A twenty year survey of arterial complications of renal transplantation

Abstract

The significant arterial complications of renal transplantation are hemorrhage, infarction, stenosis and aneurysm formation. Hemorrhage is often associated with sepsis and may be lifethreatening. Large infarcts may be secondary to multiple small vessels or intraoperative hypotension with inadequate perfusion of the organ. Nephrectomy is invariably indicated in these situations. Renal artery stenosis with resultant hypertension may occur secondary to stenosis at the anastomosis, atherosclerotic plaque formation or intimal fibrosis of the renal artery. Operative reconstruction if the anastomotic site may relieve hypertension is selected patients but places the transplanted kidney greatly at risk. Aneurysm formation is often mycotic and is associated with multiple operations and wound sepsis. The iliac artery may be ligated without loss of limb, while the resultant claudication may be relieved by a surgical bypass procedure.