[Surgical technics of kidney transplantation]

The renal transplantation operative technique obeys simple rules which must allow for surgical revision or a new transplantation. Ideally, the first transplantation is performed in the right iliac fossa, in a low, retroperitoneal position. A side-to-end arterial anastomosis is performed onto the external iliac artery, and an end-to-side venous anastomosis is performed onto the external iliac vein. In the case of a right kidney, the renal vein is elongated by means of a vena cava patch graft and the ureter is reimplanted into the bladder according to Gregoir's technique, intubated by a stent. Second transplantations are performed retroperitoneally in the left iliac fossa, according to the same technique. Third transplantations are performed in the right iliac fossa in a high, retroperitoneal position. The end-to-side arterial anastomosis is performed onto the common iliac artery, the side-to-end venous anastomosis is performed onto the origin of the inferior vena cava and the ureterovesical anastomosis is replaced by an uretero-ureteric anastomosis when the approach to the bladder is difficult. As end-to-side or end-to-end arterial anastomoses give virtually equivalent results, it seems preferable to preserve the blood supply of erectile organs by avoiding anastomosis with the internal iliac artery. Among the various urinary anastomoses, uretero-ureteric anastomosis is associated with more complications than the Leadbetter or Cregoir anastomoses. When a Gregoir anastomosis is performed, a long submucosal track must be performed to reduce the risk of reflux, a factor responsible for subsequent acute pyelonephritis. Insertion of a stent appears to facilitate anastomosis and prevents the risk of fistula. Antibiotic prophylaxis is required while the stent is in place.