title: Transplant nephrectomy over 20 years: factors involved in associated morbidity and mortality.
abstract: Of 1,048 renal transplants performed between 1971 and 1990, transplant nephrectomy was performed in 86 (8.2%). Mean patient age was 33 years (range 3.8 to 66.5). Postoperative complications occurred in 60% of the patients, including wound infection in 20% and major hemorrhage in 4 patients. The external iliac artery was ligated in 4 patients. The incidence and severity of the complications were greater in patients with acute rejection. Four patients died: 1 of ischemic bowel and metastatic carcinoma, 1 of pulmonary embolism, and 2 of sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The nephrectomy rate increased significantly (p < 0.005) when cyclosporine A was initially introduced. Added care is necessary when new immunosuppressants are used. The majority of our failed transplants were left in situ without compromising overall patient well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Transplantation, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Donovan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure