Using Radiographic Domain for Evaluating Indications in Abdominal Wall Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: There is currently no description of abdominal domain changes in small bowel transplantation population or consensus of criteria regarding which patients are at high risk for immediate postoperative abdominal wall complications or would benefit from abdominal wall vascularized composite allotransplantation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 14 adult patients receiving intestinal or multivisceral transplantation. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography scans were reviewed, and multiple variables were collected regarding abdominal domain and volume and analyzed comparing postoperative changes and abdominal wall complications. RESULTS: Patients after intestinal or multivisceral transplantation had a mean reduction in overall intraperitoneal volume in the immediate postoperative period from 9031 cm3 to 7846 cm3 (P = 0.314). This intraperitoneal volume was further reduced to an average of 6261 cm3 upon radiographic evaluation greater than 1 year postoperatively (P = 0.024). Patients with preexisting abdominal wound (P = 0.002), radiation, or presence of ostomy (P = 0.047) were significantly associated with postoperative abdominal wall complications. No preoperative radiographic findings had a significant association with postoperative abdominal wall complications. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography imaging demonstrates that intestinal and multivisceral transplant patients have significant reduction in intraperitoneal volume and domain after transplantation in the acute and delayed postoperative setting. Preoperative radiographic abdominal domain was not able to predict patients with postoperative abdominal wall complications. Patients with abdominal wounds, ostomies, and preoperative radiation therapy were associated with acute postoperative abdominal complications and may be considered for need of reconstructive techniques including abdominal wall transplantation.

Synchronous Abdominal Wall and Small-bowel Transplantation: A 1-year Follow-up.

Abdominal wall-vascularized composite allotransplantation (AW-VCA) has evolved as a technically feasible but challenging option in the rare event of abdominal wall reconstruction in patients whose abdomen cannot be closed by applying conventional methods. The authors conducted the first synchronous child-to-adult recipient AW-VCA using an arteriovenous loop technique. This article presents a 1-year follow-up of the patient's postoperative course. Frequent skin biopsies were performed in accordance with Duke Institutional Review Board protocol, with 3 episodes of rejection treated with high-dose steroids and Thymoglobulin (Genzyme Corp, Cambridge, Mass.). The patient developed an opportunistic fungal brain abscess secondary to immunosuppression, which led to temporary upper extremity weakness. Future considerations for AW-VCA include a modified surgical technique involving utilization of donor vein graft for arteriovenous loop formation. In addition, reduction in postoperative biopsy schedule and changes in immunosuppression regimen may lead to improved outcomes and prevent unnecessary high-dose immunosuppression.