Extracorporeal replacement of the renal artery: techniques, indications and long-term results

Contemporary outcomes for branch renal artery repair

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to provide an updated description of demographics, technical details, and clinical outcomes of 101 consecutive branch renal artery repairs in 98 patients using cold perfusion.

METHODS

A single-institution, retrospective analysis branch renal artery reconstructions was performed between 1987 and 2019.

RESULTS

Patients were predominantly Caucasian (80.6%) women (74.5%) with a mean age of 46.8 ± 15.3 years. The mean preoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 170.4 ± 33.0 mm Hg and 99.2 ± 19.9 mm Hg, respectively, requiring a mean of 1.6 ± 1.1 antihypertensive medications. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was 84.0 ± 25.3 mL/min. Most patients (90.2%) were not diabetic and never smokers (68%). Treated pathology included aneurysm (87.4%) and stenosis (23.3%) with histology demonstrating fibromuscular dysplasia (44.4%), dissection (5.1%), and degenerative not otherwise specified (50.5%). The right renal arteries were most frequently treated (44.2%), with a mean of 3.1 ± 1.5 branches involved. Reconstruction was accomplished using bypass in 90.3% of cases using aortic inflow in 92.7% and a saphenous vein conduit in 92%. Branch vessels served as outflow in 96.9% and syndactylization of branches was used to decrease the number of distal anastomoses in 45.3% of repairs. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 1.5 ± 0.9. Postoperatively, the mean systolic blood pressure improved to 137.9 ± 20.8 mm Hg (mean decrease of 30.5 ± 32.8 mm Hg; P < .0001) and the mean diastolic blood pressure improved to 78.4 ± 12.7 mm Hg (mean decrease of 20.1 ± 20.7 mm Hg; P < .0001) with patients requiring a mean of 1.4 ± 1.0 antihypertensive medications (mean decrease of 0.2 ±1.0 medications; P = .048). The postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate was 89.1 mL/min (mean increase of 4.1 mL/min; P = .08). The mean length of stay was 9.0 ± 5.8 days and 96.1% of patients were discharged home. The mortality rate was 1% (one patient with liver failure) and the major morbidity rate was 15%. There were five infectious complications (pneumonia, Clostridium difficile, and wound infection) and five patients required return to the operating room (one for nephrectomy, one for bleeding, two for thrombosis, and one for second trimester pregnancy loss requiring dilation and curettage and splenectomy). One patient required temporary dialysis owing to graft thrombosis. Two patients developed arrhythmias. No patients suffered a myocardial infarction, stroke, or limb loss. After 30 days, follow-up data were available for 82 bypasses. At this time, three reconstructions were no longer patent. Intervention was required to retain patency for five bypasses. After 1 year, patency data were available for 61 bypasses and five were no longer patent. Of the five grafts with loss of patency, two underwent intervention in attempt to maintain patency, which subsequently failed.

CONCLUSIONS

Repair of renal artery pathology involving the branches can be performed with short- and long-term technical success and significant prospect of decreasing an elevated blood pressure. The operations required to fully address the presenting pathology are often quite complex involving multiple distal anastomoses and consolidation of small secondary branches. The procedure carries a small but significant risk of major morbidity and mortality.

Surgical treatment of an aneurysm of a distal branch of the renal artery

Aneurysms of the renal artery and its branches are rare, but are associated with significant morbimortality due to the absence of clinical symptoms and hemorrhagic risk in the event of rupture. We report the case of a patient with an aneurysm of a distal branch of the right renal artery that measured 25 mm in diameter. The diagnosis and localization were obtained using selective arteriography. Treatment consisted of resection of the aneurysmal sac associated with closure with a saphenous vein patch rather than an endovascular treatment in order to preserve the nephronic capital. Right renal parenchymatous vascularization was satisfactory on arterial echo-Doppler and angioscanner assessment at 1 year.

[Complex renal tumors on solitary kidney: results of ex vivo nephron-sparing surgery with autotransplantation]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the complications and the oncologic and functional results after ex vivo surgery and autotransplantation for the treatment of complex renal tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

From 1996 to 2009, 11 patients, mean age 54.8 years, underwent ex vivo nephron-sparing surgery and autotransplantation for malignant complex renal tumors (centrorenal or hilar topography) on an anatomic or functional solitary kidney. Three patients (27.2 %) were treated for a metastatic disease.

RESULTS

Mean operative time was 340 minutes (240-440) and mean ischemia time was 162 minutes (110-231). Five patients (45.4 %) needed peroperative blood transfusion. Mean hospital stay was 21.5 days (8-50). Eight patients (72.7 %) suffered complications: two urinary fistulas, two early vascular thrombosis leading to nephrectomy and permanent dialysis, two pneumopathies and four acute tubular necrosis leading to temporary dialysis. There was no death among patients in early postoperative period. Tumors TNM staging ranged from pT1 to pT3aN0. Surgical positive margins were observed in three cases (27.2 %). With a mean follow-up of 37.8 months (3-144), the mean MDRD creatinine clearance was of 45.4 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and four patients (36.4 %) were presenting a complete remission. We observed two local recurrences (18.2 %) and five metastatic evolutions (45.4 %) leading to two deaths (18.2 %).

