Current management of symptomatic vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric kidney transplantation—A European survey among surgical transplant professionals

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundVesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is common in children and adolescents undergoing kidney transplantation (KTx) and may adversely affect allograft kidney function.MethodsTo explore the current management of symptomatic native and allograft VUR in pediatric KTx recipients, an online survey was distributed to European surgical transplant professionals.ResultsSurgeons from 40 pediatric KTx centers in 18 countries participated in this survey. Symptomatic native kidney VUR was treated before or during KTx by 68% of the centers (all/selected patients: 33%/67%; before/during KTx: 89%/11%), with a preference for endoscopic treatment (59%). At KTx, 90% favored an anti‐reflux ureteral reimplantation procedure (extravesical/transvesical approach: 92%/8%; preferred extravesical technique: Lich‐Gregoir [85%]). Management strategies for symptomatic allograft VUR included surgical repair (90%), continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (51%), bladder training (49%), or noninterventional surveillance (21%). Redo ureteral implantation and endoscopic intervention for allograft VUR were equally reported (51%/49%).ConclusionsThis survey shows uniformity in some surgical aspects of the pediatric KTx procedure. However, with regard to VUR, there is a significant variation in practice patterns that need to be addressed by future well‐designed and prospective studies. In this way, more robust data could be translated into consensus guidelines for a more standardized and evidence‐based management of this common condition in pediatric KTx.