SUCCESSFUL REVASCULARIZATION OF EARLY POST-TRANSPLANT RENAL ARTERIAL-OCCLUSION

Abstract

A case involving immediate postoperative prolonged warm ischemia in a transplanted kidney from a living related donor is presented in a patient. Repair of the renal artery after 3 h 15 min of complete occlusion resulted in an 18 day course of acute tubular necrosis followed by full return of normal renal function. Significant collateral circulation was present in all previously salvageable cases of transplant renal artery obstruction. A kidney from an optimally prepared donor can withstand more than 3 h of posttransplant warm ischemia despite the absence of collateral circulation. An aggressive surgical approach to restoring circulation is indicated.