CONCLUSION

Ex vivo nephron-sparing surgery was an acceptable option in the treatment of complex renal tumors for imperative indications, when in situ surgery appeared to be technically unfeasible. Despite a significative morbidity, long-term functional results were satisfying.

Branch renal artery repair with cold perfusion protection

PURPOSE

This retrospective review describes the use and clinical outcome of cold perfusion protection during branch renal artery (RA) repair in 77 consecutive patients.

METHODS

From July 1987 through November 2006, 874 patients had open operative RA repair to 1312 kidneys. Seventy-seven patients (62 women, 15 men; mean age, 44 +/- 17 years) had branch RA reconstruction using ex vivo or in situ cold perfusion protection for 78 kidneys. Demographic data and surgical technique were examined. Blood pressure response and renal function were estimated. Patency of repair was determined by angiography and renal duplex ultrasound (RDUS) imaging. Primary RA patency was estimated by life-table methods.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight RAs were repaired using ex vivo (49 kidneys) or in situ (29 kidneys) cold perfusion protection. Bilateral RA repair was performed in eight patients, with 13 repairs to solitary kidneys. RA disease included aneurysm (RAA) in 50, fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) in 37, atherosclerosis in 5, and arteritis in 2; 16 patients had both FMD and RAA. Hypertension was present in 93.5% (mean blood pressure, 184 +/- 35/107 +/- 19 mm Hg; mean of 1.9 +/- 1.1 drugs). RA repair included bypass using saphenous vein in 69, hypogastric artery in 3, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 2, composite vein/PTFE in 2, cephalic vein in 1, or aneurysmorrhaphy in 1. The eight bilateral RA repairs were staged. One patient required bilateral cold perfusion protection. One planned nephrectomy was performed at the time of contralateral ex vivo reconstruction. No primary nephrectomies were required for intended reconstruction. Each RA reconstruction required branch dissection and reconstruction (mean of 2.8 +/- 1.6 branches were repaired). Mean cold ischemia time was 125 +/- 40 minutes. Each kidney was reconstructed in an orthotopic fashion. Five early failures of repair required three nephrectomies and one operative revision. Based on postoperative angiography or RDUS, or both, primary patency of RA repair at 12 months was 85% +/- 5%; assisted primary patency was 93% +/- 4%. Among patients with preoperative hypertension, 15% were cured, 65% were improved, and 20% were considered failed. Early renal function was improved in 35%, unchanged in 48%, and worse in 17%. Four patients had perioperative acute tubular necrosis. No patient progressed to dialysis-dependence.

CONCLUSION

Both ex vivo and in situ cold perfusion protection extend the safe renal ischemia time for complex branch RA repair and avoid the need for nephrectomy.

Rescue of kidney and pancreas grafts with complex vascular lesions

BACKGROUND

The organ shortage mandates that grafts with complex vascular lesions be considered for graft rescue.

METHODS

Surgical graft rescue was attempted in 8 patients bearing 8 kidneys and 2 pancreata that showed complex vascular lesions deemed not suitable for interventional radiology procedures.

RESULTS

All procedures but 1 were performed under elective conditions. Seven grafts were repaired in situ, while cooling the organ through retrograde venous perfusion, and 3 kidneys were explanted, repaired extracorporeally, and retransplanted. All vascular reconstructions remain patent after a mean follow-up period of 3.3 years (+/-2.1 years).

CONCLUSIONS

Careful patient selection, multidisciplinary evaluation, and personalized surgical technique may allow the rescue of kidney and pancreas grafts with complex vascular lesions that, otherwise, would be lost.

Dysplastic lesions of renal artery branches: late results of ex vivo repair

Between November 1980 and July 1989, 29 ex vivo reconstructions were performed in 12 women and five men (mean age: 42 years) for dysplastic lesions of renal artery branches. Fifteen patients had hypertension, associated with advanced renal failure in one case. The internal iliac artery was used routinely for reconstruction. The saphenous vein was used on one side where bilateral repairs were necessary. A total of 52 distal anastomoses were performed, an average of 2.6 per revascularized kidney. Mean follow-up was four years and 10 months. No patients were lost to follow-up. There were no early or late deaths. At least one follow-up arteriogram and technetium99 diethylene triamine pentacetic acid scintiscan was obtained for all patients. Forty-five (86%) of 52 anastomoses remained patent. Eleven of 15 hypertensive patients completely recovered while four were improved. Systolic arterial blood pressure decreased by an average of 42 mmHg (p less than 0.001), and results remained stable with time. For fibromuscular dysplasia occurring in young patients whose life expectancy is usually long, this type of surgery provides excellent long-term clinical and anatomical results.

