Pancreas after kidney transplantation, is it the time to overcome the stigma?

BACKGROUND: Pancreas transplantation is the most effective treatment to improve quality of life and overcome complications in patients with end-stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus. One of the main approaches for concurrent renal disease and diabetes mellitus which has been underutilized during the past decade is a pancreas transplant after kidney transplantation. Our study aimed to quantify outcomes following pancreas after kidney transplants (PAKs) in the United States from 2001 to 2020 with an emphasis on graft and patient survival. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective registry analysis was performed by accessing the OPTN/UNOS database for PAKs that were performed in the United States from January 2001 to April 2020. The study population was divided into two subgroups: patients receiving a pancreas transplant between 2001 and 2010 and those receiving a pancreas transplant between 2011 and 2020. RESULTS: The study examined a total number of 3706 PAK recipients; patients who received a PAK from January 2001 through December 2010 (n = 2892) and those who received a PAK from January 2011 to April 2020 (n = 814). The selection process of transplant recipients did not drastically change throughout the 2001-2010 and 2011-2020 periods. Length of stay at the hospital after the transplantation improved significantly in the 2011-2020 group relative to the 2001-2010 group (8.48 vs. 10.08 days, mean, p < 0.01). Additionally, more transplantation with 4-6 human leukocyte antigen mismatch occurred in the 2011-2020 group than in the 2001-2010 group (80.6% vs. 71.4%, p < 0.01). The pancreas preservation time of 13.35 h in the 2001-2010 group decreased significantly to 11.17 h in the 2011-2020 group (p < 0.001). The mean donor's amylase and lipase also decreased significantly in the 2011-2020 cohort. Significant graft survival improvement was observed in the 2011-2020 group compared to the 2001-2010 group after a long-term follow-up (p < 0.001). The mean Calculated Pancreas Donor Risk Index was 1.08 for the 2001-2010 group and 0.99 for the 2011-2020 group with a significant difference (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The beneficial results and improved outcomes observed in PAK patients demonstrate the effectiveness of the operation for individuals in need of a pancreas transplant. PAKs can prove to be a meaningful solution to overcome long waiting times, decrease the donor-recipient imbalance, expand the donor pool, and overcome the current underutilization in order to improve the short- and long-term quality of life in the groups of interest.

Pancreas Transplant Alone in the USA, Where Do We Stand?

BACKGROUND: Currently, over 63,000 pancreas transplant procedures have been performed worldwide, with only approximately 8% of all pancreas transplants having been a pancreas transplant alone. Our study aimed to quantify outcomes following pancreas transplant alone in the United States from 2001 to 2020, with an emphasis on graft and patient survival. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a retrospective registry analysis utilizing the OPTN/UNOS database for pancreas transplants alone performed in the United States from January 2001 to May 2020 to assess transplant outcomes. The study population was divided into two subgroups: patients receiving a pancreas transplant between 2000 and 2009 and those receiving a pancreas transplant between 2010 and 2020. RESULTS: 3008 allograft recipients were included in the study. 1679 (54.87%) transplants were done from January 2000 to the end of 2009. 1381 (45.13%) transplants were done from 2010 to May 2020. Although the BMI and recipient sex comparison indicate a statistically significant difference, the differences are not clinically significant. The overall 5-year allograft survival rate was 52.17% in the 2000-2009 group, which increased to 58.82% in pancreas transplants alone from 2010 to 2020 (P = 0.02). The overall 5-year patient survival rate was 74.52% in the 2000-2009 group, which increased to 74.92% in pancreas transplants alone from 2010 to 2020 (P = 0.81). CONCLUSION: With all the progress in terms of surgical techniques, organ allocation and preservation, and immunosuppressive regimens, the pancreas transplant alone allograft survival has been improving over the years, although it has been still being underutilized around the US.

Kidney Transplantation and Obesity: Are There Any Differences in Outcomes?

