Good outcomes after pediatric intraperitoneal kidney transplant.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation in small children is technically challenging. Consideration of whether to use intraperitoneal versus extraperitoneal placement of the graft depends on patient size, clinical history, anatomy, and surgical preference. We report a large single-center experience of intraperitoneal kidney transplantation and their outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent kidney transplantation from April 2011 to March 2018 at a single large volume center. We identified those with intraperitoneal placement and assessed their outcomes, including graft and patient survival, rejection episodes, and surgical or non-surgical complications. RESULTS: Forty-six of 168 pediatric kidney transplants (27%) were placed intraperitoneally in children mean age 5.5 ± 2.3 years (range 1.6-10 years) with median body weight 18.2 ± 5 kg (range 11.4-28.6 kg) during the study period. Two patients (4%) had vascular complications; 10 (22%) had urologic complications requiring intervention; all retained graft function. Thirteen patients (28%) had prolonged post-operative ileus. Eight (17%) patients had rejection episodes ≤6 months post-transplant. Only one case resulted in graft loss and was associated with recurrent focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS). Two patients (4%) had chronic rejection and subsequent graft loss by 5-year follow-up. At 7-year follow-up, graft survival was 93% and patient survival was 98%. CONCLUSIONS: The intraperitoneal approach offers access to the great vessels, which allows greater inflow and outflow and more abdominal capacity for an adult donor kidney, which is beneficial in very small patients. Risk of graft failure and surgical complications were not increased when compared to other published data on pediatric kidney transplants.

Successful kidney transplantation in a small child with end-stage renal disease due to angiotensin receptor blocker fetopathy and atretic inferior vena cava.

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice in pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease. This population presents technical challenges particularly in those less than 20 kg due to anomalous anatomy, vascular access issues prior to transplantation, and a generally small size for age. Standard allograft outflow is usually achieved utilizing the iliac veins or IVC. When use of the iliocaval system is not feasible, alternative anastomosis must be considered. Herein, we report a case of a pediatric kidney transplantation where successful allograft outflow was achieved using the SMV when he was found to have an atretic IVC intraoperatively. In this setting, use of the portal system was required to achieve adequate allograft outflow. We created a donor iliac graft for added length to anastomose the renal vein with the SMV. In the setting of IVC occlusion with poor drainage, we utilized a patent vessel with larger caliber for outflow to reduce the risk of high venous pressures, allograft failure, venous rotation, and thrombosis. We conclude that the SMV may serve as an alternative outflow tract in the small pediatric patient and provides the vessel caliber needed to reduce the risks of complications.