Successful transplantation of kidneys from deceased donors with terminal acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: There are many doubts with regards to accepting deceased kidneys with acute kidney injury (AKI) for transplantation. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present the 5-years outcome of kidney transplantation cases where deceased donors developed AKI before organ procurement. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-six deceased renal transplants were analyzed. Data regarding donors and recipients were collected. Terminal AKI was defined as terminal serum creatinine concentration higher than 1.99 mg/dL and 66 such cases were diagnosed. All kidney transplant recipients were followed for 60 months. RESULTS: AKI group presented more episodes of delayed graft function (DGF) compared to the non-AKI group (56% vs 35%, p < .05). No differences were observed between the groups in the rate of acute rejection episodes, kidney function as well as patient and graft survival. CONCLUSIONS: Transplants with AKI present more often DGF and comparable graft survival to transplants without AKI. Kidneys with AKI can be a valuable source of organs provided attentive selection and appropriate care of deceased donors.

Successful outcome of transplant of kidneys recovered from a brain-dead liver transplant recipient: case report.

Few reports describing the use of organs donated by transplant recipients have been published. In this case report, kidneys procured from a brain-dead liver recipient were transplanted successfully. A 21-year-old man was referred for liver transplant after an overdose of acetaminophen. The patient's kidney function was initially normal, with proper urine production and normal kidney laboratory parameters. On the third day after admission, the patient's kidney laboratory parameters became elevated and hepatic encephalopathy requiring mechanical ventilation developed. An orthotopic liver transplant was performed the next day. The patient did not recover consciousness, and brain death was diagnosed on the third day after the liver transplant surgery. The maximum serum concentration of creatinine was 5.8 mg/dL (513 µmol/L) before kidney recovery, and urine production was normal. The kidneys were recovered with organ-perfusion support and were preserved by using machine perfusion. The kidneys were transplanted into 2 male recipients. Twelve months after transplant, the recipients remained in good health with satisfactory kidney function. This case demonstrates that transplanting kidneys recovered from liver transplant recipients is possible and beneficial, thus expanding the pool of potential donors.

Determining eligibility for and preparation to kidney transplantation of a patient with Lynch syndrome--a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Lynch syndrome (HNPCC, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer) is a syndrome of predisposition to cancer inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. A person with Lynch syndrome has a considerably increased risk of colorectal cancer in comparison with the general population. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 24-year-old man with Lynch syndrome (carrying an MLH1 gene mutation) who had colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed at 16 years of age. During this time, he had a colectomy performed and chemotherapy was administered (5-FU, CDDP, Leucovorin). Due to hepatic metastases, a decision was made to change chemotherapy to IF with ADM, as a result of which complete remission was obtained. However, kidney failure developed. Its cause was not fully elucidated. The patient was treated by hemodialyses. After six years of complete remission of cancer, kidney transplantation started to be considered. Before the patient was found eligible for transplantation, extended diagnostic tests were performed: whole body PET scan, tumour marker tests and intestinal endoscopy, which did not reveal any abnormalities. The patient had a family donor (mother) who had no contraindications to kidney donation. Kidney transplantation was performed on 15/10/2012. Induction with basiliximab was used, along with steroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil was also administered. Three months after the procedure CNI/mTOR conversion was performed. The maintenance treatment includes prednisone, everolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. One year after transplantation, renal function is normal. The patient is subjected to close oncological surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence or new development of cancer related to immunosuppressive treatment should be considered on a case-by-case basis. In patients with a history or high risk of cancer, immunosuppression protocols based on the m-TOR pathway inhibitors should be used, if possible. Oncological surveillance and early detection of new cancer lesions are also important.

Surgical site infections after kidney transplantation--where do we stand now?

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation (KTx) is a widely accepted method of renal function replacement therapy. Surgical site infections (SSIs), along with urinary tract infections, are among the most common infective complications after KTx. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of SSI in patients after KTx, identify risk factors for SSI, and classify patients in which standard antibiotic prophylaxis could be avoided. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2011, 262 KTxs were performed in our center. Deceased donors', recipients' data, and data related to surgical procedures were collected. SSIs were diagnosed in accordance with the guidelines published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: SSIs were diagnosed in 7.25% (19/262) of patients. Of nineteen SSI patients, two (10.5%) were diagnosed with organ-specific SSIs, which eventually led to graft loss; six (31.5%) developed deep incisional SSIs; and eleven (58%) developed superficial incisional SSIs. Through analysis of this extensive data set, we determined the following risk factors for the development of SSI: kidney from extended criteria donors, a cold ischemia time of more than 30 hr, time of surgical procedure longer than 200 min, confirmed diabetes in the recipients, a recipient body mass index higher than 27 kg/m, and occurrence of delayed graft function. CONCLUSIONS: It may be possible to reduce standard antibiotic prophylaxis to a single dose in patients without known risk factors for SSI. Any opportunity to reduce antibiotic use is crucial in preventing the development of multi-drug-resistant pathogens.