Older Donation After Circulatory Death Kidneys for Older Recipients: A Single-Center Experience.

The number of older patients is increasing on the transplant waiting list. Donation after circulatory death (DCD) kidney transplantation has increased, but there remains hesitancy in use of older DCD organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of directing older DCD donor kidneys into older recipients. METHODS: Patients 60 years or older who received transplants from DCD donors 60 years or older, between February 2010 and January 2014, were identified from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS: Over a 4-year period, 88 patients 60 years or older received DCD kidney transplants from donors 60 years or older. Of these 44 (55%) were 60 to 69 years old and 40 (45%) were 70 years or older. Median follow up was 63 months. Patient survival was 95% and 79% at 1 and 5 years, respectively, with a survival in those 70 years and older (69%) compared with those aged 60 to 69 (88%) years (P = .01). Censored for death graft survival was 94% and 80% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Median estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12 months and 36 months was 36 mL/min (range, 11-70 mL/min) and 39.5 mL/min (range, 11-77 mL/min), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Older DCD kidneys, when transplanted into older recipients, result in good patient and graft survival and an acceptable graft function, especially considering their age. This represents a good use of this organ resource.

Dual Kidney Transplantation Offers a Valuable Source for Kidneys With Good Functional Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Reasons for declining kidney donors are older age, with or without, hypertension, kidney dysfunction, and diabetes. Implantation of both kidneys into a single recipient from such donors may improve their acceptability and outcome. METHODS: Patients who underwent dual kidney transplantation (DKT) between June 2010 and May 2014 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Single kidney transplantations (SKT) with matching donor criteria were also identified. Donors considered for DKT were the following: DBDs >70 years of age with diabetes and/or hypertension; DCDs >65 years of age with diabetes and/or hypertension; and DCDs >70 years of age. RESULTS: Over a 4-year period, 34 patients underwent adult DKT, and 51, with matching donor criteria, underwent SKT. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 12 and 36 months of DKT was 49 (range, 5-79) and 42 (range, 15-85) mL/min compared with SKT of 35 (range, 10-65) and 32 (range, 6-65), respectively. The 1-year graft survival for DKT and SKT was 88% and 96% (P = .52), and patient survival was 94% and 98%, respectively (P = .12). Median hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, and wound complications were more frequent in the DKT group. CONCLUSIONS: Graft function following DKT is significantly better compared with matched criteria SKT; graft and patient survival are similar. There is an increased rate of complications following DKT, with longer hospital stay and ICU admission.

The role of laparoscopic surgery in the management of a malfunctioning peritoneal catheter.

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal catheter malfunction is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It has a high failure rate with conservative management. Catheter replacement was historically the standard surgical treatment of choice. Nowadays, laparoscopy has been introduced as an alternative surgical modality to rescue the malfunctioning peritoneal catheter and also offers the possibility of replacement if indicated. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these two surgical modalities. METHODS: The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for malfunctioning PD catheters (between January 2010 and April 2013) were analysed. The primary outcome included successful return to adequate PD. The secondary endpoint was length of catheter patency and the cause of catheter failure. RESULTS: A total of 32 cases were identified, of which 8 had open catheter replacement and 24 had a laparoscopic intervention. The overall median follow-up duration was 12.5 months. The success rate for laparoscopic surgery in terms of functioning catheter at 12 months was 62.5% but only 37.5% for open surgery. The mean length of catheter patency after laparoscopic intervention was 31.6 months compared with only 13.6 months for the open surgery group. The most common cause of catheter failure diagnosed during laparoscopic intervention was catheter migration (33.0%), followed by omental wrap and catheter blockage by fibrin/blood plug (25.0% each). Open surgery did not have any diagnostic potential. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is the treatment of choice for malfunctioning PD. Its proven benefit includes simultaneous identification of the aetiological cause of malfunction together with direct correction of this problem, thereby maximising outcome. It also allows for rapid recommencement of PD and avoidance of haemodialysis, saving cost and resources.

Staged enteric conversion after duodenal necrosis in simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant from a donor after cardiac death: a case report.

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) is the treatment of choice for insulin-dependent diabetics with end-stage renal failure. The shortage of suitable pancreata has led to the use of donors after cardiac death (DCD). Although more than 20,000 pancreas transplants have been performed worldwide, the experience of pancreas transplantation from DCD remains limited. Factors during recovery, storage, and reperfusion may result in injury to the duodenal segment of the pancreas allograft. Here we have reported a case of duodenal necrosis after reperfusion in a patient who underwent SPK from a DCD. The pancreas was salvaged by excising the duodenum and performing a direct pancreas duct to bladder anastomosis. After recovery of function by the transplanted kidney, the patient developed recurrent urinary sepsis. The bladder-drained pancreas was converted to a direct enteric drainage, which resolved the recurrent urinary sepsis.