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Kidney Transplant

Surgery

Further Lymphocele Problems

Although the surgeons left a drain in place to continue draining the lymphocele, the problem did not resolve as they had hoped. For 12 days the drainage continued and did not improve. Finally, he had to be readmitted to the hospital for surgery to drain the lymphocele. July proved a difficult month for Sam and his transplant team. By the 15th Sam had to be readmitted again. His creatinine had climbed to 4.1, the transplant site was tender, and an ultrasound showed fluid collection around the kidney again, although less than before.

The surgeons did not believe the rising creatinine was due to fluid. They wanted a needle biopsy done on the transplant to assess possible rejection of the kidney. Sam, the transplant surgeons, and the transplant nephrologist all had differing views and consulted one evening. A biopsy was done and showed no evidence of rejection.

The most probable cause of decreasing renal function was then thought to be fluid obstructing urine flow through the ureter to the bladder. Another drain was placed and Sam was taught to irrigate the drain with betadine twice weekly. Within 10 days the problem was resolved, the drain was removed and creatinine and BUN had dropped to 1.6 and 23.