Urological complications after living-donor renal transplantation

Objective To determine the incidence and management of urological complicat ions after 1200 consecutive live-donor renal transplantations, all of which were carried out in one centre; the possible risk factors and the effect o n patient and graft survival were also assessed. Patients and methods Data were retrieved from an electronic database; the i ncidence of urological complications was determined, and correlated with re levant risk factors by univariate and multivariate analysis. The effect on patient and graft survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Results There were 100 complications in 96 patients (8%); urinary leaks occ urred in 37, ureteric strictures in 23 and lymphoceles causing ureteric obs truction in 17. Percutaneous needle biopsy was complicated by haematuria an d clot anuria in six patients, Late complications included 11 cases of ston es, four of bladder malignancy and two of haemorrhagic cystitis. There was evidence that the age of the recipients (<10 years), method of establishing urinary continuity (uretero-ureteric anastomosis) and a high dose of stero ids had an independent positive effect on the incidence of urological compl ications, However, their development did not influence graft or patient sur vival. Conclusion When there is meticulous attention to the technical details, ren al transplantation should incur few urological complications. Early interve ntion with percutaneous drainage reduces morbidity and the likelihood loss of graft function. Proper and prompt management should not affect the graft and/or the patient's survival.