Prognostic Impact of Early Recovering Acute Kidney Injury Following Liver Transplantation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT), but the specific impact of rapidly resolving AKI is not elucidated. This study investigates the factors associated with early recovery from AKI and its association with post-LT outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 441 liver transplant recipients with end-stage liver disease without pretransplant renal impairment. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria and early renal recovery by its disappearance within 7 d post-LT. RESULTS: One hundred forty-six patients (32%) developed a post-LT AKI, of whom 99 (69%) recovered early and 45 (31%) did not. Factors associated with early recovery were Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 1 (odds ratio [OR],14.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.59-40.22; P < 0.0001), minimum prothrombin time >50 % (OR, 4.50; 95% CI, 1.67-13.46; P = 0.003) and aspartate aminotransferase peak value <1000 U/L (OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.64-10.75; P = 0.002) within 48 h post-LT. Patients with early recovery had a renal prognosis similar to that of patients without AKI with no difference in estimated glomerular filtration rate between day 7 and 1 y. Their relative risk of developing chronic kidney disease was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.55-1.41; P = 0.6) with survival identical to patients without AKI and better than patients without early recovery (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with post-LT AKI recover early and have a similar renal prognosis and survival to those without post-LT AKI. Factors associated with early renal recovery are related to the stage of AKI, the extent of liver injury, and the early graft function. Patients at risk of not recovering may benefit the most from perioperative protective strategies, particularly those aimed at minimizing the adverse effects of calcineurin inhibitors.

Risk Factors and Impact of Perioperative Prophylaxis on the Risk of Extended-spectrum ß-Lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae-related Infection Among Carriers Following Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) carriage is frequent among liver transplant (LT) recipients, thereby fostering a large empirical carbapenem prescription. However, ESBL-E infections occur in only 10%-25% of critically ill patients with rectal colonization. Our aim was to identify risk factors for post-LT ESBL-E infection in colonized patients. The effect of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) was also analyzed in patients with prophylaxis lasting <48 hours and without proven intraoperative infection. METHODS: Retrospective study from a prospective database including patients with a positive ESBL-E rectal screening transplanted between 2010 and 2016. RESULTS: Among the 749 patients transplanted, 100 (13.3%) were colonized with an ESBL-E strain. Thirty-nine (39%) patients developed an infection related to the same ESBL-E (10 pulmonary, 11 surgical site, 13 urinary, 5 bloodstream) within 11 postoperative days in median. Klebsiella pneumoniae carriage, model for end-stage liver disease ≥25, preoperative spontaneous bacterial peritonitis prophylaxis, and antimicrobial exposure during the previous month were independent predictors of ESBL-E infection. We propose a colonization to infection risk score built on these variables. The prevalence of infection for colonization to infection score of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 were 7.4%, 26.3%, 61.9%, and 91.3%, respectively. Of note, the incidence of post-LT ESBL-E infection was lower in case of perioperative AP targeting colonizing ESBL-E (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-nine percentage of ESBL-E carriers develop a related infection after LT. We identified predictors for ESBL-E infection in carriers that may help in rationalizing carbapenem prescription. Perioperative AP targeting colonizing ESBL-E may be associated with a reduced risk of post-LT ESBL-E infections.

EEG profiles during general anesthesia in children: A comparative study between sevoflurane and propofol.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective study, we describe the electroencephalographic (EEG) profiles in children anesthetized with sevoflurane or propofol. METHODS: Seventy-three subjects (11 years, range 5-18) were included and randomly assigned to two groups according to the anesthetic agent. Anesthesia was performed by target-controlled infusion of propofol (group P) or by sevoflurane inhalation (group S). Steady-state periods were performed at a fixed randomized concentration between 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 µg.ml-1 of propofol in group P and between 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% of sevoflurane in group S. Remifentanil was continuously administered throughout the study. Clinical data, Bispectral Index (BIS), and raw EEG were continuously recorded. The relationship between BIS and anesthetic concentrations was studied using nonlinear regression. For all steady-state periods, EEG traces were reviewed to assess the presence of epileptoid signs, and spectral analysis of raw EEG was performed. RESULTS: Under propofol, BIS decreased monotonically and EEG slowed down as concentrations increased from 2 to 6 µg.ml-1 . Under sevoflurane, BIS decreased from 0% to 4% and paradoxically rose from 4% to 5% of expired concentration: this increase in BIS was associated with the occurrence of fast oscillations and epileptoid signs on the EEG trace. Propofol was associated with more delta waves and burst suppression periods compared to sevoflurane. CONCLUSION: Under deep anesthesia, the BIS and electroencephalographic profiles differ between propofol and sevoflurane. For high concentrations of sevoflurane, an elevated BIS value may be interpreted as a sign of epileptoid patterns or EEG fast oscillations rather than an insufficient depth of hypnosis.

