Microvascular surgery as an adjunctive tool in renal transplantation
Chin, J.L.; Stiller, C.R.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien de Chirurgie 29(4): 263-266
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-428X PMID: 3524779 Document Number: 275122
There has been a serious shortage of suitable kidneys for transplantation since this procedure became the treatment of choice for many patients with end-stage renal failure. Some harvested kidneys are discarded due to complicated or injured renal vasculature and some potential living related donors are judged unsuitable because their kidneys have multiple vessels. The authors review the basic microsurgical techniques they have used in such situations to salvage kidneys for transplantation. They emphasize the ex-vivo, "bench", microsurgical method for protecting the kidney from prolonged warm ischemia time (as with multiple complicated in-situ anastomoses). Several illustrative case reports from their recent experience are presented. The authors conclude that microvascular surgery is an important adjunct to the armamentarium of the transplant surgeon.