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Obesity is a strong risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and ESRD. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of kidney transplantation in obese recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of recipients from January 2016 to December 2021 in a single center. Outcomes in recipients of a kidney allograft with BMI ≥ 30 were compared with the outcomes in recipients with 30 < BMI. RESULTS: A total of 467 consecutive kidney transplantation recipients' files were studied. 213 (45.6%) allograft recipients had a BMI ≥ 30, and 254 (54.4%) allograft recipients had a BMI < 30. DGF rate was 29.1% in the BMI ≥ 30 and 30.7% in the BMI < 30 group (P = 0.41). On the other hand, 30 days readmission rate also did not show a significant difference between the BMI ≥ 30 and BMI < 30 allograft recipients (37 vs. 33.8%, P = 0.46). The mean overall costs of transplantation in the BMI ≥ 30 group was $254,395, and it was $256,029 in the BMI < 30 group (P = 0.84). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the outcomes of renal allograft transplant were comparable between recipients with BMI ≥ 30 and BMI < 30 in terms of DGF, LOS, 30 days readmission, acute rejection rate, and survival rates, and BMI should not be a single independent criterion for decision making to select an optimal recipient.

Competition in liver transplantation: helpful or harmful?

Improved outcomes of liver transplantation have led to increases in the numbers of US transplant centers and candidates on the list. The resultant and ever-expanding organ shortage has created competition among centers, especially in regions with multiple liver transplant programs. Multiple reports now document that competition among the country's transplant centers has led to the listing of increasingly high-risk patients and the utilization of more marginal liver allografts. The transplant and medical communities at large should carefully re-evaluate these practices and promote innovative approaches to restoring trust in the allocation of donor organs and confirming that there is nationwide conformity in the guidelines used for evaluating and listing potential candidates for this scarce resource.

Current state of the art in management of vascular complications after pediatric liver transplantation.

Vascular complications by compromising the blood flow to the allograft can have significant and sometimes life-threatening consequences after pediatric liver transplantation. High level of suspicion and aggressive utilization of diagnostic modalities can lead to early diagnosis and salvage of the allograft. This review will summarize the current trends in management of vascular complications after pediatric liver transplantation.

Human C1 inhibitor attenuates liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and promotes liver regeneration.

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a well-known cause of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Activation of the complement system contributes to the pathogenesis of IRI. Effective treatment strategies aimed at reducing hepatic IRI and accelerating liver regeneration could offer major benefits in LT. Herein, we investigated the effect of C1-esterase inhibitor (human) [C1-INH] on IRI and liver regeneration. Mice were subjected to 60-min partial IRI, with or without 70% partial hepatectomy, or CCl4-induced acute liver failure. Before liver injury, the animals were pretreated with intravenous C1-INH or normal saline. Liver IRI was evaluated using serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, serum interleukin-6, and histopathology. Liver samples were stained for specific markers of regeneration (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine [BrdU] staining and proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]). Histology, serum interleukin-6, and alanine aminotransferase release revealed that C1-INH treatment attenuated liver injury compared with controls. Improved animal survival and increased number of BrdU- and PCNA-positive cells were observed in C1-INH-treated animals which underwent IRI + partial hepatectomy or CCl4 injection compared with control group. These data indicate that complement plays a key role in IRI and liver regeneration. C1-INH represents a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce IRI and promote regeneration in LT.

Pediatric transplantation and tolerance: past, present, and future.

Solid organ transplantation is the treatment of choice in children with end-stage organ failure. With improving methods of transplant surgery and post-transplant care, transplantation is more frequently performed worldwide. However, lifelong and non-specific suppression of the recipient's immune system is a cause of significant morbidity in children, including infection, diabetes, and cancer. There is a great need to develop IS minimization/withdrawal and tolerance induction approaches.

Effect of staff migration on kidney transplant activity in United Network for Organ Sharing region 1 transplant centers.

Organ shortage is unquestionably the greatest challenge facing the field of transplantation today. Transplant centers are constantly competing with one another for limited numbers of organs for their recipients. Recruitment of specialized transplant surgical expertise and leadership is thought to enable a center to grow in volume and thus profitability in the increasingly difficult world of health care reimbursement. In this study, the pattern of kidney transplants at 13 different centers in the United Network for Organ Sharing's region 1 is examined: the comparison is between transplant volume before and after changes in the centers' leadership between 2000 and 2011. Each center's kidney transplant volume showed a significant increase after a leadership change that ultimately regressed to the center's baseline. This study is the first to show that behavioral changes in transplant center competition cause transient increases in transplant volume that quickly regress back to mean levels.

Application of Combined Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA and Transcriptome in Diagnosis of Kidney Transplant Rejection.

