Retrospective analysis of the perioperative outcome in living donor kidney transplantation with multiple renal arteries: does accessory vessel ligation affect the outcome?

Purpose: Accurate surgical reconstruction of arterial vascular supply is a crucial part of living kidney transplantation (LDKT). The presence of multiple renal arteries (MRA) in grafts can be challenging. In the present study, we investigated the impact of ligation versus anastomosis of small accessory graft arteries on the perioperative outcome.

Methods: Clinical and radiological outcomes of 51 patients with MRA out of a total of 308 patients who underwent LDKT with MRA between 2011 and 2020 were stratified in two groups and analyzed. In group 1 (20 patients), ligation of accessory arteries (ARAs) and group 2 (31 patients) anastomosis of ARAs was performed.

Results: Significant differences were observed in the anastomosis-, surgery-, and warm ischemia time (WIT) in favor of group 1. Students t-test showed comparable serum creatinine levels of 2.33 (± 1.75) to 1.68 (± 0.83) mg/dL in group 1 and 2.63 (± 2.47) to 1.50 (± 0.41) mg/dL in group 2, were seen from 1 week to 1 year after transplant. No increased rates of Delayed graft function (DGF), primary transplant dysfunction and transplant rejection were seen, but graft loss and revision rates were slightly higher when the ARAs were ligated. Analysis of Doppler sonography revealed that segmental perfusion deficits tend to regenerate during the clinical course.

Conclusion: Ligation of smaller accessory renal arteries may not affect the outcome of living kidney transplantation, except for a minor increase in the reoperation rate. Segmental perfusion deficits of the graft seem to regenerate in most cases as seen in Doppler sonography.