Urologic complications after renal transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Renal transplantation is associated with several nonimmunological problems. Although urologic complications may be serious and carry a high risk of graft loss, they are amenable to successful treatment if diagnosed early and treated properly. Their incidence in the literature varies from 2.5% to 15%.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the incidence, pattern, management options, and outcomes of urologic complications in 560 consecutive renal transplantations performed at a single center between November 1993 and October 2004.


METHODS
Twenty-one (16 male and 5 female) recipients developed posttransplantation urinary complications at 2 days to 76 months after renal transplantation. Their kidney grafts were obtained from 13 living and eight deceased donors. Complications included ureteric stricture in 11 and urine leak in 10 recipients. Ultrasonography and isotope renal scanning were the main diagnostic tools. Complications were treated either conservatively, by percutaneous dilatation and stenting, or by surgical reconstruction.


RESULTS
The incidence of urologic complications following renal transplantation in the present series was 3.7%. All cases were successfully treated with no graft loss secondary to these complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Posttransplantation urologic complications are associated with a good prognosis if diagnosed early and properly treated. Percutaneous transluminal dilatation of ureteric stenosis in renal transplant patients has good initial success, low morbidity, few recurrences, and long-term effectiveness.
Samhan
M
M
Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplantation Centre, Ibn Sina Hospital, Hawally, Kuwait.
Al-Mousawi
M
M
Hayati
H
H
Abdulhalim
M
M
Nampoory
M R N
MR
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000145:classification; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*