Combined cadaveric hepatic and renal organ procurement in infants. Technique for salvage of all organs

R. J. Taylor, J. T. Rosenthal and T. R. Hakala

The recent improved success with solid organ transplantation has made multiple-organ procurement from single cadaveric donors a more frequent procedure. The techniques for team procurement have resulted in excellent posttransplant organ function with minimal organ waste. In 12% of the population the right hepatic artery arises from the superior mesenteric artery. When this occurs in an infant or small pediatric combined kidney-liver donor, the aorta is divided below the superior mesenteric artery. Our method salvages the kidneys from these donors for en bloc transplantation without jeopardizing the liver for transplant.