Vascular complications in 400 consecutive renal allotransplants

The vascular complications, their management and results of treatment in 400 consecutive renal allotransplants performed at the Leiden University Hospital from March 1966 through July 1979, are presented. There were 50 (12.5%) vascular complications. Among them renal artery stenosis (RAS) occurred in 40 cases (10%), renal artery thrombosis in 7 cases (1.8%), renal vein thrombosis in 2 cases (0.5%) and disruption of the arterial anastomosis in one. Arterial reconstruction was made in 25 patients with RAS, the blood pressure was normalized in 18 patients (72%), in 3 a recurrence of the RAS was found, in another 3 bad results were achieved regarding the blood pressure and in one patient a recurrence of the original glomerulonephritis had taken place. Of the 50 vascular complications 12 patients underwent a removal of the transplant and 3 resulted in death of the patient.