Aortic bypass surgery for asymptomatic patients awaiting a kidney transplant: A word of caution

Introduction In the presence of severe aorto‐iliac calcification, aortic bypass surgery can be mandatory to allow kidney transplantation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of this strategy among asymptomatic patients. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the files of all patients that had undergone vascular bypass surgery prior to kidney transplantation between November 2004 and March 2016. All patients undergoing aortic bypass surgery prior to kidney transplantation without any vascular‐related symptoms were included. Results Twenty‐one asymptomatic patients were included. Ten patients (48%) have not received a kidney transplant. Four patients died before kidney transplantation, including 2 deaths related to the bypass surgery (9.5%). Early post‐operative morbidity involved 11 cases. Eleven patients (52%) were transplanted. Transplanted patients were significantly younger (median age 60 [56‐61] vs 67 [60‐72] years, P = .04) at the time of bypass and were less frequently treated for coronary heart disease (9% vs 50%, P = .06). Conclusion Aortic bypass surgery performed prior to kidney transplantation among asymptomatic patients has significant mortality and morbidity rates. When transplantation is possible, the results are satisfying. Larger studies are required to define the selection criteria, such as age and coronary heart disease.