title: Vascular complications after 725 kidney transplantations during 3 decades.
abstract: Among 725 renal transplantations, the most common vascular complication was arterial stenosis, which was observed in 23 patients (3.17%). The majority of 20 (6.49%) arterial stenoses appeared in our initial experiences when we routinely used end-to-end renal graft to internal iliac artery anastomoses. A significant reduction in this incidence (0.72%) was achieved by introducing end-to-side anastomoses of the renal graft artery to the external or common iliac arteries. Intractable hypertension or impaired renal function in 14 patients (60.87%) with arterial stenosis demanded treatment. Patch angioplasty was more successful than other methods. The limited possibilities of conservative treatment of arterial hypertension at that time were the main reason for this frequent surgical repair. Among other vascular complications, the most serious were 12 episodes of arterial bleeding in 10 patients. Five kidneys were lost because of ruptured arterial anastomoses. In 6 patients, the common or external iliac artery was ligated as to achieve hemostasis with acute arterial insufficiency of the lower extremity in 4 patients. One patient required leg amputation, whereas 2 underwent extra-anatomic bypass procedures and 1 died because of hepatic failure. The majority of vascular complications occurred in the initial period of our transplantation practice. However, in spite of progress in diagnostic and treatment options, vascular complications may cause considerable clinical problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Center, Medical University School, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orlic
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vukas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drescik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivancic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blecic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budiselic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Velcic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maricic
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oguic
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mozetic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valencic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotosek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vukas
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019520:Living Donors; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology