Anatomical bases of kidney transplantation in man.

Kidney transplantation is a well codified operation. The way to reduce surgical complications (urological and vascular) lies in a precise knowledge of the anatomy of the renal pedicle, as well as of the ureter and its vascularization. The choice of a site for implantation depends on anatomical arguments which aim at using a well vascularised ureter, and so a short one, and a renal pedicle without tension, with therefore a long or extended renal vein. A privileged site for transplantation is the right or left iliac fossa; transplantation in the lumbar fossa remains exceptional.