Surgical Endarterectomy for Suprarenal Iliac Artery Stenosis in Renal Allograft Recipient

Aortoiliac surgery performed in renal transplant recipients carries the risk of inducing a prolonged period of ischemia that can threaten organ survival. Recently, endovascular techniques have been increasingly applied but the rate of complications and recurrences remains significant. We report the case of a kidney heterotopic allotransplant recipient who presented with a history of new-onset arterial hypertension, right lower limb claudication, and allograft dysfunction related to a long, eccentric, and ulcerated plaque causing hemodynamic stenosis of suprarenal iliac artery that was successfully managed with surgical endarterectomy. Despite new advances in less invasive procedures such as transluminal angioplasty and stent implantation, surgical endarterectomy of suprarenal iliac artery may be safely performed in selected heterotopic kidney transplant recipients. It allows for complete removal of the plaque, with better long-term results, and does not preclude subsequent endovascular or surgical procedures; therefore it should be considered a therapeutic option in this clinical setting.