#1272
Kidney Transplantation In Patients With Small Bladder Capacity: A Single-Center Experience At Cho Ray Hospital In Vietnam.
V. Dinh1
1Cho Ray Hospital, Urology Department, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Introduction:
Patients with end-stage kidney disease on long-term dialysis often have reduced bladder capacity, complicating kidney transplantation and increasing urinary complication risks. Though recovery is possible, outcomes remain uncertain—especially in Vietnam, where data are still limited.
Material and methods:
A retrospective study at Cho Ray Hospital (6 years: 2017–2023) included kidney transplant recipients with bladder capacity ≤100 milliliters-mL. Clinical data and 1-year outcomes (Graft function, urinary complications, bladder recovery) were analyzed and compared to those with normal bladder capacity.
Results:
A total of 122 patients with small bladder capacity (21% of transplants) were included. Mean age was 33.4 ± 8.9 years; 68.9% were male. Average dialysis duration was 41.1 ± 29.9 months; 81.1% were anuric. Mean pre-transplant bladder volume was 81.1 ± 20.1 mL. Vesicoureteral reflux occurred in 19.5% vs. 4.3% in normal-capacity patients (p < 0.05). All received living-donor kidneys; 95.9% had Lich–Gregoir ureteric implantation. Early urinary complications occurred in 8.1% (e.g., leakage 2.4%), and urinary tract infection in 10.7%. Most issues appeared within 2–3 months and resolved. At 1 year, graft and patient survival rates were 99.2% and 98.4%. Serum Creatinine improved from ~1.3 mg/dL at discharge to 1.25 ± 0.19 mg/dL at 12 months. Bladder capacity improved: voided volume ~222 mL, voiding frequency 14 times per day. Recovery time averaged 40.6 ± 27.5 days. Prolonged catheterization occurred in 11.4%; only 1.6% needed further bladder management. Most patients regained satisfactory bladder function.