LAPAROSCOPIC DEROOFING OF POSTTRANSPLANT LYMPHOCELES

Lymphocele is a most common surgical complication following renal tran splantation. The indication for treatment is given when the lymphocele becomes symptomatic. We succeeded in laparoscopically deroofing large lymphoceles in nine patients that were causing ureter compression in eight and ipsilateral leg edema in six cases. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the surgery-related hospitalization did not excee d 7 days. Severe adhesions and a thick lymphocele wall, which made pre paration difficult, resulted in the transection of the transplant uret er in one case. Techniques and prerequisites that would help to avoid this type of complication are discussed. According to CT scan or sonog raphy, there was no recurrence in any of the patients after a mean fol low-up of 11 months. This technique seems to be superior to other meth ods of treatment because not only is a cure obtained with a single int ervention, but there is also a low risk of infection and a short hospi talization.