Obstruction to venous outflow from the left lower extremity after renal transplantation.

Three patients with acute massive swelling of the left lower extremity occurring soon after placement of a renal allograft in the left iliac fossa are described. In each patient, obstruction to venous outflow from the left lower limb was documented by venography. We surmise that venous obstruction resulted principally from a combination of extrinsic compression of the left iliac vein by the right common iliac artery or by the allograft, and enhanced venous return from the allograft.