Prophylactic Peritoneal Fenestration during Kidney Transplantation Can Reduce the Type C Lymphocele Formation

Lymphocele is a common complication following kidney transplantation (KTx). We aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of peritoneal fenestration during KTx in reducing lymphocele. From January 2001, the data of all KTx were prospectively gathered in our digital data bank. From 2008, preventive peritoneal fenestration was performed as a routine procedure for all patients with KTx. Between 2001 and 2008, 579 KTx were performed without preventive peritoneal fenestration. To compare the results between with and without peritoneal fenestration, the same number of patients after 2008 (579 patients) was included in this study. The pre-, intra-, and postoperative data of the patients in these two groups were analyzed and compared, especially regarding the postoperative different types of lymphocele formation. The mean recipient age was 52.6 ± 13.8, and 33.7% of the patients were female. Type C lymphocele was significantly lower in the group with preventive fenestration (5.3% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.014 for 31/579 vs. 51/579). Peritoneal dialysis and implantation of the kidney in the left fossa were independently associated with a higher rate of type C lymphocele (OR 2.842, 95% CI 1.354-5.967, p = 0.006 and OR 3.614, 95% CI 1.215-10.747, p = 0.021, respectively). The results of this study showed that intraoperative preventive peritoneal fenestration could significantly reduce type C lymphocele.