Otorhinolaryngologic Problems in Liver and Kidney Transplant Recipients

The aim of this study was to define the otorhinolaryngologic manifestations and clinical characteristics of patients who received kidney or liver transplants at a university hospital.

Medical records of patients who received a kidney or liver transplant between 2000 and 2013 and who were referred or applied to the ear, nose, and throat clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Otorhinolaryngologic complaints, signs, examination findings, and diagnoses of patients were noted.

Our analyses included 540 visits to the ear, nose, and throat clinic by 101 liver and 191 kidney transplant recipients. Mean duration between date of transplant and otorhinolaryngologic examination was 747.9 ± 37.1 days. The most common complaint was rhinorrhea (n = 112), whereas the most common diagnosis was acute rhinosinusitis (n = 85). Acute upper respiratory tract infections, including rhinosinusitis, were diagnosed more frequently during the late postoperative period (ie, > 180 days after transplant). Epistaxis was more frequent during the first 30 days after transplant.

A diverse variety of otorhinolaryngologic conditions, including emergencies and potentially life-threatening infections, were seen in our kidney and liver transplant recipients, both during the early and the late follow-up period. All transplant team members should be familiar with the clinical presentation of frequently seen otorhinolaryngologic diseases.