Intraperitoneal drainage of recurrent lymphoceles using an internalized Tenckhoff catheter

Occasionally, lymphoceles recur after renal transplantation in relatively inaccessible pelvic locations, usually in the setting of a transversely oriented allograft that separates the lymphocele from the peritoneal cavity. Such lymphoceles do not share a common wall with the peritoneal cavity and, therefore, are not manageable by conventional open surgical or laparoscopic drainage techniques. We used an internalized Tenckhoff catheter to drain recurrent lymphoceles into the peritoneal cavity in 3 patients who had undergone prior renal transplantation. No evidence of lymphocele recurrence or catheter-induced septic complications have been noted in our immunocompromised patients up to a mean followup of 5.3 years. Our experience with this alternative management option for the recurrent, inaccessible lymphocele is presented along with a single case report of intractable, recurrent perinephric fluid collection in the nontransplant setting treated by the same technique.