Abstract
The transplantation of the kidney with implantation of the renal vessels in the aorta and vena cava consists of extirpating from an animal a kidney with its vessels, together with a patch of the aorta and vena cava; also of transplanting the kidney into the abdomen of another animal and suturing the edges of the patches to the edges of suitable openings made in the walls of the aorta and vena cava. By this patching method, the anastomoses are more safely performed than by the other methods of anastomosis. If the patch be large enough, occurrence of gangrene in the transplanted organ is practically impossible. With Guthrie, I used this method mainly on cats and obtained excellent results from the standpoint of restoration of the circulation. In dogs, on account of the shape of the abdomen, it is difficult to prevent the occurrence of congestion of the kidney. This occurs because of compression of the renal vein between the aorta and the kidney. It could be prevented by putting the new kidney exactly at the place of the extirpated one.
This operation is not dangerous. Of seven animals operated on, six remained in good health. The seventh died of intestinal intussusception four days after the operation.
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