Vascular complication in live related renal transplant: An experience of 1945 cases

Endovascular intervention with intravascular ultrasound guidance of very early dissection complication in transplant renal artery: a case report and literature review

Background

Transplant renal artery dissection (TRAD) is a rare and serious event that can cause allograft dysfunction and eventually graft loss. Most cases are managed by operative repair. We report a case of TRAD in the early postoperative period, which was successfully managed with intravascular ultrasound-assisted endovascular intervention.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old man underwent HLA-compatible living kidney transplantation. The allograft had one renal artery and vein, which were anastomosed to the internal iliac artery and external iliac vein, respectively. Doppler ultrasonography performed a day after the operation showed an increase in systolic blood velocity, with no observed urine output and raising a suspicion of arterial anastomotic stenosis. Angiography showed a donor renal artery dissection distal to the moderately stenosed anastomosis site with calcified atherosclerotic plaque confirmed by IVUS. The transplant renal artery lesion was intervened with a stent. After the intervention, Doppler US revealed that the blood flow of the renal artery was adequate without an increase in the systolic blood velocity. Urine output gradually returned after 3 weeks, and serum creatinine level was normalized after 2 months.

Conclusions

Transplant recipients commonly have atherosclerosis and hypertension, which are risk factors for arterial dissection. Our case showed that endovascular intervention can replace surgery to repair very early vascular complications such as dissection and help patients avoid high-risk operations. Early diagnosis and IVUS-assisted intervention with experienced interventionists can save allograft dysfunction.

High-Intensity Transient Signals Detected in a Renal Allograft

High-intensity transient signals (HITS) are signals recorded by the Doppler ultrasounds, reflecting either the passage of microemboli, both solid or gaseous in the vessels, or artifacts. Their identification during Duplex US highlights the need for further evaluation to rule out a potential embolic source. A 49-year-old female was referred to our hospital for renal transplantation. The Doppler ultrasound done on day 4 after the surgery revealed the presence of high-intensity transient signals (HITS) suggesting the passage of an emboli. Renal magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) confirmed the presence of peripheral parenchymal defects suggestive of a distal embolus. A better understanding and recognition of this radiological sign are essential in order to initiate appropriate patient management when needed. In this report, we review the importance of HITS and present a case in which HITS were detected in an unusual location: an allograft kidney artery.

Pharmarcomechanical thrombectomy combined with transluminal balloon angioplasty for treating transplant renal vein thrombosis

Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is a rare vascular complication that occurs after renal transplantation and usually results in irreversible kidney damage and graft loss. We report the case of a patient who underwent right iliac fossa allogeneic kidney transplantation and developed RVT combined with ipsilateral thrombosis from the popliteal to the femoral veins, with extension to the common iliac veins, 4 months after transplantation. Under unfractionated heparin anticoagulation, an Aegisy (Life Tech Scientific Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) vena cava filter was placed to prevent pulmonary embolism. Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy combined with balloon angioplasty was performed to aspirate the thrombus and successfully dilate the narrow venous lumen. The patient's renal function was restored postoperatively. Ultrasonography showed the allograft and ipsilateral lower extremity deep veins to be fluent and patent. To conclude, in patients with RVT after renal transplantation, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in conjunction with balloon angioplasty can be performed with desirable outcomes and no severe adverse effects. This method reduces the risk of bleeding from exposure to systemic intravenous thrombolysis and avoids surgery-associated trauma.

Pseudoaneurysm and Renal Artery Stenosis Post-renal Transplant: A Rare Presentation

We report the case of a 51-year-old gentleman who underwent living renal transplantation in Pakistan for end-stage renal disease one and a half years ago. He presented to our hospital with renal artery stenosis and an extra-renal pseudoaneurysm at the anastomotic site of the transplanted kidney. This can cause graft dysfunction and hypertension due to impairment of arterial perfusion in the transplanted kidney. Treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and covered stenting of the pseudoaneurysm and stenosis improved kidney function and hypertension.

