Post-transplantation nephroptosis causing recurrent episodes of acute renal failure and hypertension secondary to intermittent vascular torsion of intraperitoneal renal allograft

Late renal allograft torsion in a pediatric transplant recipient

BACKGROUND

Kidney allograft torsion is a rare complication of kidney transplant that can lead to allograft loss from prolonged ischemia if not quickly corrected with detorsion and nephropexy. We report a case of late intraperitoneal renal allograft torsion in a pediatric transplant recipient.

CASE REPORT

The patient is a 7-year-old male with a history of end-stage renal disease secondary to renal dysplasia in the setting of bilateral high-grade vesicoureteral reflux. He underwent bilateral native nephrectomies for recurrent pyelonephritis and right ureteral kink with urinary tract obstruction. Torsion occurred 3 years after transplant in the setting of one day of emesis, loose stool, severe abdominal pain, and decreased urine output. Diagnosis of transplant torsion was suspected on non-contrast CT scan done after transplant Doppler ultrasound showed no flow to the allograft. The CT scan showed that the kidney had been medialized and renal hilum was flipped from the expected orientation. The patient required a transplant nephrectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Renal transplant torsion is a rare event but should be suspected in any renal transplant recipient with acute onset of abdominal pain, acute kidney injury, and decreased urine output, regardless of length of time from transplantation. Patients suspected to have renal torsion should be evaluated emergently with a transplant ultrasound Doppler.

Renal transplant injury at caesarean delivery: A cautionary tale and a plan for the future

Pregnancy following renal transplantation is increasingly common. Overall pregnancy outcomes are favourable; however, specific transplant-related risks do exist. In particular, the risk of caesarean delivery is much higher in renal transplant recipients when compared to the general obstetric population. This is owing to the necessity for preterm delivery in cases of severe and early-onset pre-eclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction. We describe two recent cases of renal transplant injury at caesarean delivery at our institution, a tertiary/quaternary obstetric service, which highlight the potential operative risks associated with abdominal surgery. We propose a standardised approach in the care of transplant recipients undergoing caesarean delivery which is aimed at minimising harm and increasing patient safety.

Symptomatic Nephroptosis of the Transplant: First Report of Diagnostic Workup and Successful Minimal-Invasive Treatment

The symptomatic nephroptosis of a kidney transplant is a rare and potentially fatal complication and requires fast diagnosis and treatment. In this report, we describe a case in which intermittent symptomatic hydronephrosis and an increase of the creatinine levels were the leading symptoms of nephroptosis. Moreover, we describe the diagnostic procedures and the successful minimal-invasive treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a symptomatic transplant nephroptosis with consecutive intermittent hydronephrosis and without complications of perfusion solved with a minimal-invasive approach.