title: Ultrasonographic findings in dual kidney transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organ shortage has led to using grafts from expanded criteria donors (ECD). Double kidney transplantation is an accepted strategy to increase the donor pool, using organs from an ECD which are not acceptable for single kidney transplantation (SKT). Aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the role of colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in the diagnosis of major surgical complications in DKT, performed with unilateral or bilateral placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2000 to 2011 we performed 54 DKT. Unilateral placement of both kidneys was done in 26 patients and bilateral DKT in 28, through two separate Gibson incisions (18) or one midline incision (10). Each patient underwent at least 3 CDUS before hospital discharge. The main surgical complications, discovered initially thanks to ultrasound (US), were hydronephrosis from ureteral obstruction, lymphocele and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 42.7 months. Good postoperative renalfunction was demonstrated in 25 patients (46.3%), while delayed graft function occurred in 29 (53.7%). US showed ureteral obstruction requiring surgery in 5 unilateral DKT while no patient subjected to bilateral DKT developed severe hydronephrosis. Lymphoocele, surgically drained, was demonstrated in 6 bilateral DKT with a midline incision, 2 bilateral DKT with two separate incisions and 3 unilateral DKT. CDUS also enabled diagnosis of 2 cases of DVT in ipsilateral DKTs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CDUS provides useful information in patients with DKT, allowing the detection of clinically unsuspected unilateral diseases. US study of our patients demonstrated that unilateral DKTs are more susceptible to the development of DVT and ureteral stricture, while the incidence of voluminous lymphocele is more frequent in bilateral DKT through a single midline incision. In this scenario, all patients undergoing DKT should be carefully monitored by US after surgery.
authors: Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. stefanovittorio@gmail.com
authors: Stefano Vittorio
authors: SV
authors: Impedovo
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Martino
authors: Silvano
authors: S
authors: Palazzo
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Ditonno
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Tedeschi
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Palumbo
authors: Ardit
authors: A
authors: Tafa
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Matera
authors: Francesco Paolo
authors: FP
authors: Selvaggi
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Battaglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color