Successful repair of transplant renal artery aneurysm (TRAA)

BACKGROUND

Transplant renal artery aneurysm (TRAA) is rare. TRAA that develops post transplantation consists of 0.10% of the vascular complications post renal transplant (Transplant Proc 41:1609-1614, 2009; Indian J Urol 29:42-47, 2013).

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of TRAA in an asymptomatic young female. CT angiogram with detailed 3D reconstruction showed a 2.6 × 2.2 cm wide neck saccular TRAA arising from the anterior segmental branch of the graft renal artery (Figs. 2 and 3). A multidisciplinary team of interventional radiologists, vascular and urologist was involved for preoperative surgical planning and unique repair methods. Endovascular and percutaneous approaches were deemed not feasible, and an open in vivo approach with a saphenous vein graft was taken.

CONCLUSION

TRAA, albeit rare, is a complication that can occur post renal transplant. In-vivo surgical repair of TRAA is feasible with a multidisciplinary approach and careful preoperative planning. Saphenous vein graft is still a versatile graft and can be used as a conduit successfully.

Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for vascular complications after renal transplantation: a single-center experience in 2,304 renal transplantations

Vascular complications after renal transplantation are one of the serious surgical complications, which can affect the transplantation outcome and even endanger life if not treated properly. We performed a retrospective analysis of the 2,304 renal transplantations procedures completed between the period of Jan., 2015 and Jan., 2022, which consisted of 1,658 male patients and 646 female patients. Among the above cases, there were 54 cases of vascular complications after renal transplantation, the incidence of vascular complications in our study was 2.34% (54/2,304), the most common vascular complication was transplanted renal artery stenosis (TRAS, n = 36), followed by external iliac artery dissection (n = 5), renal artery rupture (n = 4), renal vein thrombosis (n = 3), renal artery thrombosis (n = 2), renal artery dissection (n = 1), renal artery pseudoaneurysm (n = 1), and internal iliac artery pseudoaneurysm (n = 1), and renal artery kinking (n = 1). 40 patients were treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), including 3 balloon catheter dilatation and 37 endovascular stentings, and 14 underwent open surgery. Eventually, 9 patients had graft nephrectomy, resulting in an overall treatment rate of 81.5%. Most vascular complications can be treated satisfactorily with PTA. However, the overall treatment of renal artery rupture, thrombosis, renal artery kinking, and other complications is poor, and the rate of transplanted renal loss is high.

Urgent endovascular maneuvers to rescue a failing transplant kidney with a T-stent approach - A case report

Renal artery thrombosis (RAT) is a major cause of renal transplant loss and, for this reason, should be treated promptly. We present a case of a 48-year-old man with external iliac thrombosis associated with thrombosis of a transplant renal artery that led to worsening of renal function. Multiple mechanisms have been identified in the literature as risk factors for RAT. In our patient, a combination of anastomotic stenosis, hypercoagulability, and diabetic nephropathy had resulted in RAT, and an unconventional endovascular revascularization technique with a T-stent approach was needed to guarantee patency of the treated vessels. No 30-day perioperative complications occurred, and the postoperative follow-up examination showed patency of the treated vessels; thus, transplant loss was avoided.

External iliac vein to inferior vena cava bypass as an alternative management for external iliac vein stenosis and thrombosis in renal transplant recipients

An man in his early 40s suffered from end-stage renal disease and underwent living donor renal transplantation. Doppler ultrasonography before surgery showed a normal iliac artery and vein without any thrombus. There was clear evidence of urine production intraoperatively. On the 5th postoperative day, there was no improvement in his renal function, and painless right leg oedema was noted. The clinical workup revealed pitting oedema without loss of arterial pulsation, discolouration or focal tenderness in the right leg. Serial Doppler ultrasonography examination showed thrombus progression from the right popliteal vein to the right external iliac vein around renal vein anastomosis despite anticoagulant administration with a downtrend of diuresis and worsening renal function. This condition led the patient to undergo surgical exploration on the 10th day post-transplantation. We decided to perform a thrombectomy and bypass the right external iliac vein to the inferior vena cava.

