Neurologic complications of transplantation

Despite the advances in organ transplantation technology, neurologic complications remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Many of the complications, including encephalopathy, seizures, and peripheral nerve injuries, are common to all transplant types. Other complications are unique to each transplant procedure. Kidney transplantation is a fairly benign procedure and is not associated with significant perioperative morbidity. Liver transplantation is associated with significant neurologic complications, including hepatic encephalopathy and central pontine myelinolysis. Heart and lung transplants are often associated with both hypoxic-ischemic injury and cerebral infraction, frequently from cardiac source of embolus. With increasing numbers of transplants being performed every year, it is important for the neorologist to be familiar with complications of organ transplants. The neurologist plays an important role in diagnosing and managing neurologic complications of transplantation.