BACKGROUND: Transcriptomic kidney profile testing and donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) testing are new methods shown to provide early markers of graft inflammation during the post-transplant period. This study focused on utilizing clinical data to evaluate the application of these tests in detecting transplant rejection by comparing tests results to biopsy reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all adult kidney transplant patients at SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital from 1 January 2014 to 1 December 2022. Inclusion criteria were patients with concurrent transcriptomic kidney profile test and kidney biopsy results. RESULTS: Biopsies identified 33 kidney transplant rejections. For diagnosis of kidney rejection, transcriptomic kidney profile testing had a 52.83% positive predictive value and 92.77% negative predicative value, while dd-cfDNA testing had a 54.83% positive predictive value and 86.45% negative predictive value. Transcriptomic kidney profile testing showed an 82.35% sensitivity and 75.49% specificity, while dd-cfDNA testing showed a 56.66% sensitivity and 85.56% specificity. Positive transcriptomic kidney profile and dd-cfDNA tests detected 51.51% of rejections. Combined negative tests were observed in 70.21% of biopsies without rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Despite certain discrepancies and limitations, we believe transcriptomic profile testing and dd-cfDNA testing are useful for detecting early-stage rejections and can guide patient care. Additionally, dd-cfDNA testing avoids invasive screening biopsies. Following negative test results, the probability patients are not having rejection is 86.45%. The transcriptomic profile test's high sensitivity and specificity allow possible detection of transplant rejections that may have otherwise not been identified by biopsy.

Urinary reconstruction after kidney transplantation: pyeloureterostomy or ureteroneocystostomy.

PURPOSE: Ureteroneocystostomy (UCN) is the most widely used urinary reconstruction technique during kidney transplantation. Disadvantages of this technique include a high incidence of hematuria and reflux, plus the potential for obstruction resulting from distal ureteral fibrosis. Pyeloureterostomy (PU) avoids these complications but increases the technical complexity. METHODS: Between January 1990 and December 2005, 1066 adults patients underwent kidney transplantations; 768 patients (72.1%) had urinary reconstruction by PU and 298 (27.9%) underwent UNC. RESULTS: Patients in the PU group underwent simultaneous ipsilateral native nephrectomy. The operative time was longer in the PU group compared with the UNC group: 210 ± 36 min versus 182 ± 24 min (P < 0.001). Overall surgical complications in the PU group were comparable to those in the UNC group (9.5% versus 12.3%). The urinary complication rate was also comparable in both groups: 3.2% (25 of 768) in the PU group and 5% (15 of 298) in the UNC group. However, urinary obstruction comprised 60% of urinary complications in the UNC group, compared with 32% in the PU group (P < 0.01). We treated most urinary complications non-operatively. However, 24% of patients (six of 25) in the PU group needed operative intervention or revision for ureteral reconstruction, compared with 46.6% (seven of 15) in the UNC group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pyeloureterostomy is a safe and effective method for urinary tract reconstruction in renal transplantation. Pyeloureterostomy should be part of every transplant surgeon's armamentarium.

Urinary Tract Infection 1 Year After Kidney Transplant: Effect on Kidney Transplant Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Transplant is the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease, and yet infectious complications frequently arise in kidney recipients in the context of immunosuppression therapy, with urinary tract infection being the most common. We aimed to assess the prevalence of posttransplant urinary tract infections in kidney transplant recipients and assess the effects on kidney allograft and overall patient outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from State University of New York Upstate University Hospital from January 2016 to November 2022 to assess transplant outcomes in patients who underwent a kidney transplant at our center and met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: There were 507 renal allograft recipients who met our inclusion criteria and were assessed for the incidence of urinary tract infection within the first year after transplant. Urinary tract infection was recurrent in 113 transplant recipients (55.6%) within the first year, and 118 (58.1%) were on prophylactic antibiotics at urinary tract infection diagnosis. We observed no relation between recurrence of urinary tract infection and use of prophylactic antibiotics (P = .21). Overall allograft survival rate was 92.1% in the urinary tract infection group and 96.7% in the group without urinary tract infection, which was significantly different (P = .02). Urinary tract infection significantly affected allograft survival (hazard ratio, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.49-8.23; P = .004). Overall patient survival rates were 86.7% and 91.4% in the groups with and without urinary tract infection, respectively (P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: We determined that allograft survival was significantly greater in the group without urinary tract infection versus the urinary tract infection group. We found no relation between urinary tract infection recurrence and prophylactic antibiotics. We also found that overall patient survival was not significantly different in the group with urinary tract infection versus the group without urinary tract infection.

March 2021 New Kidney Allocation: How Did the New Changes Affect the Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant Outcomes?

OBJECTIVES: Given the shortage of kidney donations relative to the ever-increasing demand, there is an ongoing need to utilize available donor organs efficiently and fairly. The purpose of the deceased donor Kidney Allocation System is to optimize and equalize organ access for candidates nationwide. We investigated the outcomes of kidney transplant cases before and after the new allocation placement in March 2021 and the effect of the new allocation system on these outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the recipients. Outcomes in recipients of renal allografts were compared before and after the changes in March 2021 to the Kidney Allocation System. RESULTS: There were 333 (73.7%) renal allografts transplanted before the 2021 new allocation, and 119 (26.3%) recipients received their renal allografts after the new allocation. The rate of delayed graft function was 33.3% in the preallocation group and 38.65% in the postallocation group (P = .29). The rate for patient readmission within 30 days was compared between the groups and did not show a statistically significant difference (37.8% vs 39.5%; P = .75). The 1-year graft survival rate was 97.5% in the postallocation group and 95.5% in the preallocation group (P = .526). The 1-year patient survival rate was 98.3% in the postallocation group and 95.8% in the preallocation group (P = .499). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides reassurance in finding no statistically significant differences between patient outcomes before and after the implementation of the March 2021 change to the Kidney Allocation System. However, the new allocation measures would help for a more equal distribution of the kidneys.

Protocol Biopsy After Kidney Transplant: Clinical Application and Efficacy to Detect Allograft Rejection.

Background Kidney transplant rejection is a major cause of graft dysfunction and failure. In recent years, there has been increased interest in renal allograft protocol biopsies to allow earlier detection of acute or chronic graft dysfunction or rejection to improve long-term graft survival and reduce graft failure. This study aimed to determine if renal allograft protocol biopsies performed within the first 12 months after transplantation help detect subclinical graft dysfunction or rejection. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis utilizing SUNY Upstate University Hospital data from January 2016 to March 2022 to assess transplant outcomes and biopsies. The study population was divided into two subgroups: non-protocol biopsies and protocol biopsies within the 12 months post-transplant. Results A total of 332 patients met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Patients were divided into two subgroups: 135 patients (40.6%) in the protocol biopsy group and 197 patients (59.4%) with non-protocol indication biopsies during the first year after the transplant. The overall number of rejection episodes reported was eight episodes (4.6%) in the protocol biopsy group and 56 episodes (18.3%) in the non-protocol indication biopsy group, which was significantly higher in the non-protocol biopsy group (P=0.001). Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) diagnoses were significantly higher in the non-protocol biopsy group (P=0.03 and P=0.03, respectively). We also mentioned a trend in terms of mixed antibody-mediated rejection and T-cell-mediated rejection diagnosis (P=0.07). One year after the rejection, the mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 56.78 mL/min/1.73m2 in the protocol biopsy group and 49.14 mL/min/1.73m2 in the non-protocol indication biopsy group, and there was no significant difference anymore (P=0.11). The patient survival rate was not significantly higher in the protocol biopsy group compared to the non-protocol indication biopsy group (P=0.42). Conclusion This study suggests that performing protocol biopsies does not significantly benefit rejection rates, graft survival, or renal function within the first 12 months post-transplant. Given these results and the small but non-zero risk of complications associated with protocol biopsies, they should be reserved for those patients at high risk of rejection. It may be more feasible and beneficial to utilize less invasive tests, such as DSA and dd-cfDNA testing, for early diagnosis of a rejection episode.

Infection in Patients on Belatacept Regimen After Kidney Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: A common complication after transplant is an opportunistic infection, in part due to the necessary immunosuppression regimens that patients are placed on. This study aimed to assess the outcomes and rates of infection in kidney transplant recipients on belatacept compared with kidney transplant recipients on standard immunosuppression therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a matched-pair case-control retrospective analysis of a prospectively recollected database of all adult kidney transplant patients at the SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital from January 1, 2016, to July 31, 2022. RESULTS: Among study patients, 60.5% of patients in the belatacept group and 47.9% of patients in the standard immunosuppression regimen group were diagnosed with an infectious disease during follow-up, although no significant difference was shown between the 2 groups (P = .21). The most common infection in both groups was urinary tract infection, which was comparable between the groups (41.8% vs 50%; P = .42). No significant difference was shown between patients with early and late conversion to belatacept in terms of infection incident and type. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney transplant recipients who were converted to belatacept because of poor renal function had a similar infection rate compared with patients on standard immunosuppression treatment. Neither conversion to belatacept nor timing of conversion changed the risk of infection after kidney transplant. Our findings suggest that physicians may convert a kidney transplant recipient with poor renal function to belatacept without changing the patient's risk of opportunistic infection.

Immunosuppression regimen modification during COVID-19 infection in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic had tremendously affected all the aspects of human life during the past 3 years. In this study, we focused on kidney transplant patients' course from the COVID-19 diagnosis, immunosuppressive medication modification, hospitalization, and COVID-19 complications and how the COVID-19 infection affected the kidney and patients' quality of life during the hospitalization and after the discharge. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all kidney transplants adult patients who had a positive COVID-19 PCR from 1 January 2020 to 30 December 2022, and had a history of kidney transplant at the SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital was done to identify the cases. RESULTS: 188 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Based on the immunosuppressive regimen modification during COVID-19 infection, patients divided into two groups; in 143 (76%) patients, the immunosuppressive medication was reduced, and in 45 (24%) of patients, the immunosuppressive regimen continued as before during the COVID-19 infection. The mean time from the transplant to the diagnosis of COVID-19 was 67 months in the group we reduced the IM regimen, and 77 months in the group without changes in IM regimen. The mean recipients' age was 50.7 ± 12.9 years in the group we reduced the IM regimen, and 51.8 ± 16.4 years in the group without changes in IM regimen (P = 0.64). The vaccination rate against COVID-19 with at least 2 doses of either the CDC recommended Moderna or Pfizer vaccines was 80.2% in the group we reduced the IM regimen, and 84.8% in the group without changes in IM regimen (P = 0.55). The hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 related symptoms was 22.4% % in the group we reduced the IM regimen, and 35.5% in the group without changes in IM regimen (P = 0.12). However, the ICU admission rate was higher in the group we reduced the IM regimen, but the difference was not significant (26.5% Vs.6.25%, P = 0.12). 6 episodes of biopsy-proven rejection in the group with IM reduction was observed, which were 3 episodes of acute antibody-mediated rejections (ABMR) and 3 episodes of acute T-Cell-mediated rejections (TCMR), and 3 episodes in the group without any change in IM regimen, which were 2 episodes of ABMR and 1 episode of TCMR (P = 0.51). No significant difference was mentioned in the eGFR and serum creatinine after the comparison between the groups after 12 months of follow up. 124 patients responded to the post-COVID-19 questionnaires and were included in the data analysis. The response rate was 66%. Fatigue and exertion were the most reported symptom with a 43.9% prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: We found that immunosuppressive regimen minimization did not impact the kidney function in the long-term and it might be a helpful strategy to minimize the effect of COVID-19 infection on patients' condition during the hospital stay. With all the treatments, vaccinations, and precautions, still some patients did not achieve the complete recovery compared to their pre-COVID-19 health status. Fatigue was the main reported symptom amongst all the reported symptoms.

Chylous Ascites After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy: Is Early Surgical Intervention Necessary?

OBJECTIVES: Chylous ascites is a rare complication that may occur after living donor nephrectomy. The continuous loss of lymphatics, which carries a high risk of morbidity, may ensue in possible immunodeficiency and protein-calorie malnutrition. Here, we presented patients who developed chylous ascites after robotassisted living donor nephrectomy and reviewed the current literature of therapeutic strategies for chylous ascites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 424 laparoscopic living donor nephrectomies performed at a single transplant center; among these, we studied the records of 3 patients who developed chylous ascites following robot-assisted living donor nephrectomy. RESULTS: Among 438 living donor nephrectomies, 359 (81.9%) were laparoscopic and 77 (18.1%) were by robotic assistance. In the 3 cases highlighted in our study, patient 1 did not respond to conservative therapy, which consisted of diet optimization, total parenteral nutrition, and octreotide (somatostatin). Patient 1 subsequently underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopy with suture ligation and clipping of leaking lymphatic vessels, allowing the chylous ascites to subside. Patient 2 similarly did not respond to conservative treatment and developed ascites. Despite initial improvement after wound interrogation and drainage, patient 2 had continued symptoms, resulting in diagnostic laparoscopy and repair of leaky channels leading to the cisterna chyli. Patient 3 developed chylous ascites 4 weeks postoperatively and received ultrasonographic-guided paracentesis by interventional radiology, with results showing an aspirate consistent with chyle. The patient's diet was optimized, allowing for initial improvement and eventual return to normal diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our case series and literature review demonstrate the importance of early surgical intervention after failed conservative management for resolution of chylous ascites in patients after robotassisted donor laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation From Donors With Acute Kidney Injury: Realities and Costs.

OBJECTIVES: Transplant of kidneys from donors with acute kidney injury has shown favorable outcomes. We investigated the outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with deceased donors who developed acute kidney injury before organ procurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of recipients from January 2016 to December 2021 in a single center. Outcomes in recipients of kidney grafts from donors with and without acute kidney injury were compared. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 40 months. Our study included 129 (34%) kidneys transplanted from donors with acute kidney injury and 251 (66%) kidneys from donors without acute kidney injury. Delayed graft function rate in recipients was 33% in the acute kidney injury group and 25.5% in the group without acute kidney injury (P = .099). Readmission rate at 30 days was significantly higher among recipients of kidneys with acute kidney injury compared with recipients of kidneys without acute kidney injury (45% vs 33.5%; P = .02). The mean overall costs of transplant in the acute kidney injury group were comparable to the group without acute kidney injury ($253 865 vs $253 611; P = .97). The acute rejection rate was comparable between the 2 groups (4% in both groups; P = .96). Delayed graft function rate was increased with increased stage of acute kidney injury (18% stage 1, 45% stage 2, 36% stage 3; P = .03). However, the overall length of hospital stay and costs were comparable among recipients of different stages of acute kidney injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that kidney transplants from donors with acute kidney injury have early and late outcomes comparable to kidney transplants from donors without acute kidney injury. Allografts from donors with acute kidney injury can be used safely and can expand the donor pool in kidney transplant without increasing perioperative resource utilization.

Laparoscopic to robotic living donor nephrectomy: Is it time to change surgical technique?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore differences in outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic donor nephrectomies (LDN). METHODS: This study compared robotic and laparoscopic surgical techniques for live donor nephrectomies in 153 patients at a single centre. RESULTS: Left nephrectomies were more common in both groups, but with no significant difference between the groups (76.6% vs. 77.6%, p = 0.88). The robotic donor nephrectomies (RDN) group experienced significantly less blood loss (60 vs. 134 mL, p < 0.01), but warm ischaemia time was similar between groups (3.2 vs. 3.7 min, p = 0.54).The RDN group had decreased subjective pain scores (3.54 vs. 4.21, p = 0.04) and shorter length of hospitalisation (2.22 vs. 3.04 days, p < 0.01).There were also fewer complications in the RDN than the LDN group (4 vs. 8, p = 0.186). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that RDN is a safe and alternative to LDN. Decreased blood loss and hospital stays and fewer complications may reflect decreased tissue manipulation with robotic assistance.

Early conversion to belatacept-based immunosuppression regimen promotes improved long-term renal graft function in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Belatacept has been demonstrated as an effective alternative immunosuppressant in kidney transplant recipients. This study focuses on outcomes of early and late conversion to Belatacept-based immunosuppression after kidney transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database included all adult kidney transplants patients at SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital from 1 January 2014 to 30 December 2022. Early conversion was defined as all conversions done at <6 months after kidney transplantation, and late conversion to belatacept was defined as conversion at >6 months after kidney transplantation. RESULTS: Out of 61 patients included in this study, 33 patients (54%) were in the early conversion group, and 28 patients (46%) were in the late conversion group. The mean eGFR in the early conversion group was 26.73 ± 16.26 ml/min/1.73 m2 before conversion to belatacept, which improved to 45.3 ± 21.01 ml/min/1.73 m2 at one-year post-conversion (p = 0.0006). Furthermore, eGFR changes in the late conversion group were insignificant, with 46.30 ± 15.65 ml/min/1.73 m2 before conversion to belatacept, and 44.76 ± 22.91 ml/min/1.73 m2 after one year of follow-up (p = 0.72). All four biopsy-proven allograft rejections in the early conversion group were acute T-cell-mediated rejections (ATMR). In the late conversion group, out of three biopsy-proven rejections, one was chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR), one was ATMR, and one was mixed ATMR/CAMR. All four patients with ATMR rejection received mycophenolic acid (MPA) as part of their immunosuppressive regimen, and none received tacrolimus. The one-year post-conversion allograft survival rate in early and late conversion groups was 100%. However, the one-year post-conversion patient survival rate was 90.9% in the early conversion group and 100% in the late conversion group (P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Early post-transplant conversion to belatacept can improve the eGFR more meaningful when compared to late conversion. Patients who receive belatacept and MPA rather than tacrolimus may have increased rates of T-cell-mediated rejection.