Preoperative Risk Factors Associated With Urinary Complications After Kidney Transplantation

Only surgically irrelevant risk factors including sex, African-American ancestry, or exceptional U-stitch anastomosis have been identified to associate with urinary complications after kidney transplantation. The objective was to identify modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors associated with urinary complications after kidney transplantation.

A single-center study of 3,129 kidney transplants performed over 40 years was conducted to identify independent risk factors using χ² tests and logistic regression analysis.

We identified the quality of the transplant's ureter, cystographic abnormalities in the recipient, and repeat transplantations as independent risk factors for overall urinary complications occurring after kidney transplantation in multivariable analysis. Obesity was associated with an increased risk of urinary fistula, while the presence of a JJ stent was associated with a reduced risk of urinary fistula. The risk of urinary surgical complications for kidney transplantations was reduced when the kidney was recovered from a living related compared to a deceased donor.

The risk factors identified in the present study will allow candidates for kidney transplantation to be more informed and will also allow for surgical modifications to limit the occurrence of urinary complications.