Evaluation of endourological interventions used to treat urological complications in 394 kidney recipients

Consensus on definition and severity grading of lymphatic complications after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND

The incidence of lymphatic complications after kidney transplantation varies considerably in the literature. This is partly because a universally accepted definition has not been established. This study aimed to propose an acceptable definition and severity grading system for lymphatic complications based on their management strategy.

METHODS

Relevant literature published in MEDLINE and Web of Science was searched systematically. A consensus for definition and a severity grading was then sought between 20 high-volume transplant centres.

RESULTS

Lymphorrhoea/lymphocele was defined in 32 of 87 included studies. Sixty-three articles explained how lymphatic complications were managed, but none graded their severity. The proposed definition of lymphorrhoea was leakage of more than 50 ml fluid (not urine, blood or pus) per day from the drain, or the drain site after removal of the drain, for more than 1 week after kidney transplantation. The proposed definition of lymphocele was a fluid collection of any size near to the transplanted kidney, after urinoma, haematoma and abscess have been excluded. Grade A lymphatic complications have a minor and/or non-invasive impact on the clinical management of the patient; grade B complications require non-surgical intervention; and grade C complications require invasive surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

A clear definition and severity grading for lymphatic complications after kidney transplantation was agreed. The proposed definitions should allow better comparisons between studies.

[Management of urological complications after renal transplantation]

Urological complications after kidney transplantation can cause a major reduction in renal function. Surgical complications like urinary leakage and ureteral obstruction need to be solved by a specialist in the field of endourological procedures and open surgical interventions. The article summarizes this and other common urological problems after kidney transplantation.

Management of primary symptomatic lymphocele after kidney transplantation: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Management of lymphoceles after kidney transplantation is highly variable. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the different approaches of lymphocele management among kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS

MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for case studies published between 1954 and 2010. Inclusion criteria were symptomatic lymphoceles developing in recipients of deceased or living donor kidneys with specified intervention and outcome. Primary outcome was the rate of recurrence. Secondary outcomes were the rate of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery, hospital stay, and complication rates.

RESULTS

Fifty-two retrospective case series with 1113 cases of primary lymphocele were selected for review. No randomized controlled trials or prospective cohort studies were located. Primary treatment modalities included were as follows: aspiration (n=218), sclerotherapy (n=155), drainage (n=219), laparoscopic surgery (n=333), and open surgery (n=188). Of the 218 cases of lymphocele managed with aspiration alone, 141 recurred with a recurrence rate of 59% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52-67). Among those who received laparoscopic and open surgery, the recurrence rates were 8% (95% CI: 6-12) and 16% (95% CI: 10-24), respectively. The conversion rate from laparoscopic to open surgery was 12% (95% CI: 8-16).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic fenestration of a symptomatic lymphocele is associated with the lowest risk of lymphocele recurrence. However, the evidence base to support a recommendation for laparoscopic surgery as first line treatment is weak and highlights the need for a multicenter prospective cohort study to examine the benefits of incorporating initial simple aspiration into the management of lymphocele after kidney transplantation.

Therapeutic option for infected urinary tract fistulas in renal transplantation

BACKGROUND

Approximately 20% of urinary tract fistulas after renal allografting are complicated by urinary tract infection, which presents a therapeutic challenge.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate an option for treatment of urinary tract fistulas associated with urinary tract infection and unsuitable for minimally invasive or primary surgical urinary tract repair.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 650 recipients who underwent transplantation over 17 years. Urinary leakage was initially treated with indwelling bladder catheterization. Patients with fistulas refractory to treatment underwent surgical intervention to repair the urinary tract. In patients who were not candidates for primary repair of the urinary tract, temporary urinary diversion was performed, rather than classic percutaneous or open nephrostomy, using a ureteral stent (ie, a 6F or 8F Foley catheter with the balloon placed inside the renal pelvis).

RESULTS

Overall, urinary leakage occurred in 36 patients (5.5%). Conservative management was successful in 14 vesical fistulas (42.4%) and no ureteral fistulas (0%). Three patients died of sepsis during conservative treatment, before the new surgical approach. Five of 36 urinary leaks (13.9%) were managed using ureteral intubation with an 8F Foley catheter, with a success rate of 80%.

CONCLUSION

Ureteral catheterization with an 8F Foley catheter is a feasible therapeutic option to treat complicated urinary tract fistulas unsuitable for primary surgical repair of the urinary tract.

Complicaciones quirúrgicas post-trasplante renal. Estudio en 185 casos

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the incidence of surgical complications its diagnosis and treatment after renal transplantation.

METHODS

A retrospective study measuring the incidence of surgical complications and reviewing its diagnosis and treatment in 185 renal single transplants.

RESULTS

185 transplants, 27% had surgical complications. Only one patient lost the graft due to surgical complications and there was no associated mortality. Cold ischemia time 20 hours. Double J stenting in 19%, under surgeon's opinion. Vascular complications 3.2% (all of them renal artery stenosis). Urological complications 6.4%. Perinephric haematoma 7%. Lymphocele 4.9%. Peritoneum related complications 4%. Other 4%. The diagnosis was clinical and radiological in most of cases. 14% needed any kind of intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are similar to those reported in other recent series. Only one surgical team involved and the same technique for vascular and vesico-ureteric anastomosis probably makes lower our complications rate. Early postoperative abdominal ultrasonography contributes to the diagnosis of surgical complications. The initial treatment approach is the endoscopic-conservative one, with exceptions.

Dialysis, kidney transplantation, or pancreas transplantation for patients with diabetes mellitus and renal failure: a decision analysis of treatment options

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease may remain on dialysis or undergo cadaveric kidney transplantation, living kidney transplantation, sequential pancreas after living kidney transplantation, or simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. It is unclear which of these options is most effective. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal treatment strategy for type 1 diabetic patients with renal failure using a decision analytic Markov model. Input data were obtained from the published medical literature, the United Network for Organ Sharing registry, and patient interviews. The outcome measures were life expectancy (in life-years [LY]) and quality-adjusted life expectancy (in quality-adjusted life-years [QALY]). Living kidney transplantation was associated with 18.30 LY and 10.29 QALY; pancreas after kidney transplantation, 17.21 LY and 10.00 QALY; simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, 15.74 LY and 9.09 QALY; cadaveric kidney transplantation, 11.44 LY and 6.53 QALY; dialysis, 7.82 LY and 4.52 QALY. The results were sensitive to the value of several key variables. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation had the greatest life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy when living kidney transplantation was excluded from the analysis. These data indicate that living kidney transplantation is associated with the greatest life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy for type 1 diabetic patients with renal failure. Treatment strategies involving pancreas transplantation should be considered for patients with frequent metabolic complications of diabetes and for those patients who favor kidney-pancreas transplantation over kidney transplantation alone. For patients without a living donor, simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is associated with the greatest life expectancy.