Assessment of live kidney donors by magnetic resonance angiography: reliability and impact on outcomes.

Background: Kidney allograft retrieval from live donors requires accurate determination of kidney anatomy prior to surgery, particularly the arterial supply. Traditionally, conventional angiography has been used to obtain this information. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) offers a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative, but has been considered to be less accurate.

Native arteriovenous fistulas: correlation of intra-access blood flow with characteristics of stenoses found during diagnostic angiography.

Surveillance of the intra-access blood flow (Qa) has improved identification of thrombosis risk (Qa < or = 500 ml/minute), and these patients are referred for angiogram and angioplasty. The purpose of this study was to correlate the Qa with patient and stenotic lesion characteristics both before and after angioplasty in a retrospective cohort of 210 patients who were preselected on the basis of reduced Qa (369 +/- 121 ml/minute). Angiograms revealed a total of 643 stenoses, and all patients had at least one significant stenosis (>50% luminal narrowing).

Renal allograft compartment syndrome: an underappreciated postoperative complication.

Purpose: Renal allograft compartment syndrome (RACS) is early graft dysfunction secondary to retroperitoneal hypertension and resultant ischemia. Our purpose was to identify the incidence, therapies and outcomes of patients with RACS.

Methods: All patients who underwent a renal transplant between 2000 and 2005 were reviewed.

Bladder vs enteric drainage in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

Background: As a valid therapeutic option for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and secondary diabetic nephropathy, simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation remains more undeveloped than other solid organ transplantations due to restrictions of surgical techniques, especially modes of exocrine pancreatic secretion. Enteric drainage (ED) has recently been increasingly popular due to the long-term complications with bladder drainage (BD). Objectives.

Use of a minimally invasive donor nephrectomy program to select technique for live donor nephrectomy.

Background: Live donor nephrectomy (LDN) is a major surgical procedure with an accepted low mortality and morbidity. Minimally invasive donor nephrectomy (MIDN) has been shown to decrease the wound morbidity associated with the lumbotomy of the classic open technique. Transplant programs face the challenge of initiating their MIDN programs without jeopardizing the safety of the donor and the graft quality.