The use of the small caliber JJ stent with anti-reflux valve in double kidney transplant. Personal experience.

BACKGROUND

In the experience of other authors, double kidney transplant have a higher complication rate (30%) if compared with single renal graft. In personal experience the use of small calibre ureteral stents with antireflux valve can reduce this complication rate.

METHODS

From November 1999 to April 2001, at the A.S.O. S. Giovanni Battista in Turin, we performed 29 double kidney transplantations with the application of small calibre stents in 20 male and 9 female patients, aged 50-74 years. The uretero-neocystostomies were carried out according to Lich-Gregoire technique, and the JJ stents used were pediatric ones, 12 cm long and 4.8 Ch, with antireflux valve.

RESULTS

We complained only 2 urological complications out of 58 anastomoses (distal unilateral ureteral necrosis in 1 case and total ureteral necrosis in the other).

CONCLUSIONS

Complication rate is lower than in the literature: the authors suggest that the use of small calibre JJ stents can keep the complication rate low in double kidney transplant.