Analysis of outcome of end-to-end and end-to-side internal iliac artery anastomosis in renal transplantation: Our initial experience with a case series

INTRODUCTION: In renal transplantation, there is end-to-side anastomosis of renal artery to external iliac artery and end-to-end anastomosis of renal artery to internal iliac artery. The end-to-end internal iliac artery anastomosis can be associated with complications due to compromised distal vascular supply to limbs and penile erectile tissue. A method of end-to-side anastomosis can overcome them. Till date, there is no case series or trial that has studied the effect of end-to-side anastomosis. This study is aimed at comparing the outcome of end-to-side and end-to-end anastomosis, so as to evaluate the efficacy of end-to-side technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 renal transplant recipients were taken, with internal iliac artery anastomosis, and were divided into two groups, 20 patients with end-to-end and 20 patients with end-to-side anastomosis. The cold ischemia time, arterial anastomosis time, post-operative bleeding and urine leak, claudication, saddle anesthesia and erectile dysfunction, and follow-up recipient creatinine and eGFR and Doppler to look for graft renal artery patency (at 6 months post-transplant) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The intraoperative cold ischemia time was slightly more in the group with end-to-end anastomosis, but it was statistically significant (P = 0.22). The arterial anastomosis time was comparable in both the groups (P = 0.65). In the end-to-end group, 15%, 20% and 15% patients had post-operative saddle anaesthesia, claudication and mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction, which were absent in the end-to-side group. On follow-up, the mean recipient serum creatinine and eGFR were comparable in the two groups. Also, the graft renal artery patency on Doppler was comparable. CONCLUSION: The end-to-side technique can be definitely applied for renal transplantation, with some advantages over end-to-end technique, and without compromising efficacy.