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Updated: Oct 30, 2025
Murine Kidney Transplant Technique
Published on: October 20, 2015
[Use of vascular prostheses in renal transplantation: series of 9 cases.]
Marta Antón-Juanilla1, Antonio Arruza-Echevarría1
1Servicio de Urología. Hospital Universitario Cruces. Barakaldo. Vizcaya. España.
Insights
Kidney transplantation using vascular prostheses for iliac artery reconstruction is rare but feasible. Careful patient selection and simultaneous reconstruction are key to satisfactory graft function despite potential complications.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Vascular Surgery
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Iliac artery calcification and atherosclerosis are common in dialysis patients, complicating kidney graft anastomosis.
- Vascular reconstruction using prostheses is sometimes necessary for kidney transplantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a series of kidney transplants utilizing vascular prostheses for iliac artery reconstruction.
- To evaluate the outcomes of this technique compared to existing literature.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive analysis of patients requiring vascular reconstruction during 1090 kidney transplants (2013-2019).
- Arterial anastomosis performed using Gore-tex prostheses or bovine pericardium patches.
Main Results:
- 9 patients (0.83%) underwent arterial anastomosis to a vascular prosthesis.
- Complications included transplantectomy (2 cases) and need for further procedures (5 cases).
- 7 of 9 patients maintained renal graft function at a mean follow-up of 35 months.
Conclusions:
- Kidney transplantation with vascular prosthesis anastomosis is uncommon and carries significant risks.
- Careful patient selection and simultaneous reconstruction are recommended.
- Satisfactory long-term graft function can be achieved.
Objective:
Calcification and atherosclerosis of the iliac arteries is very common in dialysis patients, making sometimes impossible the anastomosis of a kidney graft. The objective of this study is to present our kidney transplantation series using vascular prostheses for iliacartery reconstruction and to assess the results obtained in comparison to other published series.
Material And Method:
In a single centre where 1090 kidney transplants were performed between January 2013 and December 2019, patients who required vascular reconstruction were identified for their descriptive analysis.
Results:
In 9 patients (0.83%) arterial anastomosis was performed to a Gore-tex prosthesis (8) or using a bovine pericardium patch (1). Only in 1 case, the vascular bypass was prior to transplantation; in the other 8 the surgery was simultaneous. In 2 cases, an urgent transplantectomy was done because of acute rejection and prosthetic thrombosis. 6 patients had immediate graft function. 5 patients requireda new surgical or endovascular procedure to resolve complications. At 35 months of mean follow-up, 7 patients maintained renal graft function.
Conclusion:
Kidney transplantation with arterial anastomosis to a vascular prosthesis is very rare. Candidates should be carefully selected because of the high risk ofcomplications. Simultaneous vascular reconstruction is preferred. The functional results are satisfactory.
