[Results of surgical revisions for ureteral complications after renal transplantation]

Objective: To analyze the results of surgical revision for ureteral complication (ureteric stenosis or urinary leakage) after renal transplantation over a period of 10 years.

Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study on 1313 consecutive kidney transplantations carried out in a University Hospital Center between 2005 and 2014. The data of the patients who developed a ureteral stenosis or a urinary leakage secondary to a renal transplantation were analyzed. Combined organ transplantations (kidney-liver and kidney-pancreas), as well as pediatric transplantations were excluded.

Results: Seventy-six patients (5.8%) had ureteric stenosis or urinary leakage after renal transplantation. Forty-six patients (3.5%) underwent surgical revision: 27 for ureteral stenosis, 19 for urinary leakage. Early success was achieved in 26 patients (56.5%), including 14 ureteric stenosis (51.9%) and 12 urinary leakage (63.2%) (P=0.45). After a complementary endoscopic or surgical treatment, the final success rate was increased to 73.1% (34 patients): 20 ureteric stenosis (74.1%) and 14 urinary leakage (73.7%) (P=0.98). There were 2 graft losses (4.3%) and one death (2.2%). The mean glomerular filtration rate estimated by the MDRD was 44.58mL/min/1.73m² (±14.7) before surgery and 45.37mL/min/1.73m² (±16.5) 6 months after surgery (P=0.92).

Conclusion: Although frequently challenging, surgical revisions for ureteral complications after renal transplantation give good results, with a low rate of graft loss and mortality.

Level of evidence: 4.