Nierentransplantation bei kendern und jugendlichen

Abstract

Renal transplantation is the best therapeutic option for terminal renal failure in children. Therefore preferentially preemptive transplantations (without dialysis before transplantation) are performed. When preparing the transplantation, main issues are the exclusion of severe illnesses of other organs of the recipient (comorbidity) and the question whether a donation of a living human being is possible. The operation itself requires expertise because of the mismatch of organ and body size and the associated problems of fluid management. In the first six weeks after transplantation, surgical complications, acute rejections and severe infections are the most important yet manageable problems if detected early. If both the transplantation and long-term aftercare are carried out in specialised centres of pediatric nephrology, good results of the survival of the organ and of social rehabilitation can be achieved. In the year 2002 an organ function of 20 years with a patient survival of 95% is realistic.