Bilateral nephrectomy prior to renal transplantation

Bilateral nephrectomy was performed in 53 patients on regular haemodialysis. The indications were pyelonephritis in 30, polycystic kidneys in 6, glomerulnephritis in 7, uncontrollable hypertension in 9 and horseshoe kidney in 1. In 87 per cent of cases the operation was carried out as a separate procedure prior to transplantation. The mortality was 9 per cent and the postoperative complications included hypotension, clotting of arteriovenous shunts, pneumonia and subphrenic abscess. As a result of our experience we have revised our indications for bilateral nephrectomy which now are pyelonephritis only when associated with persistent bacteriuria or ureteric reflux, polycystic kidneys and uncontrollable hypertension.