ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness and safety of unified technique of vascular control before renal exposure in reconstructive surgery of renal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1995 to June 1997, 10 patients with major renal trauma who operated by unified approach technique were included in this study. Blunt trauma was the mechanism of injury in 8 patients and 2 were resulted from penetrating(stab) injury. Of the injuries 2 were grade 3, 7 grade 4, 1 grade 5. RESULTS: Of the 10 patients, 8(80%) were performed kidney preserving surgery and 2(20%) resulted in nephrectomy. Partial nephrectomy was underwent in 6 patients(with vascular repair in 2 cases) and renorrhaphy in 2 patients. Pedicle flap of omentum was used mainly and polyglycolic acid mesh also used in 2 cases as coverage material of parenchymal defect. Complications occurred in 2 cases(20%) but none resulted in renal loss with the mean followup of 10 months(1 to 15 months). CONCLUSIONS: Unified approach technique of vascular control before renal exposure seems to be a safe and effective method for reconstructive surgery in renal trauma. To confirm this result, studies with more cases and longer followup are needed.