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The Kidney Transplant Patient in Your ED
- Acute bacterial graft pyelonephritis is the most frequent type of sepis (bacterial pneumonia is the second most common source)
- Obtain renal transplant imaging to evaluate for sources of infection (i.e. urinary tract obstruction, renal abscess, or urine leakage)
- BK polyomavirus may reactivate and lead to nephritis, ureteral stenosis, or hemorrhagic cystitis
- Pneumocystis pneumonia is the most common fungal infection in patients without prophylaxis and after prophylaxis discontinuation (adjunctive steroids for treatment is controversial)
- Vascular access may be challenging. Avoid subclavian lines or femoral venous acess on the side of the graft
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality (accounts for 40-50% of deaths after the first year following renal transplant)
References
Darmon M, Canet E, Ostermann M. Ten tips to manage renal transplant recipients. Intensive Care Med. 2019;45(3):380-383.