title: Symptomatic lymphoceles after kidney transplantation - multivariate analysis of risk factors and outcome after laparoscopic fenestration.
abstract: Lymphocele formation is a common complication after kidney transplantation, and laparoscopic surgery has become a widely accepted treatment option. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the risk factors of lymphocele development and to assess the treatment outcome after laparoscopic fenestration. We analyzed 426 renal allograft recipients operated between 2002 and 2006 receiving triple immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors. The incidence of lymphocele was 9.9%, while 24 (5.6%) patients with symptomatic lymphoceles required laparoscopic surgery. Serum creatinine at diagnosis was significantly higher in patients with lymphoceles treated surgically (3.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001). After successful laparoscopic intervention, creatinine concentrations recovered until discharge and were comparable to other patients (1.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.5 mg/dL; p = NS). While we observed a significant association of lymphocele formation with diabetes, tacrolimus therapy, and acute rejection in univariate testing, only diabetes remained a significant factor after multivariate analysis. Laparoscopic fenestration proved to be a safe and efficient method without any associated mortality and a low recurrence rate of 8.3% (n = 2). We conclude that diabetes is an independent risk factor for lymphocele development, and laparoscopic fenestration should be the treatment of choice for larger and symptomatic lymphoceles, as it is safe and offers a low recurrence rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Clinical Centre, Berlin, Germany. frank.ulrich@charite.de
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niedzwiecki
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fikatas
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebrig
authors.forename: Sven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascher
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reinke
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tullius
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pratschke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012709:Serum Albumin; D003404:Creatinine; D016559:Tacrolimus