Bench repair of complex renal arterial lesions

Between 1968 and 1989, 160 patients underwent aortorenal bypass for renovascular hypertension. During the same interval, 13 patients had ex-vivo bench repair of complex renal arterial pathology. There were eight men and five women, with a mean age of 36 years. Twelve of the 13 patients had fibromuscular disease; one had atherosclerosis. Twelve patients had renovascular hypertension with complex stenotic disease beyond the main renal artery. Seven of these also had an associated renal aneurysm as did the sole normotensive patient. Saphenous vein patch or bypass were used to correct stenotic segments in four patients, while the remaining nine patients had excision of stenotic or aneurysmal segments with primary arterial anastomosis. There were no deaths in the series. One kidney was lost because of arterial thrombosis. One patient required reoperation to control postoperative bleeding. Nine of the 12 patients with renovascular hypertension were normotensive off medication, and three were improved, with reduced medication controlling their blood pressure. Ureteric obstruction occurred in two patients; this settled spontaneously in one patient and was corrected by reoperation in the other. From this experience, we conclude that bench repair is a safe and effective way to maximize salvage of kidneys affected by complex arterial pathology.

The role of renal autotransplantation in complex urological reconstruction

From 1972 to 1988, 108 patients underwent renal autotransplantation for renal artery disease (67), ureteral replacement (27), or renal cell carcinoma present bilaterally or in a solitary kidney (14). The most common indication for renal autotransplantation was to allow extracorporeal repair of complex branch renal artery lesions. Of the 54 patients in this group technically satisfactory branch renal arterial reconstruction and a successful clinical outcome were achieved in 52 (96%). Renal autotransplantation is the treatment of choice in these patients and also in selected children with main renal artery disease. Renal autotransplantation provided excellent results in 25 of 27 patients (92%) who required replacement of all or a major portion of the ureter. Over-all renal function was well preserved in these patients and only 1 has experienced chronic bacteriuria. Renal autotransplantation is a useful alternative to ileal interposition in this setting. Extracorporeal partial nephrectomy and renal autotransplantation were successful in 12 of 14 patients (85%) undergoing a nephron-sparing operation for renal cell carcinoma. In situ techniques are associated with less morbidity and currently are preferred in this group.

Long-term results of renal artery reconstruction with autogenous artery in patients with renovascular hypertension

Renal artery reconstruction for the treatment of renovascular hypertension is preferably performed with an autologous graft when a graft is required. Although satisfactory results with vein grafts have been reported, stenosis and dilatation are not infrequent complications which have been observed only occasionally in arterial grafts. We have analysed our long-term results obtained with autogenous arterial grafts for renal artery reconstruction to determine the functional and anatomical results with regard to these complications. The data from 57 survivors operated on from 1959 through 1983 were analysed. All patients were hypertensive and the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 173/109 mmHg (mean number of 2.2 drugs). The renal artery stenosis was caused by arteriosclerosis and fibrodysplasia in 24 and 33 patients, respectively. In situ repair was performed in 30 patients (arterial bypass: 17 patients; splenorenal bypass: 13 patients). Extracorporeal repair of fibrodysplastic branch lesions was performed in 27 patients using branched hypogastric artery grafts (mean number of 2.4 branch anastomoses per kidney). Results were evaluated in the short (mean 8.3 months) and long term (mean 7.5 years) and the blood pressure response classified as either beneficial (cured/improved) or failed. Anatomical results were evaluated by angiography in the short-term in 87% of the patients and the long-term in 70%. A beneficial blood pressure response was obtained in 77% and 86% of patients in the short and long-term, respectively. The average blood pressure level after an interval of several years (long term) was 144/87 mmHg (mean number of 0.9 antihypertensive drugs). After in situ reconstruction, 2 and 1 anatomical failures were observed in the short and long-term, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Future aspects of renal transplantation

New and exciting advances in renal transplantation are continuously being made, and the horizons for organ transplantation are bright and open. This article reviews only a few of the newer advances that will allow renal transplantation to become even more widespread and successful. The important and exciting implications for extrarenal organ transplantation are immediately evident.

Aneurysms of the renal artery and its branches

During the last ten years, 29 aneurysms of the renal artery, observed in 20 patients were operated on. These cases represent 10% of the total number of renal vascularization procedures performed during the same period. Diagnosis was made most often during the workup for arterial hypertension (16 patients). There were 20 cases of sacciform aneurysms, eight cases of fusiform aneurysms, usually associated with stenotic lesions, and one case of dissecting aneurysm. Fibromuscular dysplasia was the principal etiological factor. A total of 22 kidneys were involved. Restoration was performed "in situ" in 15 cases (21 aneurysms), using aortorenal bypass in fusiform aneurysms and usually aneurysmorrhaphy for sacciform aneurysms. Six cases (seven aneurysms) were treated with "ex situ" surgery. Primary nephrectomy was performed in one patient. There was no operative mortality. Early occlusion occurred in two cases, resulting in secondary nephrectomy. During a mean follow-up period of 51 months, there were no secondary occlusions. Blood pressure control was obtained in 14 patients (87%). Surgical management is recommended for most renal artery aneurysms. Repair using "in situ" techniques is usually feasible and provides satisfactory long-lasting results in most cases.