New onset hypertension after transplantation

It has been reported that up to 90% of organ transplant recipients have suboptimal blood pressure control. Uncontrolled hypertension is a well-known culprit of cardiovascular and overall morbidity and mortality. In addition, rigorous control of hypertension after organ transplantation is a crucial factor in prolonging graft survival. Nevertheless, hypertension after organ transplantation encompasses a broader range of causes than those identified in non-organ transplant patients. Hence, specific management awareness of those factors is mandated. An in-depth understanding of hypertension after organ transplantation remains a debatable issue that necessitates further clarification. This article provides a comprehensive review of the prevalence, risk factors, etiology, complications, prevention, and management of hypertension after organ transplantation.

Rescue of an asymptomatic arterial occlusion after kidney transplant

Arterial injury leading to vascular occlusion is a rare complication of kidney transplantation that requires urgent intervention to salvage the kidney and prevent graft loss. Occasionally, the recipient iliac vessels may be injured, resulting in acute ischaemia of the lower extremity in addition to loss of blood flow to the kidney transplant. In the case presented here, a 58-year-old man with chronic kidney disease secondary to IgA nephropathy underwent pre-emptive deceased donor renal transplantation complicated by an external iliac artery (EIA) dissection proximal to the transplant anastomosis. However, as a result of retrograde blood flow from collateral vessels, perfusion of the kidney and right lower extremity was initially preserved and early diagnosis was made after post-transplant ultrasound. This report reviews the aetiology, clinical features and therapeutic options for arterial injuries post-transplant. This case also highlights the importance of post-transplant vigilance and the value of routine postoperative ultrasound imaging.

Endovascular Repair of a Post-Renal Transplant Internal Iliac Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Anastomotic site pseudoaneurysm following renal transplantation is a rare vascular complication. Its etiology include defective suture techniques and infections. The clinical presentation includes allograft dysfunction, local mass effect, exsanguination, and rupture. Open surgical repair is associated with significant morbidity and allograft dysfunction. Endovascular stent-graft can be a less invasive, alternative approach. We describe a case of large pseudoaneurysm arising from the internal iliac artery in a post-renal transplant patient. It was successfully treated with the stent-graft. The externally compressed right common iliac vein was also treated with a self-expanding non-graft stent. Thus, endovascular approach can be an effective alternative to open repair for post-renal transplant iliac artery pseudoaneurysm.

Simultaneous endovascular revascularization of external iliac artery dissection and transplant renal artery stenosis in a recent renal allograft recipient

Various vascular complications following renal transplantation include renal artery and vein thrombosis, renal artery stenosis, pseudoaneurysm, and iliac artery dissection. Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is the most common, while iliac artery dissection is the rarest of these various vascular complications. We describe an elderly male, who had both external iliac artery dissection and TRAS at 2 months following renal transplantation. He underwent successful percutaneous endovascular intervention of both complications. The post-intervention course was uneventful, with improvement in graft renal functions and left lower limb perfusion.

Retrospective Analysis of the Comparison Between Single Renal Artery Versus Multiple Renal Arteries in Living Donor Kidney Transplant: Does It Affect the Outcome?

OBJECTIVES

There is an increased risk of vascular complications in kidney transplant for allografts with multiple renal arteries versus a single renal artery. We compared the clinical outcomes of living donor kidney transplant recipients who received allografts with a single renal artery versus multiple renal arteries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis included all living-related donor kidney transplants that were performed by a single skilled urologist. All donor nephrectomies were performed by open method. The left kidney was preferred over the right for donor nephrectomy, except in cases of vascular problems or other contraindications, for which the right kidney was preferred. In most of the cases, kidneys were placed in the right iliac fossa for transplant by an extraperitoneal approach.

