[Dual kidney transplant: the E. Herriot Hospital Lyon experience]. / Bitransplantation rénale : expérience du protocole lyonnais de l'hôpital E.-Herriot.

INTRODUCTION: In the current context of a high incidence end-stage kidney disease and a shortage of organs for kidney transplantation, the increasing use of transplants considered to be "borderline" represents a potential source of transplants. Over the last 10 years, some centers have developed a transplantation strategy, which consists of transplanting two borderline kidneys that cannot be proposed separately in a single recipient. The authors report their experience of dual kidney transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 2001, 15 dual kidney transplants have been performed in a single centre according to a local protocol based on the correspondence between the weight of the donor kidney and the recipient's weight, weighted by the number of fibrotic glomeruli observed on the initial biopsy. In this study, the authors analyze the postoperative complications and functional results observed in patients transplanted according to this protocol. RESULTS: Dual kidney transplants represented less than 5% of all transplants performed during the study period concerned, which remained lower than the objectives initially announced by the ABM. The surgical technique was left to the surgeon's discretion. The mean follow-up was 26.3 months. Fourteen of the 15 recipients were alive with a functional graft. Surgical complications were globally more frequent when kidneys were transplanted on the same side (versus transplanted on both sides). Mean serum creatinine was 119.4 mol/l at six months (creatinine clearance according to MDRD formula: 57.3 ml/min per 1.73 m2), 118.8 mol/l at 12 months (creatinine clearance: 55.8) and 132.4 mol/l at 24 months (creatinine clearance: 44.2). One year post-transplant, mean renal function measured by inulin clearance was 55.5 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Four of the 15 patients had experienced an episode of acute rejection and three patients experienced delayed return of transplant function. CONCLUSION: In view of the results obtained, the authors consider that dual kidney transplant could be a reasonable and effective option for selected patients. Positioning of the transplants in each iliac fossa limited the surgical complication rate.

Pancreas transplantation: results and indications.

Pancreatic transplantation is the best method of replacing the endocrine function of the gland in Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. At the end of 1996, 9,000 pancreas transplants had been reported to the international Pancreas Transplant Registry. For 1994-1996, one-year pancreas survival rates were 81% for simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (n = 1,516), 71% for pancreas after kidney (n = 141) and 64% for pancreas alone (n = 64). In patients with a functional graft, glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, and 24-h metabolic profiles are normal. The effect of pancreatic transplantation on secondary complications often appears after several years of normal pancreatic function. Successful transplantation is associated with an improvement in different aspects of the quality of life. The decision to perform pancreatic transplantation depends on the balance between the risks of transplantation, mainly surgical or related to immunosuppression, and those of diabetes development. The advantages and drawbacks of pancreatic transplantation and insulin therapy need to be honestly and carefully analysed for specific populations of diabetic patients as well as for each individual. At present, simultaneous pancreaticorenal transplantation is the best treatment for diabetic patients with chronic renal failure. Transplantation of the pancreas alone in non-uraemic patients may also be considered in carefully selected subjects.

Evidence of recurrent type I diabetes following HLA-mismatched pancreas transplantation.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is considered as an autoimmune disease against beta cells. Diabetes recurrence after pancreas transplantation is well known in HLA-identical twins while it is rarely reported in recipients of cadaveric pancreatic grafts. In the present case report, diabetes recurrence occurred in a recipient who underwent cadaveric combined pancreas kidney transplantation. Seven years after transplantation the patient exhibited progressive hyperglycemia needing insulin therapy while the renal graft was well functioning. The diagnosis of recurrent disease was obtained on the histological features such as selective loss of beta cells without clear signs of insulitis and on the presence of markers (GAD 65 and IA-2) for humoral autoimmunity. It is intriguing that, at the time of recurrence of type 1 diabetes, the patient had stopped steroids and azathioprine, while only cyclosporine was maintained as immunosuppressive treatment. Our case report underlines the relevance of studying the humoral autoimmune response directed to islet autoantigens in cadaveric pancreas allograft recipients. Furthermore, it suggests that an efficient immunosuppressive treatment after transplantation may be able to reduce the autoimmune response against the pancreatic allograft.

