Kidney transplantation in children weighing less than 15 kg: Extraperitoneal surgical access–experience with 62 cases

Abstract

Abstract Small children are a challenging group in whom to perform KT . This retrospective study analyzed the results of 62 KT s in children weighing <15 kg, performed between 1998 and 2010, using extraperitoneal access and anastomosis of the renal vessels of donors to the aorta and IVC or iliac vessels of the recipients. Thirty‐two (51.6%) grafts were LRDT s and 30 (48.4%) were DDRT s—28 of them pediatric. The mean age at KT was 3.7 ± 2.2 yr (1–12), and the mean weight was 12.3 ± 2.1 kg (5.6–14.9). Ten children weighed <10 kg, and five (8.1%) children presented previous thrombosis of the venous system. At one and five yr, patient survival was 93.2% and 84.2%, and graft survival was 85.2% and 72.7%. There were no differences between the rates for LRDT and DDRT . There were six vascular complications (four vascular thromboses, one laceration, and one renal artery stenosis) and two perirenal collections. Extraperitoneal access is a valid KT technique in children weighing <15 kg.