Successful revascularization of early posttransplant renal arterial occlusion

A case involving immediate postoperative prolonged warm ischemia in a transplanted kidney from a living related donor is presented. Repair of the renal artery after 3 hours 15 minutes of complete occlusion resulted in an 18-day course of acute tubular necrosis followed by full return of normal renal function. Significant collateral circulation has been present in all previously salvageable cases of transplant renal artery obstruction. This case demonstrates that a kidney from an optimally prepared donor can withstand more than 3 hours of posttransplant warm ischemia despite the absence of collateral circulation. An aggressive surgical approach to restoring circulation is indicated.