RESULTS

Of 97 living donor kidney transplants, 82 had a single renal artery (group 1) and 15 had multiple renal arteries (group 2). Patients ranged in age from 18 to 76 years old. Recipient ages (33.00 vs 29.46 years) and baseline serum creatinine values (8.61 vs 8.82 mg/dL) were comparable in groups 1 and 2 (P > .05). However, mean operative time and total ischemia time were significantly higher in the multiple renal artery group (221 and 53.45 minutes, respectively) compared with the single renal artery group (202 and 77.6 minutes, respectively). Graft survival at 1 year was 95.12% in the single renal artery group and 93.33% in the multiple renal artery group. Patient survival at 1 year was 96.34% in the single renal artery group and 93.33% in the multiple renal artery group.

CONCLUSIONS

The safety of kidney transplants of allografts with multiple renal arteries is equal to the safety of transplants of allografts with a single renal artery in terms of vascular complications and acute tubular necrosis, as well as patient and graft survival.

Imaging of Renal Transplant Complications throughout the Life of the Allograft: Comprehensive Multimodality Review

The kidney is the most commonly transplanted solid organ. Advances in surgical techniques, immunosuppression regimens, surveillance imaging, and histopathologic diagnosis of rejection have allowed prolonged graft survival times. However, the demand for kidneys continues to outgrow the available supply, and there are efforts to increase use of donor kidneys with moderate- or high-risk profiles. This highlights the importance of evaluating the renal transplant patient in the context of both donor and recipient risk factors. Radiologists play an integral role within the multidisciplinary team in care of the transplant patient at every stage of the transplant process. In the immediate postoperative period, duplex US is the modality of choice for evaluating the renal allograft. It is useful for establishing a baseline examination for comparison at future surveillance imaging. In the setting of allograft dysfunction, advanced imaging techniques including MRI or contrast-enhanced US may be useful for providing a more specific diagnosis and excluding nonrejection causes of renal dysfunction. When a pathologic diagnosis is deemed necessary to guide therapy, US-guided biopsy is a relatively low-risk, safe procedure. The range of complications of renal transplantation can be organized temporally in relation to the time since surgery and/or according to disease categories, including immunologic (rejection), surgical or iatrogenic, vascular, urinary, infectious, and neoplastic complications. The unique heterotopic location of the renal allograft in the iliac fossa predisposes it to a specific set of complications. As imaging features of infection or malignancy may be nonspecific, awareness of the patient's risk profile and time since transplantation can be used to assign the probability of a certain diagnosis and thus guide more specific diagnostic workup. It is critical to understand variations in vascular anatomy, surgical technique, and independent donor and recipient risk factors to make an accurate diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment.^©RSNA, 2019.

Allograft artery mycotic aneurysm after kidney transplantation: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Allograft artery mycotic aneurysm (MA) represents a rare but life-threatening complication of kidney transplantation. Graftectomy is widely considered the safest option. Due to the rarity of the disease and the substantial risk of fatal consequences, experience with conservative strategies is limited. To date, only a few reports on surgical repair have been published. We describe a case of true MA successfully managed by aneurysm resection and arterial re-anastomosis.

CASE SUMMARY

An 18-year-old gentleman, on post-operative day 70 after deceased donor kidney transplantation, presented with malaise, low urinary output, and worsening renal function. Screening organ preservation fluid cultures, collected at the time of surgery, were positive for Candida albicans. Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computer tomography showed a 4-cm-sized, saccular aneurysm of the iuxta-anastomotic segment of the allograft artery, suspicious for MA. The lesion was wide-necked and extended to the distal bifurcation of the main arterial branch, thus preventing endovascular stenting and embolization. After multidisciplinary discussion, the patient underwent surgical exploration, aneurysm excision, and re-anastomosis between the stump of the allograft artery and the internal iliac artery. The procedure was uneventful. Histology and microbiology evaluation of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of MA caused by Candida infection. Three years after the operation, the patient is doing very well with excellent allograft function and no signs of recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION

Surgical repair represents a feasible option in carefully selected patients with allograft artery MA. Anti-fungal prophylaxis is advised when preservation fluid cultures are positive.

