Hydrocele after kidney transplant

Kidney transplants are becoming safer and more common procedures, with the numbers of people receiving transplants growing every day. For the most part, these procedures have become very safe, without a large amount of risk. One possible complication that is not life threatening, but can be very troublesome in some cases, is a hydrocele after kidney transplant.

A hydrocele is an accumulation of fluid around the testicle in the scrotum. It can be uncomfortable, and cause a feeling of heaviness for the patient, but is not generally painful. A hydrocele will be suspected if there appears to be a nontender mass in the scrotum or groin area.

The formation of these hydroceles after a kidney transplant surgery can often be attributed to an infection. In other cases, it can be due to other complications. One common reason is because as the transplant bed is being prepared, the spermatic cord will need to be moved slightly in order to allow for the graft ureter, which needs to pass behind the cord.

If there is a lot of scarring due to previous hernia surgeries, or groin injuries, it may be impossible to move the cord sufficiently. In this case, the cord may need to be divided.
In these cases, it is very common for a hydrocele to form within the next 2-6 weeks. It can be confirmed by using ultrasonography or transillumination, which can also show the structure of the hydrocele itself. Normally, if it is asymptomatic, and not bothersome, the mass will be left alone and observation is sufficient.

But, if the mass is larger and becoming cumbersome, they may require aspiration to remove some of the fluid. Similarly, if the hydrocele continues to recur, a hydrocelectomy may be suggested to remove it completely. These procedures can often be done on an outpatient basis.
Hydroceles are not only caused by kidney transplants, but they are a possible side effect. They can also be caused by an injury to the testicle, inflammation, or sometimes may be due to a blockage of blood or fluid within the spermatic cord. It is normally older men who will suffer from this type of hydrocele.

Although a hydrocele after kidney transplant can be bothersome, it normally will not be painful and will not require treatment.

It can often just be a nonthreatening complication to the surgery and may require nothing more than observation. However, there are cases where they may become painful and uncomfortable, which may lead to the need for removal of the hydrocele. Considering possible side effects of transplant surgery itself, it seems that the occurrence of this particular problem may not be as much of a concern as other potential complications could be.