Unique cases of large and small bowel obstruction in intraperitoneal renal transplantations: a case series and review of literature

Abstract

Bowel obstruction is a common cause for the acute abdomen with different aetiologies that shapes subsequent management plans. Small bowel obstruction often develop due to intra-abdominal adhesions in patients with prior abdominal surgery and for large bowel obstructions, more commonly due to tumours and lesions. Disruptions to normal intra-abdominal anatomy as seen in pancreatic–kidney transplantation or kidney transplant alone can result in increased risk of bowel obstruction—especially if the donor graft is implanted within the intraperitoneal plane. We present two patients from separate institutions with history of simultaneous pancreas–kidney (SPK) transplantation (Patient 1) and intraperitoneal renal (Patient 2) transplant whom both presented with bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention. Given the specificity and operative intricacies of our cases, we aim to present our findings and surgical management of these rare presentations in hopes of increasing awareness to this uncommon but significant cause of bowel obstruction in a transplant patient.