Positional ischaemia of transplant kidney: A rare cause of early graft dysfunction

Kinking of the kidney transplant vessels late after the operation is a rare complication that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case of positional ischemia of the renal allograft resulting from dynamic and positional kinking of the graft vasculature, which was diagnosed by ultrasonography with the patient standing. The graft was repositioned into the sub-rectus pocket and the ischaemic injury resolved.

Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation by Using the Technique of Renal Artery Anastomosis First

Introduction

The surgical technique for kidney transplantation has been well established: the renal vein is anastomosed first, followed by renal artery anastomosis. Alternatively, the renal artery can be anastomosed first and then the renal vein for kidney transplantation. However, there is a lack of data on the outcomes of kidney transplantation by using this alternative approach. The objective of this paper was to review the outcomes of kidney transplant by using this approach.

Methods

A review of 205 consecutive kidney transplants was conducted. All kidney transplants were performed by doing renal artery anastomosis first and then the renal vein. Data were collected, including vascular/urological complications and kidney graft function.

Results

All transplants were performed successfully with no occurrence of renal artery/vein thrombosis and urine leakage. There were five cases of renal artery stenosis that were managed with endovascular intervention. There was no recurrence on follow-up. One ureteric stenosis required surgical reconstruction.

Conclusions

This alternative vascular anastomotic technique is efficient and safe. It avoids flip-flopping the kidney graft during the vessel anastomoses and may be more practical in minimally invasive surgery for a kidney transplant due to the space constraint.

European experience of robot-assisted kidney transplantation: minimum of 1-year follow-up

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate functional results, graft survival and late complications in patients who underwent robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) and who had a minimum of 1 year of follow-up data, and to analyse the correlations between surgical data and functional results at a minimum of 1-year postoperatively and between renal function in the immediate postoperative period and after 1 year.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A common prospectively collected RAKT database was created by the European Robotic Urological Section (ERUS) RAKT working group, which included eight different European centres. In each centre RAKTs were performed with kidneys from living donors. Data on demographic variables, surgical results, graft survival, functional outcomes (creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) on postoperative days 7 and 30 and at 1 year, and late complications were extracted from the common database.

RESULTS

A total of 147 RAKTs were performed by the ERUS RAKT working group. Of the 147 patients, 83 had at least 1-year follow-up (mean [range] 21 [13-27] months). Of these 83 patients, 30 were women. The patients' median (range) age was 43 (30-75) years, body mass index was 25.3 (20-40) kg/m² , pre-transplantation serum creatinine was 517 (198-1 414) μmol/L and estimated GFR (eGFR) was 10 (3-29) mL/min per 1.73 m² . Of the 83 cases, 46 were pre-emptive. The median (range) overall ischaemia time was 116 (53-377) min. The median (range) rewarming time was 60 (35-110) min. At 1-year follow-up, the median (range) serum creatinine was 131 (66-244) μmol/L, with a median (range) eGFR of 57.4 (28-97) mL/min per 1.73 m² . There was no statistically significant difference between functional data at postoperative day 30 and those at 1 year for creatinine (P = 0.78) or eGFR (P = 0.91). Regarding the correlation between the surgical data and the functional outcomes, the data showed that overall operating time and rewarming time did not affect the graft function at 1 year. Three cases of graft loss occurred as a result of massive arterial thrombosis within the first postoperative week. Late complications comprised one case of ureteric stenosis and one case of graft pyelonephritis. No late vascular complications or cases of incisional hernia were recorded.

CONCLUSION

Findings at 1-year follow-up indicate RAKT from a living donor to be a safe procedure in a properly selected group of recipients. RAKT was associated with a low complication rate and there was maintenance of excellent graft survival and function. This is the first and largest study to report functional results after RAKT from a living donor with a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

Vascular Complications After Renal Transplant: A Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVES

Despite surgical and medical advances, vascular complications are still among the major concerns after renal transplant, with a reported incidence of 3% to 15%. We evaluated the incidence and management of our transplant team 's vascular complications over 40 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From November 1975 to the present, we have performed a total of 2594 renal transplant procedures. Of these, 1997 grafts (76%) were obtained from living donors, and 597 grafts (24%) were obtained from deceased donors. All renal transplant procedures, including those performed in pediatric patients, used the extraperitoneal approach to the contralateral iliac fossa. Revascularization was performed for all grafts. A single end-to-end internal iliac artery anastomosis was performed in 1082 patients (41.8%), an end-to-side external iliac artery anastomosis was performed in 1289 patients (49.7%), and an end-to-side common iliac artery anastomosis was performed in 66 patients (2.5%). In 157 procedures (6%), there were at least 2 renal arteries, and both internal iliac arteries or external iliac arteries were used for anastomosis.

