Revascularization of Living-Donor Kidney Transplant With Multiple Arteries: Long-term Outcomes Using the Inferior Epigastric Artery

• Published in: Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.) N.J.), 2014-10, Vol.84 (4), p.955-959
• Main Authors: Antonopoulos, Ioannis M, Yamaçake, Kleiton Gabriel Ribeiro, Oliveira, Lorena M, Piovesan, Affonso C, Kanashiro, Hideki, Nahas, Willian C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Epigastric Arteries - transplantation; Female; Humans; Kidney - blood supply; Kidney - surgery; Kidney Transplantation - methods; Living Donors; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Urology; Vascular Grafting; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0090-4295; 1527-9995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2014.06.022

Objective To study the safety and long-term outcomes of use of the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) for revascularization of small accessory kidney arteries (3 mm or less). Materials and Methods Data of 602 living-donor kidney transplants were reviewed. Age was 37.4 ± 15 years (range, 3-78 years). Multiple arteries were present in 98 kidneys (16.3%); of these, 83 (84.7%) had 2 and arteries and 15 (15.3%) had 3 arteries. In 21 kidneys (21.4%) with multiple arteries (group I [GI]), the IEA was used for reconstruction. Four (14.3%) had 3 arteries, and 17 (85.7%) had 2 arteries. In 77 patients (group II [GII]), the inferior accessory renal artery was reconstructed with a side-to-side or an end-to-side anastomosis to the main renal artery. Follow-up was 43.8 ± 38.1 months (range, 1-124 months). The Fisher exact test and the 2-tailed t test were used for statistical analysis. Results Delayed graft function occurred in 1 GI patient (4.8%) and in 5 GII patients (6.5%; P >.05). One partial renal infarction occurred in each group (4.8% vs 1.3%; P >.05). There was 1 urinary fistula in GI and 3 urinary fistulas and 1 ureteral stenosis in GII ( P >.05). One graft (4.8%) lost function in GI and 5 (6.5%) in GII ( P >.05). Eleven patients (53.4%) were hypertensive in GI and 53 (68.8%) in GII ( P >.05). Conclusion The use of the IEA for revascularization of a living-donor kidney transplant with multiple arteries is safe and effective, yielding similar long-term outcomes compared with the standard technique. Use of the IEA avoids the risks of manipulation of the main renal artery.