Lymphoceles after renal transplantation: Study of risk factors

To identify the risk factors of post renal transplant lymphocele. Over a period of 20 years (1986-2006) we carried out 377 renal transplants on 372 patients. Thirty cases of lymphocele were recorded (8%). The medical history of patients was retrospectively examined in order to identify the risk factors of this complication among the data relating to recipents, donors, the operation itself and post operative incidents. The different parameters liable to correlate with the incidence of lymphocele were subjected to a univaried then multivaried statistical study. Unifactorial analysis identified four predictive factors related to the incidence of lymphocele. They were the age of the recipient greater or equal to 35 years old, the cadaverous origin of the transplanted organ, the duration of ischemy greater or equal to 24hours for the kidneys of deceased donors, and immunosuppressor treatment associated with Mycophenolate mofetil-Cyclosporine. The only independent risk factor significant in multifactorial analysis was the cadaverous origin of the transplanted organ. Our study showed that the cadaverous origin of the transplanted organ would appear to play an important role in the genesis of post renal transplant lymphocele. A better preparation of the organs of cadaverous origin before their implantation with meticulous ligature of the hilum of lymph nodes could reduce the incidence of this complication. This observation, as well as the benefit of such a procedure, remains to be confirmed by studies on a larger scale.