A modified stapling technique for the repair of an aneurysmal autogenous arteriovenous fistula.

OBJECTIVE: An alternative surgical technique for the repair an aneurysmatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) using a staple remodeling operation has been developed and the results are reported. METHODS: All patients presenting with an aneurysmatic autogenous AVF of the upper extremities between January 2012 and December 2013 were included in the analysis. The AVF was approached laterally along the entire aneurysm and then remodeled using a stapler on the lateral side of the vein wall. All stenotic segments were excised. Follow-up included a clinical visit and echo color Doppler of the fistula and was performed 7, 15, and 30 days after the intervention and every 6 months thereafter. RESULTS: We treated 14 patients (nine men [64.3%]) with a median age of 65 years (interquartile range [IQR], 62.5-69 years). Elective interventions were performed in 12 patients (85.7%), and two underwent emergency treatment because of postcannulation bleeding. Technical success was achieved in all cases. The mean duration of the intervention was 75 minutes (IQR, 61.15-83.45 minutes). No in-hospital deaths or major morbidities were observed. Median hospitalization time was 24 hours (IQR, 25-38 hours). Postoperative puncture was performed after a median delay of 12.5 hours (IQR, 12-17 hours). No patient was lost during the follow-up, which was a median of 16.5 months (IQR, 14-23 months). Primary functional patency was 12 of 14 (85.7%). Pseudoaneurysm, bleeding, hematoma, or infection was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the stapling technique proved to be easy, fast, and safe. Early follow-up outcomes showed excellent primary patency and confirmed the effectiveness of the technique because local complications were never observed.

Beyond the Trauma Triad of Death-New Advances in Our Knowledge of Pathophysiology as a Basis for New Perspectives in Support Therapy.

The history of staged laparotomy, the basic idea behind the so called "Damage Control Surgery (DCS)" attitude, leans on the experience developed during the treatment of major hepatic trauma that was sustained by Pringle's pioneering attempts to achieve hemostasis on liver wounds via packing in 1908 [...].

Predictive Models for the Functional Recovery of Transplanted Kidney.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease, however, in 20% of cases, the graft develops a delayed graft function (DGF) that is associated with both early and late worsening of the outcome. The aim of this study was to examine and validate in a population of transplanted patients the appropriateness of the predictive score systems of DGF available to identify patients who might take advantage of a tailored immunosuppressive therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify articles concerning scoring systems predicting DGF to identify those applicable to the study population and subsequently comparing their appropriateness for defining the most accurate one. RESULTS: From an analysis of the scientific literature, we found 7 scoring systems predicting DGF. Of these, 3 can be calculated for the study population. We enrolled 247 renal transplants in the study. DGF was recorded in 41 cases (15.95%). The Irish score recognized 25 of 41 cases (60.98%), the Jeldres score 41 of 41 cases (100%), and the Chapal score only 7 of 41 (17.07%). Although the Irish score did not identify all cases of DGF, the analysis of data revealed that it is the most accurate, with area under the receiver operating characteristic almost overlapping. CONCLUSIONS: The study resulted in some interesting and promising conclusions about the predictability of DGF, defining the Irish score as the most reliable. This result can be considered the fundamental requirement to develop a custom therapeutic algorithm to be applied to all recipients with higher probability of developing DGF.

Indocyanine Green Angiography for Quality Assessment of the Kidney During Transplantation: An Outcome Predictor Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular damage is the main cause of delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplant. Assessing its extent may be helpful in predicting DGF to achieve better postoperative management, especially in terms of an immunosuppressive regimen. Our aim was to explore the capability of intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) angiography to examine the microvasculature of the kidney. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 37 kidney transplant recipients in a high-volume kidney transplant center. During surgery, after graft implant, an ICG angiography was performed through a high-definition Storz camera system (Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) with successive quantitative assessment of fluorescence using Icy bioimage analysis. RESULTS: All transplanted kidneys that showed immediate recovery of their function had a fluorescent intensity ≥49.953 with a mean of 96.930 ± 21. The fluorescence intensity for kidneys that showed a delayed recovery of their function never exceeded 55.648, and the mean was 37.718 ± 13. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant with a P value < .001. The only kidney that never recovered showed a fluorescence intensity consistently <25.220, the lowest detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that intraoperative ICG angiography may be used to assess the microvasculature of the graft. A statistically significant difference in terms of fluorescent intensity can be highlighted between kidneys that immediately recover their function and those with delayed recovery. Further larger studies are needed to confirm the capability of the technique to predict DGF to optimize the transplanted patients' management.

