Surgical complications of renal transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) entering renal replacement programs (dialysis/transplantation) worldwide. Renal transplantation (RTx) offers the best survival advantage to patients with DN-related ESRD. Theoretically diabetic ESRD patient's possess higher risk for surgical complications in comparison to non-diabetic ESRD. We reviewed the current literature to analyze the risk for surgical complications after kidney transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) vs patients without DM. Between January 1990 to May 2011, 1990 live related renal transplant were performed at our center. Computer Database of these patients were analyzed retrospectively to compare surgical complications between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Analyzing the existing literature and the results of our center, we found that the surgical complications of renal transplant in a diabetic patient are similar to that of non-diabetic patients.