Urologic complications of renal transplantation

Ureteric complications of renal transplantation

Of 507 consecutive recipients of renal allografts, 45 developed a urological complication. In 39 patients (7.7%) ureteric problems were implicated and these comprised 30 cases of obstruction and 9 cases of ureteric necrosis presenting as urinary leakage. In 7 patients ureteric obstruction resolved following a period of nephrostomy decompression; 10 patients were reconstructed surgically and this was successful in 8, with 2 patients requiring further surgical procedures. Ten patients were successfully treated by percutaneous stenting after dilatation of the stricture. Stenting failed in 4 patients and in 1 patient caused rupture of a calix. All 10 stents have now been removed and there is no recurrence of stricture (follow-up 32.0 +/- 8.6 months). Of the remaining 3 grafts, 2 were removed and the other graft had percutaneous removal of a ureteric calculus. The 1-year survival rate of allografts in the ureteric complication group was 84.6%; in the recipients without a urological complication it was 81%. It was concluded that an active approach to ureteric problems following renal transplantation results in the rescue of the majority of allografts.

Percutaneous stone and stent removal from renal transplants

Techniques developed for removal of stones from normally sited kidneys can be safely employed in the transplanted kidney. We describe our experience in removing stones, stent material and organised blood clot from renal transplant collecting systems, using modified percutaneous techniques.

Lymphorrhea as postoperative complication of living donor nephrectomy: a case report

We report a case of lymphorrhea after living donor nephrectomy. Clinically the donor presented with an increased flow of a liquid characteristic of lymph, which was treated successfully with iodinated povidone. The possible pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the development of lymphocele following renal transplantation are discussed.

Interventional radiologic procedures in the management of the renal transplant patient

Interventional radiologic procedures have become an important adjunct to the management of the renal transplant patient. Numerous problems can be dealt with, and in our experience these have included the diagnosis and treatment of ureteric obstruction, dilatation of renal artery stenoses, drainage of abscesses, hematomas and lymphoceles, management of complications of pancreatitis and treatment of bleeding due to fistulas and pseudoaneurysms.

Unsuspected adnexal masses in renal transplant recipients

Post-transplant sonograms in 74 female recipients less than 40 years old revealed unsuspected adnexal masses in 5 (7 per cent). Sonographically, these masses were difficult to distinguish from other post-transplant fluid collections, such as lymphoceles, urinomas or abscesses and, consequently, led to further diagnostic evaluations in 4 patients. Of the adnexal masses 4 were excised surgically: 2 were hemorrhagic ovarian cysts, 1 was a follicular ovarian cyst and 1 was a paraovarian cyst. A coexisting gynecologic mass should be included in the differential diagnosis of a perinephric mass in female transplant recipients. Pre-transplant sonograms to identify or exclude occult pelvic masses in women may be of benefit in simplifying the postoperative management and minimizing unnecessary diagnostic evaluation.

Urinary tract reconstruction in renal transplantation. Mayo Clinic experience and review of literature

Althrough rejection remains the most frequent cause of renal allograft failure, technical problems have contributed and continue to contribute to graft loss. Urologic complications may be caused by technical errors in the donor nephrectomy or in urinary tract reconstruction. During the past decade, however, with advances in medical and surgical management, the reported incidence of urologic complications in renal transplantation has declined steadily. This may be due to (1) more extensive donor and recipient preparation and evaluation for surgery, (2) improvement of surgical technique with increasing experience in donor and recipient, and (3) more refined diagnosis and treatment of urologic and infectious complications.

Urolithiasis after kidney transplantation--clinical and mineralogical aspects

Urolithiasis is a rare complication following kidney transplantation. Experience with this complication in 6 of 426 transplantations performed from 1968 to 1979 is reviewed. The clinical symptoms are different from the disease in non-transplant patients. Three major predisposing causes for the development of calculi after kidney transplantation were found in our patients--urodynamic disorders following complications of the ureterovesical anastomosis, persistent bacteriuria and renal tubular acidosis and, less importantly, the presence of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria as a result of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Crystal-optical and x-ray-diffraction studies contributed to the interpretation of the constituents and texture of the calculi and of the aetiological factors concerned.