Ureteropelvic invagination procedure for endopyelotomy (Gelet technique): review of 51 consecutive cases.

Between 1990 and 1995, we performed 51 endopyelotomies on 38 cases of primary and 13 of secondary obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) using the ureteropelvic invagination technique. Of the 51 patients in the series, 49 have been followed for a minimum of 3 months postoperatively (mean follow-up 16 months). Overall, success was achieved in 38 (77.5%). Endoscopic endopyelotomy was successful in 11 of 13 cases (84.5%) with secondary strictures. When the technique was used for the treatment of primary UPJ stricture, the success rate was only 75% (27 of 36). The presence of a crossing vessel was identified as the cause of failure in five cases of primary strictures; hence, we advocate the use of angiography to identify crossing vessels preoperatively. We recommend the use of the ureteropelvic invagination technique as the first-line therapy for primary hydronephrosis in adults in the absence of a crossing vessel.

[Treatments of biliary fistulas following the removal of a Kehr tube after orthotopic liver transplantation]. / Traitements des fistules biliaires à l'ablation du drain de Kehr après transplantation hépatique orthotopique.

Biliary tract complications are a major source of morbidity after liver transplantation. From October 1990 to September 1992, 77 patients, including 13 children and 64 adults, received 80 liver transplants. Biliary reconstruction was performed using a choledochocholedochostomy with a T-tube in 40 recipients. We report the management of bile leaks following T tube removal in 6 patients. In all cases, bile leak was diagnose by ultrasound examination requested for abdominal pain. In the first 2 patients, a surgical treatment was applied: Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy was performed on the first patient and simple suture of the fistula in the second patient. Two patients were managed nonoperatively using endoscopic and radiological procedures allowing placement of bile duct prosthesis and abdominal drainage. In 2 patients with small localized sub-hepatic collection, no surgical or radio-endoscopic treatment was attempted; spontaneous resolution of the collections was achieved in 2 months on ultrasound examination. All patients are alive, although, the patient who was operated on with a roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy developed thrombosis of the right hepatic artery and biliary anastomotic stenosis which required further operations. We advocate endoscopic placement of endobiliary prosthesis and percutaneous biliary drainage as first-line therapy for significant fistula after T-tube removal. The use of choledochocholedochostomy without a T-tube when possible for biliary reconstruction in liver transplantation could be an effective procedure, but requires further evaluation.

[Pediatric liver transplantation and related live donor. Technical and ethical considerations]. / Transplantation hépatique pédiatrique et donneur vivant apparenté. Considérations techniques et éthiques.

With improved results of liver transplantation, the number of candidates is increasing. However the scarcity of suitable grafts from cadaveric donors remains a limitation. In spite of the use of full size or reduced size grafts or partial grafts from split livers, some children still die while waiting for liver transplantation. We describe a successful orthotopic liver transplantation in a 10 months old female using the left lateral lobe (segments II and III) from her 27 years old father. The child suffered from biliary atresia, her condition was deteriorating with intractable ascites and increasing jaundice. The father asked us to give a part of his own liver to his daughter. The concept of this innovative therapy had already been submitted to a research-ethics consultation which gave us favorable conclusions. After careful donor evaluation, the left lateral lobe was harvested on July 22, 1992, including the left hepatic artery, left portal vein and left hepatic vein; hepatic artery for segment IV, which arose from the right structures, was preserved, The graft was immediately transplanted orthotopically after recipient total hepatectomy with inferior vena cava preservation. Cold ischemia time was 1 hour and 45 minutes, revascularization of the graft was homogeneous from the very beginning and its early function was excellent. Thirteen days after the operation, the donor was discharged in good condition. The child was reoperated at day 9 for a small biliary leak originating from the cut surface of the liver. After resolution of an episode of rejection and an intra-abdominal abscess, the child was discharged in good health with normal liver function 1 month post-transplant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Graft function following renal transplantation in children]. / Evolution de la fonction du greffon après transplantation rénale chez l'enfant.

