Late ureteral obstruction after kidney transplantation

Today, the incidence of urological complications following renal transplantation is 2%–10%. Most of these complications occur within the 1st year and affect the distal ureter. We report on two patients who developed very late ureteral obstruction, 14 and 18 years after transplantation. Both patients had rejection episodes 1 and 10 months prior to the ureteral stenosis. Histological examination of one resected ureter revealed findings strongly suggestive of a rejection process. Open surgery with antirefluxive reimplantation into the bladder was successful in both patients, with a postoperative observation time of 20 and 8 months, respectively. We conclude that a percutaneous nephrostomy may be required in patients with rising creatinine and incipient hydronephrosis even long after transplantation has been performed.