Vascular complications after live donor renal transplantation: study of risk factors and effects on graft and patient survival

We evaluated the incidence and management of vascular complications after live donor renal transplantation. Possible risk factors and their effects on patient and graft survival were also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,200 consecutive live donor renal transplants were performed in 1,152 patients at a single institution. The incidence of different types of vascular complications were determined and correlated with relevant risk factors. The impact on patient and graft survival was also studied. RESULTS: There were 34 vascular complications (2.8%). Stenotic or thrombotic complications were recorded in 11 cases (0.9%), including renal artery stenosis in 5 (0.4%), renal artery thrombosis in 5 (0.4%) and renal vein thrombosis in 1 (0.1%). Hemorrhagic complications were observed in 23 patients (1.9%). Although no risk factors could be identified that were related to stenotic or thrombotic complications, grafts with multiple renal arteries were significantly associated with hemorrhagic complications (p = 0.04). Stenotic and thrombotic complications as well as hemorrhagic complications were significantly associated with subsequent biopsy proved acute tubular necrosis (p <0.001). The mean 5-year patient and graft survival rates +/- SD for those with vascular complications were 71.9% +/- 1.9% and 41.6% +/- 8.9% compared with 86.3% +/- 1.1% and 76.8% +/- 1.4% for the remainder of our transplant population, respectively (p <0.001). The deleterious impact on survival was not only observed in recipients with thrombotic or stenotic crises, but also in those with hemorrhagic sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic crises are as serious as the stenotic and thrombotic complications affecting patient and graft survival. Because they are a significant factor in the development of hemorrhagic complications, grafts with multiple renal arteries should be managed critically.