Prolonged Delayed Graft Function Due to an Extensive Renal Graft Subcapsular Hematoma: Is Conservative Management Justified?

Oliguria due to extensive subcapsular hematoma in renal graft: does surgical intervention ensure better outcomes?

A 58-year-old male patient, with end-stage renal disease secondary to hypertension, underwent living-related kidney transplant at our transplant unit. The transplant surgery went uneventful and brisk urine output was recorded. Four hours after the transplant, the output suddenly dropped despite normal central venous pressure. Doppler scan revealed an extensive peri-allograft hematoma and high renal arterial resistive indices (RI). The patient was taken to the operating room where capsulotomy of the subcapsular hematoma was done. Postoperatively, the urine output restored to normal and the patient was sent home on the 5th post-operative day with adequately functioning renal graft. Surgical capsulotomy seems to be a valid approach in the management of such cases.