RESULTS

We observed 57 vascular complications (2.1%) in 54 renal transplant procedures. The most frequent complication was renal artery stenosis (n = 17; 0.6%). There were 8 instances of renal artery thrombosis (0.4%), 7 of renal artery kinking (0.3%), 5 of renal vein thrombosis (0.2%), 9 of renal vein kinking (0.5%), 3 of external iliac artery dissection (0.01%), 5 renal vein lacerations (0.2%), and 3 renal artery lacerations (0.01%). We performed urgent surgery for 41 vascular complications; 38 were managed successfully. Percutaneous interventional techniques were used successfully for 18 vascular complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The vascular complication rate in our patients is lower than that reported in the literature. Surgical complications can be minimized with careful transplant technique and close follow-up, as early diagnosis is crucial to early management and successful treatment of complications.

Surgical Complications After Kidney Transplantation

Since the first successful organ transplant conducted between twins in 1954, kidney transplant has evolved considerably over the past 50 years. Kidney transplant plays an important role in the treatment of end-stage kidney disease to improve the quality of life and prolong the life of patients. Despite significant advances, postoperative medical and surgical complications still represent important causes of morbidity and mortality. Many problems can be avoided through prophylactic correction of abnormalities detected during the preoperative evaluation; however, it is critical that technical mishaps at all stages of the transplant process (donor nephrectomy, benchwork preparation, and implant) be prevented and that careful postoperative monitoring be carried out, including thorough examination by attending physicians. However, despite these advances, surgical complications still present serious problems in kidney transplant recipients.

The role of thrombectomy and diffusion-weighted imaging with MRI in post-transplant renal vein thrombosis: a case report

Background

Surgical thrombectomy in the context of acute renal vein thrombosis (RVT) post-transplantation has had limited success, with considerable variation in the surgical techniques used. Unfortunately, it is usually followed by allograft nephrectomy within a few days if rapid allograft recovery does not ensue. We report a case of acute RVT in which nephrectomy was not performed despite a prolonged requirement for dialysis post-thrombectomy, but with recovery of renal function 2 weeks later. We also report the findings of serial MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DW-MRI) throughout the patient’s recovery, which provided novel insights into allograft microvascular perfusion changes post-thrombectomy.

Case presentation

A 65-year old patient underwent living-unrelated kidney transplantation complicated by acute RVT. Surgical thrombectomy and irrigation led to a delayed, but significant, recovery of renal function. Serial non-contrast DW-MRI scanning was used to non-invasively assess microvascular renal blood flow post-operatively. Unlike standard Doppler ultrasonography, DW-MRI documented reduced microvascular perfusion initially, with gradual but incomplete recovery that mirrored the partial improvement in renal function.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that surgical thrombectomy may be more effective than previously described if followed by careful patient observation. Moreover, diffusion-weighted MRI appears to provide important insights into the pathophysiology of delayed graft function and deserves further investigation.

5 Years Experience With Drug Eluting and Bare Metal Stents as Primary Intervention in Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis

Background

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a common vascular complication after kidney transplantation and is associated with refractory hypertension, volume overload, and graft injury or loss. This article describes 5-year outcomes of endovascular intervention for TRAS with bare metal and drug eluting stents (DES).

Methods

We investigated, as a prospective cohort study, patient and graft outcomes after the targeted use of DES for vessel diameter less than 5 mm and bare metal stents (BMS) for vessel diameter greater than 5 mm as the primary management for TRAS.

