1 May 2013Article
Kidney transplantation and large anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. Transplant management considerations
Michele Santangelo 1Umberto Bracale 2Nicola Carlomagno 3Davide Rosa 1Sergio Spiezia 1Alessandro Scotti 1Vincenzo Tammaro 1Massimo Porcellini 4Andrea Renda 1
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of Surgery, Anesthesia and Emergency Science, School of Medicine, O.U. of General Surgery and Organ Transplantations, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy.
2 O.U. of Vascular Surgery, University of Palermo, Italy.
3 Department of Surgery, Anesthesia and Emergency Science, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy. O.U. of General and Abdominal Surgery
4 Department of Surgery, Anesthesia and Emergency Science, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy. O.U. of Vascular Surgery
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2013, 84(3), 275-279;
Published: 1 May 2013
Copyright © 2013 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
AIM: Pseudoaneurysm (PA) at the anastomosis site in kidney transplantation is a rare but serious complication that usually requires graft nephrectomy. Literature reports are sporadic and usually focused on limb rather than graft salvage. In this paper we focus on this last point. MATERIAL OF STUDY: 6 patients presenting large PA at the anastomosis between iliac and graft artery were identified in our series. The diagnosis was performed with US, AngioTC scan and angiography. Blood cultures and labeled leukocyte scintigraphy were also performed. All patients underwent open surgery. RESULTS: Transplant nephrectomy was needed in all cases except one, in which it was possible to perform a graft replanting on hypogastric artery. Our perioperative mortality and morbidity rate was recorded. DISCUSSION: Etiology of PA is multifactorial, however an association with chronic rejection or infection must be also considered. Our mortality and morbidity rates are in accordance to literature. In our experience we observed only large PA so to require an open surgery but this approach has allowed the rescue of graft functioning just in a single case. Endovascular procedures are linked to higher rate of graft salvage than surgery but they can be used just in selected cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience and literature review led us to believe that the rate of graft salvage in patients with large PA at anastomosis site could be improved only by a planned therapeutic program that includes surgical and endovascular approach, taking the advantages of both technique and overcoming their limits.
Keywords
- Anastomotic pseudo-aneurysm
- Surgical treatment
- Transplantation nephrectomy
- Kidney transplantation