Evaluation of Complications of Post-Renal Transplant Patients by Doppler USG: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is the preferred treatment for end-stage renal disease, but its success is influenced by complex demographic and clinical factors. This study aims to analyze the demographic patterns and clinical outcomes in a group of LDKT recipients, with a focus on donor-recipient relationships, causes of mortality, and post-transplant complications as evaluated by Doppler Ultrasonography (USG). To evaluate the demographic patterns and clinical outcomes, with a specific focus on complications identified by Doppler ultrasonography, in a Group of living-donor renal transplant recipients, this retrospective observational study was conducted at the Centre for Kidney Diseases and Urology Hospital (CKD & Urology Hospital), from June 2025 to November 2025, involving 117 patients who underwent LDKT. Data on donor and recipient demographics, clinical outcomes, causes of death, and complications diagnosed via Doppler USG were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The patient survival rate was 92.3%. A significant demographic disparity was observed: the mean donor age (45.1 years) was a decade older than the mean recipient age (34.8 years). Female donors predominated (79.5%), with mothers being the largest donor group (39.3%). Cardiovascular events were the leading cause of mortality (66.6% of deaths), occurring on average 25 days post-transplant. Recipients aged above 45 years had the highest mortality rate (15.0%). Transplants from sisters were associated with the highest mortality among donor groups (15.4%), though sample sizes were small. Doppler USG identified vascular complications such as renal artery stenosis (3.0%) and thrombosis (<1.0%). The vast majority of patients (92.3%) did not experience a major recorded complication, while detailed sonographic findings also included saccular bulging with a possible thrombus inside in 12% of cases and normal arterial flow with possible vessel compression in 0.9% of cases. This study highlights the critical vulnerability of kidney transplant recipients to early cardiovascular events and underscores the distinct demographic patterns, particularly the reliance on older female family donors, in LDKT. Enhanced pre-transplant cardiovascular risk stratification and intensive post-operative monitoring, including vigilant Doppler USG surveillance, are recommended to improve outcomes.

CBMJ 2026 July: Vol. 15 No. 02 P:356-365