Results

From March 2008 to November 2014, 57 patients were stented for hemodynamically significant TRAS; 29 received DES, 26 received BMS, and 2 patients received both stent types. They were followed up for a mean of 35.1 ± 22.8 months; a subset of these patients who all received DES were followed up for 61.7 ± 17.5 months. Mean serum creatinine declined from 2.87 ± 1.5 mg/dL at the time of intervention to 1.98 ± 0.76 mg/dL (P < 0.001) at one month follow-up and was 1.96 ±0.92 mg/dL (P < 0.001) at 35.1 ± 22.8 months. Mean systolic blood pressure declined from 159.05 ± 19.68 mm Hg at time of intervention to 135.65 ± 15.10 mm Hg (P < 0.001) at most recent visit. Clinically driven restenosis requiring repeat revascularization occurred in 15.7% of patients.

Conclusions

Primary stenting with DES and BMS is both successful in the initial treatment of TRAS and also produced an immediate and long-term reduction in serum creatinine and systolic blood pressure.

Hypertension in the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipient

Hypertension after kidney transplant is a frequent occurrence in pediatric patients. It is a risk factor for graft loss and contributes to the significant burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. The etiology of posttransplant hypertension is multifactorial including donor factors, recipient factors, medications, and lifestyle factors similar to those prevalent in the general population. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has emerged as the most reliable method for measuring hypertension in pediatric transplant recipients, and many consider it to be essential in the care of these patients. Recent technological advances including measurement of carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and myocardial strain using specked echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have improved our ability to assess CVD burden. Since hypertension remains underrecognized and inadequately treated, an early diagnosis and an appropriate control should be the focus of therapy to help improve patient and graft survival.

Immediate Vascular Complications After Kidney Transplant: Experience from 2100 Recipients

OBJECTIVES

Vascular complications, especially immediate events during kidney transplant, are the major cause of graft loss, and prompt surgical intervention is important for salvage of the graft and recipient. In this study, our aim was to show our experiences with vascular interventions and their effects on graft outcomes in transplant patients with suspected immediate vascular events.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Over 24 years (from 1990 to 2014), 2100 renal transplant procedures (1562 living and 538 deceased donors) were performed by one fixed team. We reviewed the recipients to find cases with immediate vascular complications, including artery or vein kinking or torsion, renal artery thrombosis, and renal vein thrombosis. Diagnosis of a vascular event was suspected when urinary output suddenly stopped and was confirmed by color Doppler ultrasonography or immediate exploration. Characteristics of the patients and events, surgical interventions for saving grafts, and graft outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

Our study included 28 vascular accidents (1.3% of total renal transplants). Arterial kinking or torsion, venous kinking or torsion, renal artery thrombosis, and renal vein thrombosis occurred in 11 (0.52%), 2 (0.09%), 12 (0.57%), and 3 patients (0.14%). Nine of the 11 cases of arterial kinking occurred with use of internal iliac artery. Eleven of 13 grafts with vascular kinking or torsion were saved by immediate surgical intervention, but only 4 grafts in patients with renal artery thrombosis and only 1 graft in patients with renal vein thrombosis were saved by surgical intervention. Delayed graft function occurred in all cases of saved renal artery and renal vein thrombosis but only in 5 cases (4 arterial and 1 venous) of vascular kinking or torsion.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of immediate vascular complications was 1.3% in our study. Sudden cessation of urine after renal transplant is a warning sign, and immediate diagnosis of vascular events will help salvage the graft with proper intervention.

Evaluation of the Vascular Surgical Complications of Renal Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice of end-stage renal failure. However, vascular surgical complications can compromise the functional prognosis of the transplant or even be life threatening in the short term. Since few data are available in the literature, the objective of this study was to evaluate the vascular surgical complications of renal transplantation.

METHODS

In a retrospective and monocentric study, the records of all the patients receiving a kidney transplant between January 2008 and December 2014 were reviewed. The demographic data and the follow-up of the patients who presented a vascular surgical complication in relation to their transplant were collected. Minor, intermediate, or major vascular complications were defined according to the need for monitoring, reoperation, or the risk of transplant loss or a life-threatening situation. Predictive factors of vascular complications were also looked for.

