Ex vivo removal of stones in donor kidneys by pyelotomy prior to renal transplantation: a single-center case series

BACKGROUND: Donors with incidentally discovered asymptomatic renal stones was considered a relative contraindication to the kidney donation because of a potential increased morbidity risk for renal transplant recipients. Stone clearance from the donors should be done before donation to ensure safety of the recipient. This study aimed to observe the safety and efficacy of kidney transplantation from donors with nephrolithiasis who received pyelolithotomy before transplantation. METHODS: Between January 2015 and March 2021, 14 deceased organ donors at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were found to have kidney stones during predonation evaluation. After donor kidney repair, all of the donor kidneys underwent ex vivo pyelolithotomy. Then the organs were transplanted to the right iliac fossa of 17 patients with end-stage renal failure. Data were analyzed for technical feasibility, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and stone clearance. Ultrasonography and urinal routine were followed at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month postoperatively. RESULTS: The stones were successfully removed ex vivo by pyelotomy with an average time of 41.0±12.8 minutes. Seventeen recipients successfully underwent renal transplantation, and their renal function recovered well. Slight gross hematuria occurred in 12 cases after operation, and hematuria disappeared after conservative treatment. Ureteral stents were removed within two months after the procedure. There were no complications such as delayed recovery of renal function, acute rejection, ureteral necrosis, and urinary fistula. The serum creatinine of 17 patients 1 month after the operation was 136.8±26.7 µmol/L. None of the 17 patients included in the study suffered from stone recurrence or graft dysfunction in the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Ex vivo removal of stones by pyelotomy was a technically feasible means of safely and efficiency rendering a stone-bearing donor kidney stone-free. The procedure obtained good early-middle outcomes in kidney transplantation and is therefore worthy of clinical application.