Serious Combination of Chronic Non Tamponade Uremic Pericardial Effusion, Hypotension, and Atrial Fibrillation on Living Donor Renal Transplantation: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Although pericardial effusions are not uncommon in patients with end-stage renal disease, uremic pericardial effusion (UPE) frequently remains unrecognized in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms. We present a case of post-living donor renal transplantation delayed graft function due to asymptomatic undiagnosed chronic nontamponade UPE. The patient developed dramatic intraoperative severe hypotension, electrolyte abnormalities, and atrial fibrillation. Prolonged intraoperative hypotension and allograft hypoperfusion caused mild acute tubular necrosis and postoperative delayed graft function that required 2 weeks to recover. The combination of chronic UPE, even without tamponade, hypotension, and atrial fibrillation could lead to significant hemodynamic instability during renal transplantation. More careful immediate pretransplantation cardiac evaluation and avoidance of intraoperative hypotension could prevent these serious consequences of silent UPE.s.