Exchange kidney transplantation: a good solution in living kidney transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Kidney transplantation seems to be the best treatment modality for end-stage renal disease patients. But not every patient on the waiting list is able to find a kidney. To increase transplantations, centers have tried to find new options.


METHODS
In the period of November 1994 through June 2004, among 265 renal transplantations, 182 (68.6%) were from living related donors, namely first- and second-degree relatives, spouses, or parents-in-law of the patients. Four patients, who did not have living related donors, had the opportunity of renal transplantation from living donors by exchanging their donors.


RESULTS
All the kidneys functioned immediately. No complications and no acute rejection episodes were observed in the postoperative period up to 12 months. Serum creatinine levels were 1.9, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.4 mg/dL on postoperative day 7; 1.4, 1.0, 1.1, and 1.1 mg/dL at 1 month after transplantation; 1.5 and 1.2 mg/dL at month 6 after transplantation; 1.6 and 1.4 mg/dL at 1 year after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that exchange kidney transplantations represent a good alternative for end-stage renal patients who do not have suitable close living related donors.
Gurkan
A
A
Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, SSK Tepecik Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. aplgurkan@superonline.com
Kacar
S H
SH
Varilsuha
C
C
Tilif
S
S
Coker
I
I
Karaca
C
C
Karaoglan
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility; D005260:Female; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D019520:Living Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey