Gastro-duodenal bleeding after renal transplantation.

In a retrospective study of 468 patients treated with renal transplantation in Gothenburg from 1965 to 1974, gastro-duodenal perforations and/or significant bleedings were seen in a frequency of 10%. While half of these complications were seen in patients without previous history of gastro-duodenal disorder, positive history of such disorder increases the risk of post-transplant complications significantly. These complications have proved to be highly lethal, expecially when occurring early after transplantation, whereas prophylactic surgery in predisposed patients has been well tolerated by the uremic patient and followed by decreased frequency of post-transplant gastro-duodenal complications. It is concluded that gastro-duodenal complications remain a major hazard to transplanted paitents, especially with a previous history of gastro-duodenal ulcer. This increased risk can be abolished by prophylactic gastric surgery on wide indications before transplantation.