Successful renal vein reconstruction with a polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft in kidney transplantation.

ABSTRACT

Very frequently, technical difficulties make renal transplantation difficult and, on occasion, impossible. Problems with short renal veins are a classic example. We have successfully repaired two exceedingly short donor renal veins of equal size using two short polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts interposed between the renal veins and the recipient's iliac vein. So far, the kidney has functioned normally except for one minor episode of rejection.