Extracorporeal microsurgical repair of injured multiple donor kidney arteries prior to cadaveric allotransplantation.

To prevent the complications of ureteral and parenchymal ischemia it is important to revascularize all accessory and main branches of the renal arteries in kidney transplantation. 11 allografts underwent ex vivo microsurgical repair of injured polar arteries prior to allotransplantation, and 1 patient had an in situ repair. Three extracorporeal reconstructive techniques are used that are applicable to most of the vascular injuries presented by multiple renal arteries. These are simple and effective methods that avoid subjecting the allograft to prolonged warm ischemia. There were no operative complications, and only one late arterial stenosis occurred; five transplants currently are functioning. The 1-year graft survival in this group, which is 50%, does not differ significantly from those of all transplants (58%). As a result of our policy, 10.5% more allografts were utilized.