Purpose: To describe the use of nonabsorbable polymer ligating (NPL) clips to prevent recurrence after laparoscopic lymphocele fenestration and to determine the efficacy and safety of this treatment in renal-transplant patients at our center.
Patients and Methods: From December 2000 to October 2005, nine patients with a mean age of 38.5 years(range 26–54 years) and symptomatic lymphoceles were treated laparoscopically among 144 renal-transplant patients. The overall incidence of symptomatic lymphocele was 6.2% (9/144). The mean time from transplantation to diagnosis was 55.5 days (range 20–98 days). Patient and lymphocele characteristics, complications, recurrence rate, and outcomes of this procedure were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: Laparoscopic treatment was successful in eight patients; the other was converted to open surgery. One patient sustained an allograft-ureteral injury. The mean operative time was 90.7 minutes (range 75–120 minutes), and the mean postoperative stay was 4.1 days (range 1–7 days). Lymphocele recurrence was found in the first two patients after laparoscopic surgery without NPL clips. With a mean follow-up of 42.3 months(range 31–51 months), no recurrence was observed in patients in whom NPL clips were used to maintain the patency of the peritoneal window. No late laparoscopy-related complications occurred.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic lymphocele fenestration with NPL clips is a safe, technically easy, and efficacious procedure for the treatment of symptomatic lymphoceles after renal transplantion.
