Orthotopic kidney transplantation: an alternative surgical technique in selected patients.
BACKGROUND
A renal transplant is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease due to its superior short- and long-term survival benefits compared with dialysis treatment. A common trend for kidney transplantation in developed countries is an increasing acceptance of older patients, patients with comorbidities, and patients with vascular problems (eg, atheromatosis, venous thrombosis). For those patients, an orthotopic kidney transplant (OKT) is an option.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to analyze the results of the largest OKT series in the world (surgical technique, complications, and outcomes) and to compare indications, surgical techniques, and long-term results from two different periods (before and after February 1987).


METHODS
Between April 1978 and September 2009, 223 OKT were performed. We compared the results of transplants performed in two different periods: from April 1978 to January 1987 with 139 patients and from February 1987 to September 2009 with 84 patients.


METHODS
OKT were performed in all cases as described in the first report published in 1989 by Gil-Vernet et al.


METHODS
The clinical data, surgical reports, and complications rate of all patients were reviewed retrospectively. From a database maintained prospectively, two different periods were described, and the long-term results of the OKT were compared. Graft and patient survival in orthotopic versus heterotopic transplants from the same period were also compared.


CONCLUSIONS
During the second period an important decrease in the number of OKT was observed due to the change in indication for this specific technique. No important differences between periods were noted in terms of surgical technique. The rate of urinary complications rate was similar in both periods. No differences in graft survival between series have been observed (p=0.22), but a higher mortality rate was seen in the second period mostly due to an older unfit population (p=0.031). No differences were observed in overall graft and patient survival between orthotopic and heterotopic kidney transplants performed during the same period.


CONCLUSIONS
OKT is a good alternative with acceptable rates of urologic and vascular complications for those patients for whom heterotopic transplant is considered unsuitable.
Musquera
Mireia
M
Department of Urology, Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. mmusquer@clinic.ub.es
Peri
Lluis L
LL
Alvarez-Vijande
Ricardo
R
Oppenheimer
Federico
F
Gil-Vernet
Jose Maria
JM
Alcaraz
Antonio
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult