Outcomes of endovascular, open surgical and autotransplantation techniques for renal artery aneurysm repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Renal artery aneurysms (RAA) can be repaired with endovascular exclusion (EVR), open repair (OR), or ex-vivo repair with renal autotransplantation (ERAT). This systematic review compares repair indications, aneurysm characteristics, and complications following these interventions. METHODS: A systematic review of databases including MEDLINE, PUBMED, and EMBASE by two independent reviewers for studies from January 2000-November 2022. All studies evaluating repair indications, RAA morphology, morbidity and mortality following EVR, OR, and ERAT were included. RESULTS: A total of 38 studies were included with 1540 EVR, 2377 OR and 109 ERAT subjects. Increasing aneurysm size, or diameters >20 mm, were the most common repair indications across EVR and OR (n = 537; 48%), and ERAT (n = 23; 52%). All ERAT repairs were at or distal to renal artery bifurcations (n = 46). Meta-analyses demonstrated significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) with EVR compared to OR (mean difference -4.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.69 to -2.43, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in mean aneurysm diameter (P = 0.23), total complications (P = 0.17), and mortality (P = 0.85). Major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥III) across studies most commonly included acute renal failure (EVR 4.9% vs. OR 7.0%). Nephrectomy was the most common major complication in ERAT (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes following EVR and OR of RAAs are comparable. EVR offers a shorter LOS, with no difference in morbidity or mortality. ERAT is currently only utilized for distal RAAs, however carries higher risk of infarction and nephrectomy necessitating specialized expertise or algorithms to assist appropriate selection of repair methods.

Utilizing the same incision for staged renal transplant in patients with polycystic kidney disease requiring hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.

BACKGROUNDS: Many autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients undergo nephrectomy and subsequent renal transplantation. We report our outcomes after hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (HALN) where a Rutherford-Morrison incision is used as a hand-port site and kidney extraction site, as well the future incision site for staged transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all adult nephrectomies for ADPKD by the Transplant Surgery department at Westmead Hospital between June 2011 and June 2021. Outcomes were compared between HALN, laparoscopic nephrectomy (LN) and open nephrectomy (ON) including operation time, hospital length of stay (LOS), post-operative complications, subsequent transplantation and post-transplantation wound complications. RESULTS: Twenty-two HALN, 8 LN and 5 ON were performed during the study period. Median kidney weights for HALN, LN and ON were significantly different (1575, 403, 3420 g respectively, P = 0.001). There was a significant difference in LOS between the HALN and ON (5.8 versus 9.8 days, P = 0.04), but not between HALN and LN (5.8 versus 5.1, P = 0.06). There was no significant difference for operation time (P = 0.34) and major complication rates (P = 0.58). There were 8 HALN, 5 LN and 2 ON who have had subsequent renal transplantation with one wound complication, an incisional hernia in the HALN group. CONCLUSION: Our HALN is associated with a shorter LOS and similar complication rate to ON and can be efficiently performed for significantly larger kidneys than LN without a significant difference in operation time or LOS. The same Rutherford-Morrison incision site can be used for transplantation.

Staged versus concurrent native nephrectomy and renal transplantation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) frequently undergo native nephrectomy before transplantation. The nephrectomy may be a staged procedure or undertaken simultaneously with transplantation. When performed simultaneously, the transplant procedure is more prolonged, involves a larger operative field and incision. There is also a concern of a greater risk of graft loss with simultaneous nephrectomy and transplantation. Moreover, staged surgery may allow nephrectomy to be performed before immunosuppression introduction via a smaller incision or involving a minimally invasive approach. However, staged nephrectomy may require a period of dialysis not otherwise necessary if a transplant and nephrectomy were simultaneous. Moreover, only a single procedure is needed, implying the avoidance of a prior nephrectomy and its attendant morbidity in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency. To account for these issues, this study aims to compare the cumulative morbidity of two-staged procedures versus a single simultaneous approach in term of morbidity and graft outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to systematically review the literature to determine whether a staged or simultaneous approach to native nephrectomy in ADPKD is the optimal approach in terms of morbidity and graft outcomes. METHODS: A literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted to identify published systematic reviews, randomized control trials, case-controlled studies and case studies. Data comparing outcomes of staged and simultaneous nephrectomy for patients undergoing kidney transplantation was extracted and analyzed. The main outcomes analyzed were length of hospitalization, blood loss, operative time, other early postoperative complications and risk of graft thrombosis. Meta-analysis was conducted where appropriate. RESULTS: Seven retrospective cohort studies were included in the review. There was a total of 385 patients included in the analysis, of whom 273 patients underwent simultaneous native nephrectomy and kidney transplantation. Meta-analysis showed an increased cumulative operative time in staged procedures (RR 1.86；95% CI 0.43-3.29 p = 0.01) and increased risk of blood transfusions (RR 2.69; 95% CI 1.92-3.46 p < 0.00001). For the transplant procedure, there were no significant difference in the length of stay (RR 1.03; 95% CI -2.01-4.14 p = 0.52), major postoperative complications (RR 0.02; 95% CI -0.15-0.10 p = 0.74) and vascular thromboses (RR 1.42 95% CI 0.23-8.59 p = 0.7). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that staged nephrectomy followed by kidney transplantation is associated with a longer cumulative operative time and increased cumulative risk of blood transfusions. There is no evidence to suggest that performing a simultaneous nephrectomy and kidney transplant procedure increases the perioperative mortality rate, major postoperative complication rates or risk of vascular thrombosis.

How to do it: a robotic kidney autotransplant.

We describe Australia's first reported case of robotic kidney autotransplantation for a complex renal artery aneurysm. It is potentially a safe, minimally invasive method of salvaging renal parenchyma and preservation of renal function in patients with complex renovascular conditions. This technique shows promise in carefully selected patients performed in centres with surgeons experienced in both kidney transplantation and the robotic platform.

Endovascular Management of Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm After Pancreas Transplantation: Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Mycotic pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of pancreas transplantation. Successful management relies on early diagnosis and expedient treatment comprising surgery and antibiotics. While the standard of care in recipients of pancreatic transplants is open repair of pseudoaneurysm with or without excision of the allograft, endovascular management has been reported. Endovascular repair is a less invasive treatment option with advantages of expedient control of hemorrhage, avoidance of adhesions with an open repair, and greater suitability for elderly and frail patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a case of a 40-year-old recipient of a pancreas transplant who had a mycotic pseudoaneurysm managed with endovascular repair. A systematic search of PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library was performed of all cases of mycotic aneurysms following pancreas or kidney transplantation managed with endovascular repair. RESULTS: There were 14 cases of mycotic aneurysms in transplant recipients managed with endovascular repair in the literature. Of those who received an endovascular stent as the only initial management strategy, 6 (54.5%) required a subsequent graft excision. Four (28.6%) patients required excision of their stent due to continued sepsis. There was 1 death from unrelated causes. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair was a reasonable bridging technique to further definitive surgical treatment in our case. Endovascular management may be used with caution in high-risk patients. We advocate for prolonged antibiotic therapy combined with vigilant surveillance of the clinical response, and a low threshold for allograft excision in the event of clinical deterioration.

Carbapenem sparing in the management of post-transrectal prostate biopsy bacteraemia.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis following transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is a major complication. With the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, empirical use of carbapenem antibiotics has been increasing. This study, conducted in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), Australia, quantifies how much we can spare carbapenem use. METHODS: A retrospective audit of patients who underwent TRUS prostate biopsy and were admitted post-operatively with proven bacteraemia between January 2007 and April 2016. RESULTS: Of 2719 TRUS procedures, 50 (1.84%) cases had bacteraemia. The most common isolate was Escherichia coli in 44 of 50 (88%) of which six of 50 (12%) were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing. Sixteen different empirical antimicrobial regimens were used, to which 42 of 50 (84%) of isolates were susceptible. Eight (16%) isolates were resistant to the chosen empiric combination, with five switched over to appropriate treatment once antimicrobial sensitivity results became available. Empirical carbapenem was utilized in 12 of 50 (24%) patients with only two of the ESBL isolates covered. A further 10 of 50 patients received carbapenems during their admission. Carbapenems could have been avoided in 18 of 22 (82%). A total of 86% of organisms (n = 43) were susceptible to the combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate and gentamicin. CONCLUSION: Although the rates of bacteraemia with ESBL-producing organisms post-TRUS biopsy are increasing, use of carbapenem-free combination antimicrobials as empirical therapy appears to be safe and effective in our setting. Clinicians can utilize local resistance patterns to inform targeted and appropriate therapy for septic patients.

The Evolution of Kidney Transplantation Surgery Into the Robotic Era and Its Prospects for Obese Recipients.

Robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) represents the most recent innovation in the evolution of kidney transplantation surgery. Vascular techniques enabling kidney transplantation have existed since the early 20th century and contributed to the first successful open kidney transplant procedure in 1954. Technical advances have since facilitated minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic techniques in live-donor surgery, and subsequently for the recipient procedure. This review follows the development of surgical techniques for kidney transplantation, with a special focus on the advent of robotic-assisted transplantation because of its potential to facilitate transplantation of those deemed previously too obese to transplant by standard means. The different techniques, indications, advantages, disadvantages, and future directions of this approach will be explored in detail. Robot-assisted kidney transplantation may become the preferred means of transplanting morbidly obese recipients, although its availability to such recipients remains extremely limited and strategies targeting weight loss pretransplantation should never be abandoned in favor of a "RAKT-first" approach.

Characteristics of sequential targeting of brain glioma for transferrin-modified cisplatin liposome.

Methods on how to improve the sequential targeting of glioma subsequent to passing of drug through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) have been occasionally reported. However, the characteristics involved are poorly understood. In the present study, cisplatin (Cis) liposome (lipo) was modified with transferrin (Tf) to investigate the characteristics of potential sequential targeting to glioma. In bEnd3/C6 co-culture BBB models, higher transport efficiency across the BBB and cytotoxicity in basal C6 cells induced by Cis-lipo(Tf) than Cis-lipo and Cis-solution, suggest its sequential targeting effect. Interestingly, similar liposomal morphology as that of donor compartment was first demonstrated in the receptor solution of BBB models. Meanwhile, a greater acquisition in the lysosome of bEnd3, distributed sequentially into the nucleus of C6 cells were found for the Cis-lipo(Tf). Pre-incubation of chlorpromazine and Tf inhibited this process, indicating that a clathrin-dependent endocytosis is involved in the transport of Cis-lipo(Tf) across the BBB.

Impact of F18-fluorodeoxyglycose positron emission tomography/computed tomography on the management of resectable pancreatic tumours.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using F18-fluorodeoxyglucose has been shown to be valuable in the management of malignant disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of this technique on the management of patients with resectable pancreatic tumours. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with 37 potentially resectable pancreatic tumours on diagnostic CT imaging underwent PET/CT scans. Operative findings, histological reports and/or clinical follow-up served as standard of reference. The impact of PET/CT on patient management was estimated by calculating the percentage of patients whose treatment plan was altered due to PET/CT. RESULTS: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 30 patients, neuroendocrine tumours in 3, mass-forming pancreatitis in 3 and serous cystadenoma in 1. The median standard uptake (max) value was 5.0 (range 2.2-12.0). Sensitivity and specificity of detecting extrapancreatic metastatic disease were 73% and 100%, respectively. Three occult liver metastases were detected at laparotomy following negative PET/CT. PET/CT findings influenced the management of 8 (22%) patients - 3 with liver metastases, 3 with bone metastases, 1 with lymph node metastases and 1 by identifying the benign appearance of the pancreatic tumour. CONCLUSION: PET/CT achieves a significant diagnostic impact in detecting extrapancreatic metastatic disease. F18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT appears to be useful in assessing suspicious pancreatic masses.