Multiple renal arteries and non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography in transplant renal artery stenosis

Vascular Reconstruction of Multiple Renal Arteries-A Risk Factor for Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis: Insight From a Matched Case-Control Study

Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis (TRAS) is the leading vascular complication following kidney transplantation (KT), causing premature allograft loss and increased post-KT mortality. While risk factors for TRAS, such as prolonged cold ischemia time and delayed graft function, are well-documented in deceased donor-KT, the risk factors remain less clearly defined in living donor-KT. This matched case-control study, conducted at a leading national transplant center predominantly performing living donor-KT, evaluated risk factors and long-term outcomes of clinical TRAS (cTRAS). cTRAS cases diagnosed from January 2009 to December 2022 were matched with four control kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) in a study powered to assess whether ex-vivo arterial vascular reconstruction of multiple renal arteries (VR-MRA) increases the risk of cTRAS. Among 2,454 KTs, 28 KTRs (1.14%) were diagnosed with cTRAS around 3.62 ± 1.04 months post-KT, with renal allograft dysfunction (92.86%) as the most common presenting feature. Notably, 27 cTRAS cases were successfully treated with endovascular intervention, yielding favorable outcomes over a 6-180 months follow-up period. The study identified ex-vivo VR-MRA as an independent risk factor for cTRAS (P < 0.001). cTRAS cases receiving timely treatment exhibited long-term outcomes in graft and patient survival similar to control KTRs. Early screening and timely intervention for cTRAS post-KT may improve graft and patient outcomes.

Morphological and clinical aspects of the occurrence of accessory (multiple) renal arteries

Renal vascularization variants vastly differ between individuals due to the very complex embryogenesis of the kidneys. Moreover, each variant may have implications for clinical and surgical interventions. The number of operating procedures continues to grow, and includes renal transplants, aneurysmorrhaphy and other vascular reconstructions. In any surgical technique, unawareness of the presence of multiple renal arteries may result in a fatal outcome, especially if laparoscopic methods are used. The aim of this review is to comprehensively identify the variation within multiple renal arteries and to highlight the connections between the presence of accessory renal arteries and the coexistence of other variants of vascularization. Another aim is to determine the potential clinical implications of the presence of accessory renal arteries. This study is of particular importance for surgeons, intervention radiologists, nephrologists and vascular surgeons.

Successful Implantation of a Renal Allograft With Quintuple Arteries Retrieved From a Living Donor

In renal transplant, multiple renal arteries in a donor require meticulous vascular reconstruction for successful allograft function in the recipient. Presence of more than 4 renal arteries is usually considered to be a relative contraindication for proceeding with renal donation. We report a living-donor renal transplant procedure where preoperative radiologic imaging of the donor showed 3 left renal arteries. Two additional arteries were identified intraoperatively. All 5 arteries were reconstructed during the back-table procedure, and the allograft was implanted in the recipient. At 3-month follow-up, computed tomographic imaging demonstrated patency of all 5 renal arteries, and the patient had a serum creatinine level of 0.8 mg/dL. Unidentified arteries on preoperative imaging may occasionally require complex reconstruction. A renal allograft with 5 renal arteries is usually a contraindication for renal donation. Here, we describe the first published case of successful kidney transplant after reconstruction of 5 renal arteries in the donor graft.