Kidney–bladder transplantation: redefining surgical options for patients with concurrent bladder and kidney disease
Affiliations & Notes
Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
Article Info
Publication History:
Published June 23, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01025-1 External LinkAlso available on ScienceDirect External Link
Copyright: © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Linked Articles
- Combined bladder–kidney transplantation: first-in-human feasibility trialThe LancetJune 23, 2026
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OkRestoring patients to fitness has long been central to organ transplantation. Thomas Starzl (1926–2017), widely recognised as the founder of modern transplantation, pioneered groundbreaking surgeries that offered patients with end-stage liver and kidney disease a renewed sense of wellbeing. In his memoir, Starzl referred to the transformative physical and mental changes brought about by a new organ.1 Although kidney transplantation can restore function and substantially improve quality of life for individuals with end-stage kidney disease, its benefits remain limited for patients who face both terminal bladder disease and kidney failure. In these patients, the changes brought about through kidney transplantation alone do not fully address the complex challenges these patients encounter. Although reconstructive bladder techniques are available, none can fully replicate the function of a healthy native bladder. Patients undergoing reconstructive bladder surgery must adjust to changes in urinary control, body image, and daily routines. Additionally, they face an increased risk of infection, which can have a negative effect on renal allograft survival.
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