BACKGROUND: Since renal transplantation is known to be the best choice for the growing child with end-stage renal failure, we prospectively evaluated early and late graft function in transplanted children. POPULATION AND METHODS: The study included 78 children (32 girls, 46 boys) 10.4 +/- 0.6 years at the time of transplantation. Renal investigations were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months post-transplantation and yearly thereafter. Inulin clearance was used to evaluate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the reabsorption rates of Na, P and Ca were measured concomitantly. RESULTS: The overall adjusted GFR was approximately 70 mL/min/1.73 m2 and remained unchanged during the first 5 years post-transplantation. In the mean time the absolute GFR increased significantly, suggesting a remaining capacity for compensatory hypertrophy of the transplanted kidney. Renal function was significantly influenced by the number of rejection episodes during the first 2 years post-transplantation but no correlation was found between GFR and the number of HLA mismatches or the use of preemptive transplantation.

[Retroperitoneal foreign body mimicking pararenal tumor]. / Corps étranger rétropéritonéal simulant une tumeur pararénale.

We report the case of a 48 year-old woman presently with a pararenal tumor, with a history of pyelotomy in 1978 for the extraction of a renal pelvic stones. Results of surgery showed a foreign body. The clinical and diagnostic aspects of retained surgical gauze have been discussed and the need for radio-opaque markers in them have been emphasized.

[Bilateral adrenal pheochromocytomas in von Hippel-Lindau disease]. / Phéochromocytomes surrénaliens bilatéraux au cours de la maladie de von Hippel-Lindau.

The pheochromocytoma is a medullo-adrenal tumor which develops at the cost of the chromaffin cells. It appears in 11-19% of cases of von Hippel-Lindau's disease (VHL), is often bilateral, and the symptomatology is often crude: arterial hypertension is frequently isolated and unstable, and the classic triad of headache, palpitations and sweating is quite rarely observed. We report four observations of bilateral pheochromocytomas in patients with von Hippel-Lindau's disease (three with phenotype IIA and one with phenotype IIB). The tumor was bilateral during the diagnosis in three cases; in the fourth patient, the attack on the contralateral adrenal gland came two years after the first adrenalectomy. All the patients had undergone an adrenalectomy by open surgery after a short preparation of 48 hours; replacement therapy was begun in each patient. Morbidity was low, and the patients submitted to a prolonged follow-up in order to screen for the onset of future lesions of VHL.

[Role of celioscopy in the treatment of lymphocele after transplantation]. / Place de la coelioscopie dans le traitement des lymphocèles après transplantation.

Lymphoceles can be observed after renal transplantation. Sometimes lymphoceles can cause symptoms (renal insufficiency, pain). In these cases they require surgical treatment. From january 92 to december 1993 seven patients with complicated lymphoceles were treated. Simple drainage with injections of polyvidone iodine was used in 4 cases without effect. Surgical drainage was performed in 5 cases with complete disappearance of the pouch (on open surgical procedure, four celioscopic procedures). Celioscopic marsupialization of lymphoceles after transplantation is a method of choice and is preferred to open surgery for lymphoceles which develop internally.

[Endoscopic treatment of vesico-ureteral reflux after reimplantation of the ureter (transplants excluded)]. / Traitement endoscopique du reflux vésico-urétéral après réimplantation de l'uretère (greffes exclues).

O'Donnell's technique was used to treat 9 refluxing ureteric units after surgical reimplantation of the ureter in 8 patients (mean age: 45 years) between May 1986 and January 1991. The reimplantation was performed according to Cohen's technique in 5 cases (including ureteric remodelling in one case), Leadbetter's technique in 2 cases (including ureteric remodelling in one case), the Campos Freire technique in 1 case and a direct reimplantation in 1 case (with Boari). The reflux was grade II for 1 ureter, grade III for 54 ureters, grade IV for 2 ureters and grade V for 1 ureter. A single injection was performed in 5 patients and multiple injections were required in 3 patients. An associated bladder neck incision was performed in 2 male patients. No complications were observed. Correction of reflux was obtained for 8 ureteric units, i.e. 87% success with a mean follow-up of 28 months. The failure corresponded to the case of grade V reflux in a megaureter reimplanted with remodelling. The authors recommend that endoscopic treatment of reflux be performed as first-line treatment for reflux of reimplanted ureters because of the simplicity and efficacy of this technique.

