Surgical Complications After Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplants have become common surgical procedures, with thousands performed yearly around the world. The surgical techniques for the transplant are well established and the procedure is associated with high success rates. The complication rate associated with the procedure is low, especially when compared to other abdominal organ transplants such as liver and pancreas transplants. Nonetheless, the detection, accurate diagnosis, and timely management of surgical complications occurring after kidney transplant are important tasks of the team managing these patients. A delay in the diagnosis or management of these complications can result in significant morbidity to the recipient, with risk of graft loss and mortality. Most surgical complications involve either the wound or one of the three anastomoses (renal artery, renal vein, or ureter). Examples include wound infection, renal artery or vein thrombosis, and urine leak. Most of these complications will require surgical or radiologic intervention for appropriate management.