Pathological variations of renal vessels in the context of kidney transplantation

This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness and potential risks associated with kidney transplantation from living related donors in patients suffering from end-stage chronic kidney disease (ESKD). The comprehensive examination included an analysis of the condition of 48 related donors, among whom 30 individuals underwent planned nephrectomy for subsequent organ transplantation. Prior to surgery, each donor underwent a thorough health assessment that involved detailed evaluation of the functional activity of the contralateral organ and immunogenetic testing to assess tissue compatibility. A detailed study of the anatomical features of the kidneys revealed that 30 % of those examined had atypical configurations of the renal vascular system characterized by the presence of branching polar arteries and additional arterial or venous structures. Despite increasing the technical complexity of surgical intervention, these deviations do not significantly affect long-term functional outcomes of the transplanted kidney. Kidneys transplanted from related donors exhibit high survival rates, substantially improving recipients’ quality of life and eliminating the need for replacement therapy through hemodialysis. Postoperative complications are rare among recipients and generally have mild courses. Most return to their usual lifestyle after an average rehabilitation period lasting approximately 10–12 days. Therefore, kidney transplantation from a living related donor is a highly effective and safe therapeutic method for ESKD, especially when close relatives with suitable genetic compatibility are available. The obtained data emphasize the necessity of expanded screening of potential donors considering possible individual variations in the vascular structure of parenchymal organs.

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