Indications for Renal Autotransplant: An Overview

Advances in transplantation led to the first renal autotransplant in 1963 performed due to high ureteral injury sustained during aortic surgery. The procedure involves excision of the kidney and autologous re-implantation. Subsequently, multiple cases of renal autotransplantation have been reported in the literature for a range of indications. This reviews aims to assess the literature and experiences reported to assess the varying indications for renal autotransplant. The evidence and literature generated from experiences in this procedure are largely limited to case reports and relatively small or moderately sized case series. The main indications reported for performing autotransplant broadly includes renovascular disease, ureteral pathology and neoplastic disease. The advent of laparoscopic techniques and their implications on renal autotransplant also are discussed. Varying degrees of success are reported with this procedure with controversial issues surrounding this procedure remain, particularly in the area of neoplastic surgery. Renal autotransplant may be a useful last resort in preventing kidney loss in highly selected circumstances and when conventional methods have failed.