic maneuver to determine who may benefit from renal autotransplantation; this procedure subsequently resulted in complete pain resolution in all three patients. All patients underwent successful renal autotransplantation and remain pain free. These cases support the test as a diagnostic maneuver to determine which patients may benefit from renal autotransplantation.