Bilateral native nephrectomy improves renal isograft function in rats

Bilateral native nephrectomy has been suggested to improve renal allograft survival in man. This effect may be most prominent in patients experiencing acute tubular necrosis following transplantation. Thus, native kidneys may alter the course of ischemic acute tubular necrosis in the transplanted kidney. In the present studies, we utilized an experimental model of syngeneic transplantation in which rejection does not occur. We studied Lewis rat renal isografts transplanted into littermates following sham, unilateral or bilateral native nephrectomy. In a fourth group of rats, we evaluated the importance of native kidney excretory function by studying isografts transplanted into littermates with bilaterally obstructed native kidneys. Renal blood flow and excretory function were measured in vivo, eight days following transplantation. Renal excretory function of isografts transplanted into animals following bilateral native nephrectomy was similar to normal nontransplanted Lewis kidneys. The presence of either one or both functioning native kidneys significantly reduced isograft inulin clearance, PAH clearance, and blood flow. However, when isografts were transplanted into Lewis rats with bilaterally obstructed native kidneys, renal isograft inulin clearance and blood flow were not significantly impaired. Nontransplanted kidneys demonstrated "functional hypertrophy" following contralateral nephrectomy, with glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow increasing by approximately 50%. In contrast, isograft glomerular filtration rate in animals following bilateral native nephrectomy was equivalent to that of single kidneys from normal animals with both kidneys in situ. However, renal blood flow of isografts from these animals increased to the same level as nontransplanted Lewis kidneys following contralateral nephrectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

End-stage renal failure after donor nephrectomy

A 52-year-old man, who had undergone donor nephrectomy 14 years previously, recently developed end-stage renal failure himself. The recipient of the donated kidney still has normal renal function associated with marked proteinuria. This deterioration of kidney function emphasizes the need for meticulous pre-operative evaluation of potential kidney donors and for the long-term post-operative follow-up of the donor as well as the recipient.     

Bilateral renal oncocytomatosis in a patient with renal failure

Bilateral multifocal renal oncocytomas are very rare disorders with only 6 previously reported cases in the world literature, of which only 3 have had pathologic confirmation. We present the first reported case of diffuse, bilateral, multifocal renal oncocytomatosis in a patient with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis. Our patient was found to have hundreds of nodular tumors in both kidneys on exploration, representing the second such reported finding.     

Irreversible renal failure following right nephrectomy and left renal vein ligation

Ligation of the left renal vein has been advocated in certain clinical situations and venous outflow then is dependent on an adequate collateral venous system. We report on a child who suffered complete renal failure after ligation of the left renal vein in association with right nephrectomy and, subsequently, died. The left renal vein should be repaired in the presence of a solitary left kidney to prevent renal vein thrombosis and subsequent renal failure. This is particularly true in children in whom venous collateral circulation of the left kidney may not be well developed.     

Ischemic acute renal failure following nephrectomy impairs long-term renal function

Uninephrectomy is associated with increased glomerular filtration rate in both the donated and the remaining contralateral kidney. The long-term effects of ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) following uninephrectomy are unknown. This study examined renal function, histology and proteinuria 52 weeks after an episode of reversible ischemic ARF. Ischemic ARF was induced in uninephrectomised mice by renal pedicle clamping. At 52 weeks inulin clearance (muL/min/g) was 7.2+/-0.2 in sham, 5.0+/-0.1 in uninephrectomy (P<0.01 vs. sham) and 3.9+/-0.1 in uninephrectomy + ischemia (P<0.01 vs. sham, P<0.05 vs. uninephrectomy). Thus, mice subjected to uninephrectomy alone demonstrated compensatory hyperfiltration following reduction in renal mass. This response was prevented by ischemic ARF. At 52 weeks there was no difference in urine protein/creatinine, mean arterial pressure or scores of glomerulosclerosis or interstitial fibrosis. In conclusion, ischemic ARF following uninephrectomy in mice impairs long-term renal function.     

Bilateral synchronous open nephrectomy for renal tumours in patients following long-term dialysis

Sir, During long-term dialysis, the kidney is at maximum risk forthe development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the occurrenceof bilateral cases is not rare [1,2]. Based on previous studies,bilateral nephrectomy is no longer favoured, primarily due to     

Bilateral partial nephrectomy in a case of bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma

We report a case of bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma in a 66-year-old-man, who underwent bilateral partial nephrectomy. He visited our hospital, complaining of left flank pain. Drip infusion pyelography showed a left ureteral stone and left hydroureteronephrosis. Computerized tomography revealed bilateral renal tumors. These tumors were small (< 2 cm), so bilateral partial nephrectomy and left ureterolithotomy were performed. The pathological examination showed that all tumors were renal cell carcinoma. No recurrence has been seen nine months after the operation. This is the 12th case in the Japanese literature reported as bilateral partial nephrectomy for bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma.     

Bilateral ureteral endometriosis with end-stage renal failure

Only 16 cases of bilateral ureteral endometriosis have been reported to date. A contiguous spread of the disease is generally thought to be the mechanism of ureteral involvement. We report a case in which the left ureter contains both intrinsic and separated extrinsic forms and the right one an extrinsic form of endometriosis, giving us the opportunity to discuss the different pathogenetic mechanisms and to suggest that dissemination of endometriosis by lymphatic pathways is the most probable explanation.     

Laparoscopic splenectomy and nephrectomy in a rat model

Background: In experimental studies on the effects of laparoscopic procedures on tumor biology, a localized tumor model is desirable. The spleen and the kidney are preferable, because these organs are amenable to tumor placement and subsequent removal. This study describes the technique of laparoscopic splenectomy and nephrectomy in the rat model. Methods: Pneumoperitoneum was established by CO₂ insufflation. Laparoscopic splenectomy involved two-handed dissection, intracorporeal ligation, and division of gastrosplenic attachments and hilar and short gastric vessels. Laparoscopic nephrectomy was done by intracorporeal ligation and division of the renal vessels and the ureter after mobilization of the kidney. Results: Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed in six rats; laparoscopic nephrectomy was done in six rats. Operative time ranged from 45 to 90 min for splenectomy and from 40 to 65 min for nephrectomy. Postoperatively, two rats died from hemorrhage. Necropsy of the rats after 10 days revealed adhesion in three rats after splenectomy and in four rats after nephrectomy. Inflammatory processes were found around the silk ligatures in all rats after splenectomy; in two rats wound infections occurred at the port sites. Conclusions: Laparoscopic splenectomy and nephrectomy in the rat proved technically feasible and may provide new localized tumor models suitable to be used in further studies on the oncological effects of laparoscopic surgery.     

Bilateral nephrectomy and dialysis as an option for patients with bilateral renal cancer

Six patients who underwent bilateral nephrectomy for renal carcinoma were placed on maintenance dialysis; of these, 1 patient had a renal transplant. A 5-year 44% survival of these patients was observed. We feel that radical nephrectomy followed by chronic dialysis is a reasonable alternative and offers a fair prognosis to patients with bilateral renal cancer in which partial nephrectomy is not possible.