Objective  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of adult kidney transplantation from unilateral pediatric donor kidney.

  Methods  Clinical data of pediatric donors (n=10) and adult recipients (n=19) undergoing kidney transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The changes of renal function, liver function and the maximal diameters of the kidney allografts were compared at 1, 7, 14, 28, 60 d after operation. The short-term survival and incidence of postoperative complications of the recipients were analyzed.

  Results  Ten donors included 6 males and 4 females, aged (7±3) years old, with a body mass index (BMI) of (16.3±3.8) kg/m². All donors were donation after brain death followed by cardiac death. Among 19 recipients, 12 were males and 7 were females, aged (34±12) years old, with a BMI of (20.3±1.3) kg/m².An oblique incision was created in the lower right abdomen of the recipients. The arteries and veins of donor kidney were anastomosed with the external iliac arteries and veins of the recipients. The ureter of donor kidney was anastomosed with the bladder of the recipients. After anastomosis, the kidney was placed and fixed in the right iliac fossa. The serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of the recipients were decreased at 1 week after kidney transplantation, and restored to normal range at postoperative 2 weeks. All parameters related to liver function were normal after operation. At postoperative 1 month, the maximal diameters of the kidney allografts were (9.5±0.3) cm on average, which basically reached those of normal adults. The 1-year survival rate of 19 recipients was 95%. One recipient died from pulmonary infection after ineffective treatment. Two recipients developed rejection, and 1 recipient experienced urinary system infection, who were healed after corresponding treatment.

  Conclusions  Adult kidney transplantation from unilateral pediatric donor kidney is safe, feasible and effective, which can be utilized to enlarge the source of donor kidneys.