Use of a Pelvic Kidney for Living Transplantation: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

The world-wide shortage of cadaveric kidneys for transplantation has resulted in a tendency to extend the indications for procurement from cadaveric donors and increased our reliance on living donors. Individuals with ectopic kidneys located in the bony pelvis (pelvic kidneys) have up to now been excluded from being renal donors, because pelvic kidneys are usually small, and may have anomalous vascular supplies, as well as complex urinary drainage systems. We report the use of a pelvic kidney for living-related renal transplantation. Transplantation of the pelvic kidney is technically feasible, and therefore individuals with pelvic kidneys should be considered as extended renal donors