THE EFFECT OF SURGICAL EXPERIENCE TO EARLY SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS IN RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

The effect of early surgical complications is an important factor on the success of long-term results after renal transplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of surgical experience to early surgical complications in renal recipients. Between May 13, 2000 and May 22, 2002, 117 patients underwent renal transplantation at our institution, including 77 male (66%) and 40 female (34%) with a mean age 34 years. Living related and cadaveric renal transplantation were performed in 58 and 59 cases respectively. Iliac vessels were used for vascular anastomosis and extra peritoneal ureteroneocystostomy was performed by Lich-Gregoir tech-1 nique for urinary reconstruction in practically all the cases. The patients were followed by doppler ultrasound, renal scan, symptoms and laboratory findings. During observation 12 complications (10%) developed, including urinary leakage (9 cases), renal artery thrombosis (2 cases) and bleeding (1 case). During the early postoperative period no graft and patient was lost due to surgical complications. We used χ²or Fischer exact test to determine significant risk factors and outcomes. There was a significant difference between the initial period (30 cases) and the further period (87 cases) (p=0.047). The complication rate was not found significantly different when the donor origin was considered (p=0.15).

We conclude that instutional surgical experience is the most important factor in occurring early surgical complications after renal transplantation.