2008-06-11
Pediatric Kidney Transplantation in the Netherlands collaborative studies
Publication
Publication
Niertransplantaties bij kinderen in Nederland: uitkomsten van gezamenlijk onderzoek
The first successful kidney transplantation dates back to the year 1954. A healthy adult donated a kidney to his identical twin brother with life-threatening kidney disease. No immunosuppressive medication was used. The recipient lived for nine more years, got married, had children, and had a job to his liking.1 This event raised the hopes of all patients with end stage kidney disease. It took another five years before the first kidney transplantation in a child succeeded, with a kidney donated by his identical twin.2 Transplantation is the ultimate modality of renal replacement therapy for end stage renal failure in children. It replaces most of the lost functions of the native kidneys, in contrast to any form of dialysis. Transplantation may restore kidney function within normal ranges, whereas with dialysis no more than 10% of normal clearance is reached. Moreover, dialysis is associated with high morbidity and even mortality. Chronic dialysis in children is therefore not considered as a permanent solution, but as a bridge to transplantation. In the Netherlands kidney transplantation in children is an accepted and feasible option since 1973. In our country the procedure is thought to be feasible in children with a minimum age of 3 years, or a minimum body weight of 12 kg. Either a pediatric or a vascular surgeon performs the transplantation, in some centers together with a pediatric urologist. The grafted kidney is usually placed in the iliac fossa; in case of a small child receiving an adult kidney, the abdomen may be the graft site. The renal blood vessels are anastomosed with the recipient’s external or commune iliac vessels, or, in case of intra-abdominal placement, with the aorta and inferior caval vein. The donor ureter is implanted in the recipient’s bladder. In most centers a temporary intraureteral splint is placed to enable the urine to drain without resistance from the transplanted kidney.
| Additional Metadata | |
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| The Dutch Kidney Foundation (Nierstichting Nederland), Astellas Pharma BV, Ferring Nederland BV, Roche Nederland BV, Novartis Pharma BV, Novo Nordisk BV, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals BV, Amgen BV | |
| A.J. van der Heijden (Bert) | |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam | |
| hdl.handle.net/1765/12617 | |
| Organisation | Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam |
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Cransberg, K. (2008, June 11). Pediatric Kidney Transplantation in the Netherlands collaborative studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/12617 |
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