[Lymphocele as a complication of renal transplantation]

Lymphoceles are a complication of renal transplantation surgery. The source of this lymphatic collections is the lymph draining through the lymphatic vessels located in the transplanted kidney sinus and surrounding the iliac vessels of the receptor. The main etiological factor is the surgical technique used when dissecting these structures for graft placement. Several factors have been suggested as favouring their occurrence, acute rejection being highlighted as one. This paper reviews a series of 517 renal transplantations performed in our service, with a lymphocele incidence of 5.2% (28). Using a log regression model, the influence of age, sex, time in dialysis, presence of tubular acute necrosis in the graft following placement, acute rejection and immunological regime, for the appearance of lymphocele were analyzed. Age and lack of acute tubular necrosis were the only two factors selected by the model. Also, clinical signs and symptoms as well as therapy instituted were analyzed, emphasizing that puncture-drainage and instillation of iodine povidone was 100% effective.