Wound complications after kidney transplantation in nondiabetic patients

Impaired wound healing represents a common operative complication after kidney transplantation. This problem seems to be affected by factors related to surgical technique, drugs, and patient/graft peculiarities.

From January 2000 to December 2007, 350 consecutive kidney transplantations were performed in a population of nondiabetic patients. We evaluated the influence of various factors on impaired wound healing.

Among 350 kidney transplantation patients, we observed 54 cases (15.43%) of impaired healing of the surgical incision: 36 (10.29%) with first level and 18 (5.14%) with second level wound complications. Factors related to complications were overweight and delayed graft function. Cyclosporine and tacrolimus had similar effects. However, all patients developing second level complications showed more risk factors. In our experience, postoperative lymphocele did not occur as an unique factor but became a significant risk factor when associated with another one. Patients who did not have reconstruction of the muscle layers showed a greater incidence of incisional complications.

Impaired healing of the surgical incision more or less seriously influenced outcomes of transplanted patients. This complication was common and usually related to the presence of more than one risk factor.