Lymphocele after renal transplantation: a case report

A case of lymphocele after an allograft renal transplant at the National Taiwan University Hospital is reported. A 32-year-old female patient received a kidney transplant from a cadaver donor on 23 November 1990 after a 10-year course of hemodialysis. Acute tubular necrosis of 31 days duration developed on the 6th postoperative day after a severe episode of acute rejection. On the 44th POD, sonographic examination showed an echo-free space between the graft and the urinary bladder. Emergent marsupialization through an intraperitoneal window of the lymphocele was performed on the 45th POD due to a sudden decrease in urine output. After releasing the compression of the lymphocele, the urine output returned to over 2,500 mL on the following day. The patient was discharged on the 63rd POD with normal renal function. Repeated sonographic examination showed no reaccumulation of lymphocele. The literature concerning lymphocele is reviewed.