The Largest European Single-Center Experience: 300 Laparoscopic Pancreatic Resections.

BACKGROUND: Although laparoscopic pancreatic resection (LPR) has become routine, large single-center series are still lacking. Our aim was to analyze the results of a large European single-center series of LPR. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 2008 and September 2015, 300 LPRs were performed and studied prospectively, including 165 (55%) distal pancreatectomies, 68 (23%) pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs), 30 (10%) enucleations, 35 (11%) central pancreatectomies, and 2 (1%) total pancreatectomies. RESULTS: Mean age was 54 ± 15.4 years old (range 17 to 87 years), and most patients were women (58%). Laparoscopic pancreatic resection was performed for malignancy (46%), low potential malignant (44%), or benign (10%) diseases. The mean operative durations were 211 ± 102 minutes (range 30 to 540 minutes) for the entire population and 351 ± 59 minutes (range 240 to 540 minutes) for PD, and decreased with the learning curve. Mean blood loss was 229 ± 269 mL (range 0 to 1,500 mL), and 13 patients (4%) received transfusions. Conversion to an open procedure was required in 12 patients (4%), and only 5 in the last 250 patients (14% vs 2%; p < 0.001). Mortality occurred in 4 (1.3%) patients and only after PD (5.8%). Common complications were pancreatic fistula (n = 124, 41%), bleeding (n = 35, 12%), and reoperation (n = 28, 9%). The postoperative outcomes were less favorable in procedures with a reconstruction phase (n = 105) than in those without (n = 195), with increased mortality (3.8% vs 0%; p = 0.04), overall morbidity (76% vs % 52%; p < 0.001), and mean hospital stay (26 ± 15 days vs 16 ± 10 days; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic pancreatic resection without a reconstruction phase has excellent outcomes; LPR with a reconstruction phase, especially PD, has less favorable outcomes, and further randomized studies are required to draw conclusions on the safety and benefits of this approach.

Liver Transplantation With Older Donors: A Comparison With Younger Donors in a Context of Organ Shortage.

BACKGROUND: Older liver grafts have been considered in the past decade due to organ shortage. The aim was to compare outcomes after liver transplantation with either younger or older donors. METHODS: Patients transplanted in our center between 2004 and 2014 with younger donors (younger than 60 years; n = 253) were compared with older donors (older than 75 years; n = 157). Multiorgan transplantations, split grafts, or non-heart-beating donors were not included. RESULTS: Donors in the older group were mostly women deceased from stroke, and only 3 patients had experienced cardiac arrest. Liver tests were significantly better in the older group than in the younger group. There was no difference regarding cold ischemia time, model for end-stage liver disease score, and steatosis. There was no significant difference regarding primary nonfunction and dysfunction, hepatic artery and biliary complications, and retransplantation rates. Graft survival was not different (65% and 64% in the older and younger groups, P = 0.692). Within the older group, hepatitis C infection, retransplantation, and emergency transplantation were associated with poor graft survival. CONCLUSIONS: Provided normal liver tests and the absence of cardiac arrest in donors, older liver grafts (>75 years) may be safely attributed to non-hepatitis C-infected recipients in the setting of a first and nonurgent transplantation.

Effect of early postextubation high-flow nasal cannula vs conventional oxygen therapy on hypoxaemia in patients after major abdominal surgery: a French multicentre randomised controlled trial (OPERA).

PURPOSE: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is attracting increasing interest in acute medicine as an alternative to standard oxygen therapy; however, its use to prevent hypoxaemia after major abdominal surgery has not been evaluated. Our trial was designed to close this evidence gap. METHODS: A multicentre randomised controlled trial was carried out at three university hospitals in France. Adult patients at moderate to high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications who had undergone major abdominal surgery using lung-protective ventilation were randomly assigned using a computer-generated sequence to receive either HFNC oxygen therapy or standard oxygen therapy (low-flow oxygen delivered via nasal prongs or facemask) directly after extubation. The primary endpoint was absolute risk reduction (ARR) for hypoxaemia at 1 h after extubation and after treatment discontinuation. Secondary outcomes included occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications within 7 days after surgery, the duration of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality. The analysis was performed on data from the modified intention-to-treat population. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01887015). RESULTS: Between 6 November 2013 and 1 March 2015, 220 patients were randomly assigned to receive either HFNC (n = 108) or standard oxygen therapy (n = 112); all of these patients completed follow-up. The median duration of the allocated treatment was 16 h (interquartile range 14-18 h) with standard oxygen therapy and 15 h (interquartile range 12-18) with HFNC therapy. Twenty-three (21 %) of the 108 patients treated with HFNC 1 h after extubation and 29 (27 %) of the 108 patients after treatment discontinuation had postextubation hypoxaemia, compared with 27 (24 %) and 34 (30 %) of the 112 patients treated with standard oxygen (ARR 4, 95 % CI -8 to 15 %; p = 0.57; adjusted relative risk [RR] 0.87, 95 % CI 0.53-1.43; p = 0.58). Over the 7-day postoperative follow-up period, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the proportion of patients who remained free of any pulmonary complication (ARR 7, 95 % CI -6 to 20 %; p = 0.40). Other secondary outcomes also did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, early preventive application of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy after extubation did not result in improved pulmonary outcomes compared with standard oxygen therapy.

