UROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS IN 210 CONSECUTIVE SIMULTANEOUS PANCREAS-KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS WITH BLADDER DRAINAGE

Objective The urological complications of 210 patients who underwent s imultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation over a 7-year period were reviewed. Summary Background Data Worldwide, bladder drainage ha s become the accepted method of exocrine drainage after pancreas trans plantation. With the increasing use of bladder drainage, the surgical post-transplant complications have shifted from intra-abdominal compli cations to urological complications. Methods Two hundred ten diabetic patients received SPK transplants with bladder drainage. A retrospecti ve review was conducted to analyze the incidence, type, and management of urological complications. Results The most frequent urological com plications were hematuria, leak from the duodenal segment, recurrent u rinary tract infections, urethritis, and ureteral stricture and disrup tion. Complications related to the renal transplant included ureteral stricture and leaks, as well as lymphoceles. Conclusions Despite the h igh incidence of urological complications, 5-year actuarial patient an d graft survival are excellent. Only one graft and one patient were lo st secondary to urological complications.