Ethical aspects of using "marginal" kidneys for transplant

The continuing demand for transplantable organs leads to ongoing debates about organ procurement, even with arguments in favour of xenotransplantation as a valid alternative. This article examines the management of kidneys with major anatomical anomalies, almost one-quarter of those available for transplantation in our experience: the decision-making is considered from a scientific and an ethical standpoint. Surgical techniques include primary revascularization (PR) and/or bench-top reconstructions (BR). The results, examined for 1311 normal grafts (Group I) and 362 grafts presenting major anatomical anomalies (Group II), all transplanted for the first time, showed almost the same rates of failures due to surgical causes in these two groups. No operative mortality was associated with any of the vascular techniques, BR being easier and safer than PR. Graft survival at 1 year is the same for Group I and Group II (85% versus 84%, respectively). An ethical allocation system ought to take into account the experience of the transplant surgeon for maximizing outcome and minimizing cost and risk for transplantation.