Successful urinary tract reconstruction following ureteral necrosis in kidney transplant patient

Abstract

Abstract Ureteric complications following renal transplantation are well known to cause significant morbidity and compromised graft survival. The necrosis of a major part of the ureter could be a highly detrimental situation, and hardly solvable complication, that poses great challenges. Herein we are presenting a case report to introduce a possible surgical solution following repeated ineffective radiological interventions, in a patient with ureteric necrosis that appeared 3 months after cadaveric kidney transplantation. We transplanted the right kidney to the right iliac fossa performing end-to-side vascular anastomoses and end-to-side uretero-ureterostomy. His clinical course was uneventful during 3 months, when he presented a mild borderline acute cellular rejection together with dilatation of the pyelon. Percutaneous nephrostomy was performed by interventional radiologist. During further radiologic interventions the stenosis was not permeable. We finally made up our minds for surgical solution. We found a totally necrotized graftureter. During a second operation we performed a right nephrectomy, transsecting the pyelon. After mobilization of the transplanted kidney approaching and identifying the pyelon, a large pyelopyelar anastomosis was performed with stenting. The postoperative follow-up showed excellent urine flow from the kidney to the bladder, then the TRD was removed. Surgery had to be considered only if minimally invasive procedures are infeasible or ineffective. A regimen of reconstructive methods are well-known, but all cases have to be evaluated individually. If the native kidneys can be removed, their pyelons and entire ureters should be used for reconstruction.