SPONTANEOUS RENAL DECAPSULATION WITH EXCESSIVE FLUID LEAKAGE AFTER TRANSPLANTATION

SURGICAL complications rarely occur late after renal transplantation. We have seen two patients with presumably spontaneous decapsulation of the kidney even while the grafts had excellent renal function. The decapsulation led to excessive fluid loss from the kidney surface. Case Reports Case 1. Five years after transplantation a large and painful swelling suddenly developed at the site of grafting in a 30-year-old man. Ascites developed on the next day. Peritoneal drainage resulted in fluid production ranging from 4 to 12 liters per day. Examination of the fluid showed that the total protein was 0.1 to 0.2 g per 100 ml,. © 1979, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.