RESULTS

Mean age was 50.9 ± 15.0 years, and 312 kidney transplants were carried out (205 men). Fifty vascular surgical complications (16.0%) were found. Among them, 23 vascular complications (7.4%) were major, including 6 (1.9%) which required transplantectomy, after 4 arterial thromboses (1.3%), 1 early venous thrombosis (0.3%), and 1 injury of the inferior vena cava (0.3%). Twelve complications (3.8%) were minor. Surgical revision was necessary in 76% of the vascular complications (n = 38). The average follow-up of the transplanted population was 37.4 ± 24.0 month, 268 kidney transplants (85.8%) were functional and 21 patients (6.7%) returned to dialysis. Surgical complications were more frequent when the recipient had hypertension (P = 0.02, OR = 2.5; 95% CI [1.1-6.1]), in case of right kidney transplant (P = 0.0004, OR = 3.1; 95% CI [1.6-5.8]) and when the kidney hilum consisted of at least arteries (P = 0.02, OR = 10.0; 95% CI [1.3-34]). Male gender (P = 0.03, OR = 0.5; 95% CI [0.3-0.9]) as well as the choice of the common iliac arterial (P = 0.001, OR = 0.4; 95% IC [0.2-0.7]) and venous (P = 0.002, OR = 0.3; 95% IC [0.2-0.8]) axes to carry out the vascular anastomoses appeared as protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The vascular surgical complications of kidney transplantation, especially thromboses, can be serious and lead to transplant loss. The expertise of vascular surgeons finds its place here and makes it possible to maintain low rates of vascular complications and loss of transplants.

Iatrogenic-related transplant injuries: the role of the interventional radiologist

As advances in surgical techniques and postoperative care continue to improve outcomes, the use of solid organ transplants as a treatment for end-stage organ disease is increasing. With the growing population of transplant patients, there is an increasing need for radiologic diagnosis and minimally invasive procedures for the management of posttransplant complications. Typical complications may be vascular or nonvascular. Vascular complications include arterial stenosis, graft thrombosis, and development of fistulae. Common nonvascular complications consist of leaks, abscess formation, and stricture development. The use of interventional radiology in the management of these problems has led to better graft survival and lower patient morbidity and mortality. An understanding of surgical techniques, postoperative anatomy, radiologic findings, and management options for complications is critical for proficient management of complex transplant cases. This article reviews these factors for kidney, liver, pancreas, islet cell, lung, and small bowel transplants.

Unusual Causes of Abrupt Anuria Early Post-Renal Transplantation

Renal transplantation using living donors has superior outcomes in comparison to deceased donor transplantation and results in immediate allograft function in a majority of cases. Rarely may allograft be nonfunctional from the beginning, or anuria is noted after a period of good urine output. Surgical causes for anuria should be high on the differential diagnosis in immediate-to-early posttransplant period, especially in an unsensitized recipient. We present two unusual causes of early onset anuria after living related renal transplantation where early surgical reexploration salvaged renal allografts with excellent long term outcomes.

Transplant renal artery stenosis: clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a well-recognized vascular complication after kidney transplant. It occurs most frequently in the first 6 months after kidney transplant, and is one of the major causes of graft loss and premature death in transplant recipients. Renal hypoperfusion occurring in TRAS results in activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system; patients usually present with worsening or refractory hypertension, fluid retention and often allograft dysfunction. Flash pulmonary edema can develop in patients with critical bilateral renal artery stenosis or renal artery stenosis in a solitary kidney, and this unique clinical entity has been named Pickering Syndrome. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of TRAS can prevent allograft damage and systemic sequelae. Duplex sonography is the most commonly used screening tool, whereas angiography provides the definitive diagnosis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement can be performed during angiography if a lesion is identified, and it is generally the first-line therapy for TRAS. However, there is no randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty compared with medical therapy alone or surgical intervention.