[100 percutaneous endopyelotomies. Technique, indications, results]. / 100 endopyélotomies per-cutanées. Technique, indication, résultats.

100 percutaneous endopyelotomies were performed in 95 patients from October 1985 to February 1991 to treat 46 cases of acquired stenosis and 54 cases of congenital hydronephrosis. The acquired stenoses were treated by scalpel incision, while the congenital hydronephrosis were generally treated by electrocautery. The evaluable results for 81 ureteric units with a mean follow-up of 37 months showed an overall success rate of 84%. No significant difference in the results was observed in relation to the patient's age, the technique used or the stage of the hydronephrosis (81% success rate): the results in the treatment of congenital hydronephrosis (86%) are slightly inferior to the results of surgical pyeloplasty.

[First clinical trials of a new endoscopic lithotriptor with ballistic energy (Waltz EL 25 Combilith)]. / Premiers essais cliniques d'un nouveau lithotriteur endoscopique à énergie balistique (Waltz EL 25 Combilith).

The Waltz Combilith EL 25 is an endoscopic lithotriptor equipped with an electrohydraulic and ballistic function. The device which generates the ballistic energy is a hand-piece in which a projectile, driven by an electromagnet, strikes a metal rod which transmits the energy to the stone. The diameter and length of the rod are adapted to the site of the stone (bladder + kidney: 1.7 mm rod; ureter: 0.8 mm rod). 29 stones in 25 patients with a mean age of 43 years (range: 25-72) were treated using ballistic energy: 22 ureteric stones (mean dimensions: 9 x 6 mm), 2 renal stones (mean dimensions: 20 x 30 mm) and 5 bladder stones (mean dimensions: 15 mm). Satisfactory stone fragmentation was obtained for 26 of the 29 stones (89.6%) with a mean fragmentation time of 142 seconds. One minimal ureteric perforation was observed (cure without sequelae after drainage by a double J stent). The Combilith EL 25 presents an excellent efficacy/safety ratio and can be used throughout the urinary tract.

[Quality of life and skin urinary diversions. Results of a questionnaire completed by 73 patients]. / Qualité de vie et dérivations urinaires cutanées. Résultats d'un questionnaire adressé à 73 patients.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with a cutaneous urinary diversion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 25-item self-administered questionnaire was sent to 73 patients with a cutaneous urinary diversion, either non-continent (NCD), such as a transileal cutaneous ureterostomy, or continent (CD), such as a Mainz or Kock reservoir. RESULTS: 66 patients answered the questionnaire: 34 NCD and 32 CD. The mean follow-up was 69.2 years for NCD and 58 years for CD. No significant difference was demonstrated between the two samples in terms of the interference of their diversion with their everyday life. Most patients declared that their sex life was now "severely disturbed". However, 3 patients regained a sexual activity after their diversion. Patients with an ideal conduit presented a higher incidence of stoma problems. Overall, 90% of patients with an NCD and 97% of those with a CD were satisfied or very satisfied with their diversion. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the type of diversion, patients were satisfied with their operation. When a cutaneous diversion is necessary, the choice of a continent or non-continent diversion cannot be solely based on the argument of "continence". The best possible choice, as a function of surgical limitations and the patient's desires, can only be determined on the basis of a dialogue between the surgeon and the patient.

[Laparoscopic surgical treatment of simple cysts of the kidney]. / Traitement coeliochirurgical des kystes simples du rein.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of laparoscopic treatment of symptomatic renal cysts or cysts suspicious of malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 patients (mean age: 58 years) were operated by laparoscopy either for compressive or symptomatic cysts (7 cases), or for cysts suspicious of malignancy (3 cases). The mean cyst diameter was 7.8 cm. All patients were evaluated by preoperative CT scan. There were 8 Bosniak type I and 3 Bosniak type II cysts. RESULTS: The procedure was performed via an intraperitoneal approach (8 cases) or via a retroperitoneal approach (2 cases). The mean operating time was 92 min and the mean hospital stay was 5.4 days. One patient was operated (conversion to lumbotomy) for uncontrolled haemorrhage of the base of the cyst. The 10 cysts were found to be benign histologically. All 10 patients are asymptomatic (mean follow-up: 8.3 months) with disappearance of the cyst on the follow-up CT scan. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic treatment of renal cysts is feasible and effective. However, this treatment must be reserved for Bosniak type I and II cysts, associated with a low risk of malignancy.