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery Through an Incision of the Ureter as a Good Treatment Option for Large Ureteropelvic Impacted Stones in Transplanted Kidneys.

Urolithiasis is a rare complication after kidney transplant. Over the years, treatment of kidney stones has evolved radically, but a standard approach for transplanted kidneys has not yet been defined. Here, we present a 69-year-old male patient who received successful treatment of nephrolithiasis of the transplanted kidney. The patient, who had received a kidney from a deceased donor, was admitted to our department following a posttransplant Doppler ultrasonography showing severe hydronephrosis of the transplanted kidney associated with acute renal function decay. Computed tomography scan confirmed the hydronephrosis of the transplanted kidney, showing a large, impacted, ureteropelvic 3-cm-diameter stone and other concretions around the ureteral stent. The patient was then treated with retrograde intrarenal surgery during an open ureterotomy. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he showed good functional reprise and a rapid decrease of serum creatinine levels. Intraoperative retrograde intrarenal surgery could be a valid option for treatment of kidney stones of the transplanted kidney during open surgery of the ureter or during ureterovesical anastomosis.

Pretransplant Nephrectomy for Large Polycystic Kidneys in ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease) Patients: Is Peritoneal Dialysis Recovery Possible after Surgery?

The choice of modality for renal replacement therapy in patients with ADPKD varies, often based on patient choice, physician-related factors, and resource availability. For a long time peritoneal dialysis (PD) was considered as relative contraindication due to the possible limited intraperitoneal space. In recent years, some studies suggested it is a valid option also in patients with ADPKD to be considered as a first line treatment in potentially fit patients. Diuresis volume lowering and potential permanent damage of peritoneal integrity, both leading to a necessary switch to haemodialysis, are the two most important dangers after nephrectomy, especially if bilateral, in PD patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of patient underwent native polycystic kidney nephrectomy in order to state the possibility to recover peritoneal dialysis after surgery.

Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Triclosan-Coated Sutures on Surgical Site Infection after Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) remains the most frequent complication after colorectal resection. The role of sutures coated with antimicrobial agents such as triclosan in reducing SSI is controversial. METHODS: This was a multi-center randomized controlled trial with patients and outcome assessors blinded to treatment. The study was performed in four university referral hospitals. Patient candidates for elective colorectal resection were assigned randomly to abdominal incision closure with polyglactin 910 triclosan-coated sutures (triclosan group) or with polyglactin 910 without triclosan (control group). The primary outcome was the rate of SSI within 30 d after hospital discharge. The secondary outcomes were the overall rate of incision complications and length of hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-one patients (triclosan group: 140; control group: 141) were analyzed after randomization. The rate of SSI was 12.9% (18/140) in the triclosan group versus 10.6% (15/141) in the control group (odds ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval: 0.60-2.57; p=0.564). Secondary outcome analysis showed an overall incision complication rate of 38.3% in the control group versus 45.7% in the triclosan group (odds ratio: 1.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.84-2.18; p=0.208). Median LOS was 11 d in both groups (p=0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical sutures coated with triclosan do not appear to be effective in reducing the rate of SSI.

A case of continuous negative pressure wound therapy for abdominal infected lymphocele after kidney transplantation.

Lymphocele is a common complication after kidney transplantation. Although superinfection is a rare event, it generates a difficult management problem; generally, open surgical drainage is the preferred method of treatment but it may lead to complicated postoperative course and prolonged healing time. Negative pressure wound therapy showed promising outcomes in various surgical disciplines and settings. We present a case of an abdominal infected lymphocele after kidney transplantation managed with open surgery and negative pressure wound therapy.

