IJOTM 2008-6490 3 1 2012 01 03 Safety and Adequacy of Percutaneous Biopsies in Pediatric Orthotopic Kidney Transplantation 26 29 EN EC Ip RE Kirby E Craig FE Mackie SE Kennedy AR Rosenberg G. Kainer JE Frawley KS Haghighi Department of Transplant Surgery, Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick and East Coast Renal Transplant Service, Sydney, Australia. kshaghighi@bigpond.com 2011 12 04 Background: The gold standard for investigating the cause of renal graft dysfunction is renal biopsy. However, as this procedure is invasive and has inherent risks, its safety must be established. Objective: To determine the safety of percutaneous renal biopsy in pediatric orthotopic renal transplantation. Methods: Percutaneous renal biopsies performed on pediatric orthotopic renal transplants in a single center between 1987 and 2010 were studied. Biopsy specimen adequacy and post-procedure complications were reviewed by prospectively collected data. Results: A total of 54 ultrasound “real-time” guided biopsies in 25 patients were performed. Minimum specimen adequacy was achieved in 98% of biopsy specimens. No major complications were identified; 6% of patients developed minor complications—e.g., grade 3 macroscopic hematuria that did not require intervention. Conclusion: Percutaneous renal biopsies using “real-time” ultrasound guidance on pediatric orthotopic kidney transplants is safe.