Vascular assessment before kidney transplantation. Role of computerized helical tomography

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with helical CT for vascular assessment prior to renal transplantation. METHODS: In our hospital, all candidates to renal transplantation are referred to the Urology Transplant Unit for previous assessment. For the past 3 years, patients with multiple arterial calcifications (non linear) have been evaluated by helical CT with three-dimensional reconstruction of the calcification densities, which provides an accurate representation of the lesion. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Pretransplant evaluation has been fundamental for individualized planning of the renal transplant surgery. The use of helical CT is extending in our field and it has also been utilized in graft donor assessment. In our experience, the extent and thickness of arterial wall calcifications are accurately depicted by helical CT. These findings could have an important significance when making pre and perioperative decisions in renal transplantation.