The objective of the study was to identify the complications in patients that have received a renal transplant. A Historical cohort performed in a university hospital from January/2007 through January/2009 with a sample of 179 patients; data collected retrospectively from the medical history of patients and submitted to statistical analyses. Mean age of patients was 43 (SD=13.7) years, 114 (63.7%) men, 95 (65.1%) non smokers and 118(66.93%) received the graft from a deceased donor. The main complications were rejection 68 (32.1%) and infection 62 (29.2%). There was statistical significance between rejection and median days of hospital stay (p < 0.001); days of use of central venous catheter (p = 0.010) and smoking status (p = 0.008); infection and central venous catheter (p = 0.029); median days of hospital stay (p < 0.001) and time of use of urinary catheter (p = 0.009). It was concluded that it is important to reduce the days of hospital stay and permanence of catheters, which may be considered in the planning of nursing care.