Remote results of the replantation of the kidneys

Abstract

When a kidney is extirpated from an animal and replanted on the same animal with a proper technique, it does not undergo any anatomical or physiological changes. In several cases, I examined a kidney several months after its extirpation and replantation and could not detect any anatomical change. Ten months after the resection and the replantation of the left kidney of a dog, the organ was examined. Its size and appearance were identical to those of the right kidney. The vascular and ureteral anastomosis were almost invisible. There were no microscopical differences between the kidneys.

Two years ago, a bitch underwent a double nephrectomy and the replantation of the left kidney. Since that time she has become pregnant twice, has had a number of normal pups, and is still in perfect health.

These experiments show that, from a surgical standpoint, the question of the graft of organs is solved. The bad results obtained by some experimenters are due merely to faults of technique.