Vascular fluorescence imaging control for complex renal artery aneurysm repair using laparoscopic nephrectomy and autotransplantation.

Intraoperative fluorescent imaging using indocyanine green enables vascular surgeons to confirm the location and states of the reconstructed vessels during surgery. Complex renal artery aneurysm repair involving second order branch vessels has been performed with different techniques. We present a case of ex vivo repair and autotransplantation combining the advantages of minimally invasive surgery and indocyanine green enhanced fluorescence imaging to facilitate vascular anatomy recognition and visualization of organ reperfusion.

Initial experience with the Gore® Acuseal graft for prosthetic vascular access.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to report the short-term results of the Gore® Acuseal graft for prosthetic vascular access (pVA) in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. METHODS: Between October 2011 and October 2013, all the consecutive patients who underwent implantation of a new expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tri-layer graft were included in the study. Primary and secondary patency rate, time to first cannulation, and complications were recorded. Follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. RESULTS: Thirty ePTFE tri-layer heparin bonded grafts were implanted in 18 males and 12 females. The graft configuration was radial-basilic (n=12, 40%), brachial-basilic (n=10, 33.3%), femoro-femoral (n=3, 10.0%), radial-cephalic (n=2, 6.7%), radial-antecubital forearm (n=2, 6.7%), and brachial-axillary (n=1, 3.3%). No patient was lost during a mean follow-up time of 6.3±5.9 months (range, 1-24; median, 5). Mean time to first cannulation was 2.4±1.2 days (range, 1-15). Primary functional patency rate was 68.0% ± 10 at 6 and 12 months. Secondary patency rate was 93.3% ± 6 at 6 and 12 months. Pseudoaneurysm, bleeding, seroma, or graft infection was never observed. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the Gore® Acuseal graft was useful and safe. Early cannulation was always performed, and structural complications did not occur. Primary functional and secondary patency rate are satisfactory in the short term.

Impact of static cold storage VS hypothermic machine preservation on ischemic kidney graft: inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules as markers of ischemia/reperfusion tissue damage. Our preliminary results.

At the present time, deceased heart-beating donor kidney allografts are usually stored cold. Extended-criteria donor (ECD) grafts show higher sensitivity to ischemia-reperfusion damage than standard kidneys. The increasing use of marginal organs in clinical transplantation urgently requires a more effective preservation system. Pulsatile hypothermic machine perfusion has shown major advantages over static cold storage in terms of reduced organ injury during preservation and improved early graft function. This preliminary study aims to compare pulsatile hypothermic machine perfusion and static cold storage of kidney allografts, outlining differences in the levels of early inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-1ß) and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) in perfusion and preservation liquid.

Treatment of aortoiliac occlusive or dilatative disease concomitant with kidney transplantation: how and when?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aortoiliac (AI) lesions (both dilatative and occlusive) can occur in kidney allograft recipients. The correct timing of vascular imaging and treatment is controversial. Aim of the present paper is to report our experience. METHODS: between January 2010 and December 2012, 106 patients included in our waiting list for kidney transplant underwent computed tomography (CT) angiogram to study AI axis. In 21 cases an AI lesion was identified before transplant. In 3 cases surgery was mandatory before kidney transplant, and in 18 cases lesions were treated simultaneously with kidney transplantation. MAIN FINDINGS: AI pathology distribution was as follows: 15 iliac stenoses treated with thromboendarterectomy (TEA), 2 Leriche syndrome and 1 aortic aneurism treated with an aortobisiliac bypass (AI-BP), and 3 aneurysms treated with endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). In two cases a postoperative hematoma occurred. In one case occlusion of a stent-graft branch was treated with a femoro-femoral crossover bypass and transplant was then performed on the contralateral iliac axis. Perioperative mortality was 0%, and graft survival rate was 100% at 1 year in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: A CT angiogram is useful in order to detect AI lesions and to be able to evaluate the best treatment option for the kidney transplantation and the correct timing for additional vascular surgery. The EVAR procedure should be safe, and does not compromise anastomosis success and graft survival, with less postoperative complications than open surgery.