Interventional radiology in the treatment of ureteric complications in transplant kidneys

Eleven patients who had radiological procedures because of urinary leakage or ureteric obstruction in transplant kidneys are reviewed in order to judge the clinical efficacy of interventional radiological techniques in the management of these complications. Initial technical success was attained in 9/9 dilatation attempts and 17/21 (81%) stent placement attempts. It is thought that 9/11 (82%) patients benefited from the radiological attempts at treatment and at long term follow up 7 kidneys were still functioning, 3 failed due to rejection and one after failed renal artery surgery. The complication rate due to the radiological procedure was low, with one iatrogenic urine leak being the single major procedural complication. Two patients had urinary tract infections while stented and there were two patients with perirenal abscesses.