An Effective Cooling Device for Minimal-Incision Kidney Transplantation

BACKGROUND This study investigated the safety and efficacy of a new cooling device for use in minimal-incision kidney transplantation (MIKT). MATERIAL AND METHODS From June 2016 to December 2021, 9 patients underwent MIKT surgery in our hospitals using the new cooling device to maintain hypothermia. We recorded and analyzed information on the etiology, comorbid status, ongoing renal replacement assessment, BMI, HLA mismatching sites of donors and recipients, and perioperative and postoperative clinical data for recipients. RESULTS Kidney transplantation was successfully performed in all patients. The kidney surface temperature measurement results showed that the intraoperative renal anterior and posterior surface temperatures were stable at approximately 3.8±1.2°C and 5.2±1.3°C, respectively, during ice-water circulation. The mean operation time was 112±15 min, the artery anastomosis time was 16±6.0 min, and the vein anastomosis time was 14±4.5 min. All recipients recovered uneventfully. The patients were followed up for 6-30 months. Urinary and vascular complications were not found in any recipients. CONCLUSIONS The new cooling device can facilitate MIKT. It is safe and feasible to carry out MIKT using the new cooling device, which can reduce surgical trauma and improve the quality of vascular anastomosis with satisfactory cosmetic results.