Bariatric Surgery as a Bridge to Facilitate Renal Transplantation in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Renal transplantation (RT) is not recommended above BMI 40 kg/m² as post-operative risks (delayed graft function, wound complications) are increased. Bariatric surgery (BS) results in sustained long-term weight loss. However, renal failure (RF) patients are theoretically higher risk candidates. We aim to investigate the safety of BS in patients with RF and the effect of BS on access to renal transplantation.

We reviewed data from 31 patients with RF referred for BS between 2013 and 2021. We compared the outcomes of patients with RF who underwent BS to those who were referred but did not undergo BS. Controls matched for age/BMI/comorbidity (MC) but without RF were used for comparison.

Of 31 patients referred, 19 proceeded with BS (68% female, median age 52 years, BMI 46.2 ± 4.9 kg/m²) and 12 did not (58% female, median age 58, mean BMI 41.5 ± 4.1). Excess body weight loss (EBWL) was 71.2% ± 20.2% at 2 years in RF patients versus 66.0% ± 28.0% in MC patients. In the operated group, 11/19 (58%) patients reached their treatment target (six transplanted, five placed on waiting list) versus 3/12 (25%) in unoperated patients (three transplanted). There was no difference in perioperative complications between RF and MC groups. Long-term, there were seven deaths amongst RF patients (two operated, five unoperated), none amongst the MC group.

BS in patients with RF increased access to RT and was safe and effective. We therefore recommend consideration of BS in patients with obesity and RF in specialised units.