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Brain Natriuretic Peptide Serum Levels in Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) serum concentration has been shown to be a preoperative predictor of postoperative outcome in high risk surgery. Whether it is able to predict early post-liver transplantation (LT) mortality in cirrhotic patients is unanswered. METHODS: Prospective monocenter observational study including all consecutive patients who received LT for cirrhosis and for whom a preoperative BNP serum dosage was available between January 2011 and December 2014. RESULTS: During the period, 207 cirrhotic patients among 525 LT were studied. The ICU and 180-day mortality rates were, respectively, 6% and 8%. Pre-LT BNP concentration, adjusted on model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, was an independent factor of ICU and 180-day mortality rates (for each 50 pg/mL increase; hazard ratio, 1035 [1.022-1.049]; P < 0.001 and 1.035 [1.014-1057]; P = 0.001). According to the receiver operator characteristic curve with an accuracy of 0.79 (0.66-0.93), the optimal cutoff value of pre-LT BNP serum level to predict ICU mortality was 155 pg/mL with a negative predictive value of 99%. All patients with MELD score exceeding 25 and pre-LT serum BNP level less than 155 pg/mL survived, whereas patients combining MELD score exceeding 25 and pre-LT BNP concentration exceeding 155 pg/mL had a 27% ICU mortality rate (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhotic patients, pre-LT BNP serum level was an independent predictor of post-LT ICU mortality. With its excellent negative predictive value, the use of this biomarker in combination with MELD score could be useful to better predict post-LT early outcome.

Fungal complications after Candida preservation fluid contamination in liver transplant recipients.

Donor-derived fungal infections can be associated with severe complications in transplant recipients. Donor-derived candidiasis has been described in kidney transplant recipients where contamination of the preservation fluid (PF) was a commonly proposed source. In liver transplantation, these fungal infections have been less explored. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the incidence and clinical relevance of Candida contamination of preservation fluid in the context of liver transplantation. A 5-year (2008-2012) retrospective multicentre study involving six French liver transplantation centers was performed to determine the incidence of Candida PF contamination. Postoperative clinical features, outcomes in recipients, and risk factors for Candida-related complications of liver transplantation were studied. Candida sp. was isolated from 28 of 2107 preservation fluid samples (1.33%). Candida albicans was the most common yeast (n = 18, 64%). Twenty-two recipients (78.5%) received antifungal therapy (echinocandins in 68%) for 7-37 days. Eight patients developed yeast-related complications (28.6%) including hepatic artery aneurysms (n = 6) and Candida peritonitis (n = 2). The 1-year mortality rate among patients after a yeast-related complication was 62.5%. The incidence of Candida PF contamination was low, but was associated with dramatic postoperative complications and high mortality. Close radiological follow-up may enable early recognition of the arterial complications associated with PF contamination by Candida.

Airway fungal colonization compromises the immune system allowing bacterial pneumonia to prevail.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between fungal colonization and bacterial pneumonia and to test the effect of antifungal treatments on the development of bacterial pneumonia in colonized rats. DESIGN: Experimental animal investigation. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Pathogen-free male Wistar rats weighing 250-275 g. INTERVENTIONS: Rats were colonized by intratracheal instillation of Candida albicans. Fungal clearance from the lungs and immune response were measured. Both colonized and noncolonized animals were secondarily instilled with different bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus aureus). Bacterial phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages was evaluated in the presence of interferon-gamma, the main cytokine produced during fungal colonization. The effect of antifungal treatments on fungal colonization and its immune response were assessed. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa pneumonia was compared in antifungal treated and control colonized rats. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: C. albicans was slowly cleared and induced a Th1-Th17 immune response with very high interferon-gamma concentrations. Airway fungal colonization favored the development of bacterial pneumonia. Interferon-gamma was able to inhibit the phagocytosis of unopsonized bacteria by alveolar macrophages. Antifungal treatment decreased airway fungal colonization, lung interferon-gamma levels and, consequently, the prevalence of subsequent bacterial pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: C. albicans airway colonization elicited a Th1-Th17 immune response that favored the development of bacterial pneumonia via the inhibition of bacterial phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages. Antifungal treatment decreased the risk of bacterial pneumonia in colonized rats.