Long-term outcome of cadaveric renal transplant after treatment of symptomatic lymphocele.

PURPOSE: Between January 1993 and December 2002 a total of 1,289 renal transplants were performed at our institution. Symptomatic post-transplant lymphocele presenting as increased creatinine and hydronephrosis of the allograft was recorded at 0.02%. Records of the 27 patients in whom symptomatic lymphocele developed and of those who underwent contralateral kidney transplant (control group) were compared to determine the long-term effects of lymphocele formation on allograft function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 37 procedures for the treatment of lymphocele were performed in 24 patients. Open marsupialization (12) and laparoscopic marsupialization (3) procedures were performed as primary treatments. Two patients underwent repeat open marsupialization. Aspiration and percutaneous catheter drainage were performed as a primary procedure in 7 and 1 cases, respectively. Percutaneous nephrostomy was required in 4 cases before definitive treatment. RESULTS: The mean time to development of a lymphocele was 121 days (range 35 to 631). Symptomatic lymphocele did not require treatment in 3 patients. Of 19 patients undergoing primary marsupialization, recurrence in 2 necessitated repeat surgery. However, aspiration and percutaneous drainage proved to be definitive in only 2 cases. In total 8 patients required more than 1 procedure. At a mean followup of 63 months (SD 30.3) 21 allografts continued to function with a mean serum creatinine of 152 mumol/l (SD 67.9). In the control group 3 patients experienced graft failure and mean serum creatinine was 154 mumol/l (SD 51.9). Five patients died in the lymphocele group, 2 with functioning grafts compared to 4 deaths in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical marsupialization is the preferred primary treatment for symptomatic lymphocele and is associated with excellent long-term allograft outcome.