In situ management of late thrombosis of a renal graft vein in a patient with Cockett syndrome

Abstract

Late thrombosis of the renal graft vein is a rare complication that results in graft loss in the majority of cases. We describe the case of a 57-year-old female patient who had a kidney transplant 32 years ago and developed a late thrombosis of the graft vein, accompanied by extensive thrombosis in the common femoral and iliac veins. Risk factors included severe malnutrition, chronic inflammation due to an anal fistula, and Cockett syndrome. The treatment consisted of mechanical thrombectomy of the iliac vein, placement of a stent in the common iliac vein, partial thromboaspiration of the renal vein thrombus with local thrombolysis, followed by systemic anticoagulation. With this approach, renal function fully recovered without major complications.