[Kidney transplantectomy: a multicenter study of the Committee of Transplantation of the French Urology Association].

OBJECTIVES

Multicentre study of the Transplantation Committee of the Association Française d'Urologie (French Urology Association) concerning the attitudes of various French transplantation centres in relation to renal transplantectomy.

METHODS

Nine centres participated in this study: Bordeaux, Brest, Grenoble, Marseille, Nantes, Paris-Necker, Paris-La Pitié, Strasbourg and Toulouse. The survey was performed by means of 2 types of forms: study of transplantectomies performed between 1982 and 1992, specific study of transplantectomies performed in 1992.

RESULTS

From 1982 to 1992, 731 transplantectomies were performed in these centres, i.e. 15% of all renal transplantations. Rejection represented 80% of the indications and vascular complications represented 15%. The technique used before the 6th week was complete removal of the transplant. After this period, the transplant was removed via a subcapsular approach. The postoperative mortality was 0.7% and the morbidity was 26%. In 1992, 91 transplantectomies were performed in these different centres. Forty-two per cent of the transplants presented with local signs and 38% with general signs. A subcapsular transplantectomy was performed in 84% of cases, for rejection in every case. The morbidity was 16%. Complete removal of the transplant was performed in 16% of cases, essentially for infectious complications. The morbidity was 7%.

CONCLUSION

The renal transplantectomy technique must be adapted to the interval after transplantation: before the 6th week, the transplant must be completely removed; after this period, subcapsular transplantectomy must be performed. This operation therefore no longer carries the mortality and morbidity attributed to it.