Treatment of lymphocele and lymphatic fistula following renal transplantation by laparoscopic peritoneal window.

Abstract

Symptomatic lymphoceles that occur after renal transplantation are managed best by surgical marsupialization with drainage into the peritoneal cavity. We report a case of post-transplant lymphocele associated with a cutaneous lymphatic fistula, which was successfully treated using laparoscopic drainage without a major surgical incision. With this new technique we were able to remove an ellipse of peritoneal wall along with the adjacent lymphocele wall and to lyse all internal lymphocele loculations, allowing for the free flow of lymph into the peritoneal cavity and cessation of cutaneous leakage. We believe that, when technically possible, laparoscopic internal peritoneal drainage is an effective procedure for managing simple and complex symptomatic lymphoceles with or without associated lymphatic fistulas, provided there is no evidence of infection.