Postoperative Surgical Complications of Live Unrelated Renal Transplants for Patients of End Stage Renal Disease Needing Renal Replacement Therapy

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative surgical complications of live unrelated renal transplantation (LURRT) done abroad for patients of end stage renal disease (ESRD) who needed renal replacement therapy (RRT) in an organ transplant centre. Study Design: Descriptive, observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Renal Transplantation, Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center, Kuwait, from January 1993 to December 2015. Methodology: This is descriptive and observational study in which data was retrospectively collected from medical records of the patients. All patients were selected who had been transplanted in various countries and admitted to this center for post-transplant care and follow-up in the period of 22 years and their surgical complications were noted. Data was analysed by SPSS 21. Nationalities and complications were noted and their percentages were calculated for the variables. Results: A total of 423 patients (288 males (68%) and 135 females (31.9%), having mean age of 43 years) were transplanted in various countries. Most of these were Kuwaiti nationals (n=224, 53%). The post-transplant course was complicated by lymphocele in 25 (5.8%), ureteral stenosis in 22 (5.2%), urinary leak in 15 (3.5%), incisional hernia in 14 (3.3%) rare. Conclusion: Due to inadequate living-related organ supply, many ESRD patients go to Third World countries for LURRT. Although, the risk of various complications is well established, this should be documented. Besides the ethical issues, overseas renal transplantation carries a high risk of unconventional complications.