Osman Gökhan GÖKDERE, Kamil GÜLPINAR
Eastern Journal of Medicine (EJM) - 2026;31(1):167-173
Kidney transplantation remains the most effective treatment for end-stage renal disease; however, postoperative surgical complications may compromise both graft function and patient survival. This study aimed to evaluate surgical complications after kidney transplantation and to identify factors associated with reoperation in a single-center experience. Medical records of 116 patients who underwent kidney transplantation between 2018 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen patients who required reoperation due to postoperative complications and 20 randomly selected patients without complications were comparatively analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and perioperative variables, as well as the types and outcomes of complications, were evaluated. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariable logistic regression models, supplemented by sensitivity analysis adjusting for age and BMI. A total of 33 patients (24 males, 72.7%; 9 females, 27.3%) were included. In univariate analyses, right kidney donation (p = 0.012), female sex (p = 0.041), and preoperative blood transfusion (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with postoperative complications. However, these associations did not retain statistical significance in multivariable analysis. Patients with complications had significantly longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs (p = 0.001). Vascular, urological, and general surgical complications were effectively managed with surgical interventions, achieving a graft survival rate of 84.6% and a patient survival rate of 100%. Early recognition and timely surgical management of complications after kidney transplantation are essential for optimizing graft and patient outcomes. Identifying high-risk patients and implementing targeted preventive strategies may improve clinical results and reduce economic burden. Prospective multicenter studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate and generalize these findings.