[Does magnetic resonance imaging allow the assessment of the loco-regional extension of cancer of the prostate? Report of 27 anatomo-radiologic comparisons]. / L'imagerie par Résonance Magnétique permet-elle d'apprécier l'extension loco-régionale du cancer de la prostate? A propos de 27 confrontations anatomo-radiologiques.

27 patients with histologically proven prostatic carcinoma were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (0.5 Tesla) in order to determine the local spread of the cancer. These patients then underwent ilio-obturator lymph node dissection with frozen section examination, followed by radical prostatectomy. Histological examination of the resection specimens was performed on slides prepared from large transverse sections every 5 mn. The MRI examination was especially designed to confirm the diagnosis of capsular effraction based on the signals of the periprostatic fat (PF), periprostatic venous plexuses (PVP) and seminal vesicles (SV). An abnormality of at least one of these structures was considered to indicate the diagnosis of capsular effraction. The MRI data were compared to the histological findings. The results demonstrated a sensitivity of 62% for the PF signal, 52% for the PVP signal and 40% for the SV signal. The overall MRI-Histology correlation was found to be exact in 23 out of 27 cases (Accuracy = 85%). All of our four errors represented understaging (Sensitivity = 81%). When a rigorous methodology is respected, the high accuracy and sensitivity of MRI makes this modality an investigation of choice for the study of the prostatic capsule, as part of the routine staging of prostatic cancer. It should allow a better selection of patients with intracapsular cancer (T1-2), who constitute candidates for radical treatment.

[Treatment of lymphocele after kidney transplantation]. / Traitement des lymphocèles après transplantation rénale.

Lymphocele is a possible postoperative complication of renal transplantation and its treatment is still controversial. Over a 3-year period (January 1992 to December 1993), 7 patients with a complicated lymphocele were treated by various modalities. Puncture-drainage was used in 7 cases, Povidone sclerotherapy was performed in 4 cases and internal drainage was performed by surgical marsupialization in one case and by laparoscopy in 4 cases. The results of external drainage and sclerotherapy were disappointing, with 1 good result out of 7 and 1 moderate result out of 4, respectively. On the other hand, internal drainage was effective in every case, whether it was performed by surgical or laparoscopic marsupialization. The latter technique avoids the disadvantages of open surgery in high-risk patients. Laparoscopy appears to be the treatment of choice for post-renal transplantation lymphoceles, as it is simple, rapid and effective.

[Hazards of lumbar ureteroscopy: apropos of 4 cases of avulsion of the ureter]. / Des dangers de l'urétéroscopie à l'étage lombaire: à propos de 4 cas d'avulsion de l'uretère.

Ureteroscopy is frequently indicated in the treatment of stones of the pelvic ureter. Access to the lumbar ureter is associated with a higher complication rate: wounds, ureteric rupture, haemorrhage, or more serious lesions such as avulsions of the ureter. We present 4 cases of avulsion of the ureter seen in our department, corresponding to 4 men with stones of the lumbar ureter treated by ureteroscopy, 2 of them after failure of in situ extracorporeal lithotripsy (ESWL) and an attempt to "flush" the stone and the other two because ESWL was not available. The ureteric lesion was related to a Dormia catheter in 2 cases and the ureteroscope in 2 cases. The lesion was diagnosed and treated immediately in 2 patients and after a delay in the other 2 cases. Repair consisted of ureteric reimplantation on a Boari flap (1 case), implantation onto a psoas bladder (1 case), ureteroileoplasty (1 case) and autologous transplantation (1 case). Ureteric lesions prevented uretero-ureterostomy. Ureteric reimplantation on psoas bladder and/or Boari flap appears to be the simplest method, but it cannot always be performed. In the case of avulsion of the ureteropelvic junction with a large defect, autologous transplantation is a method of choice in young subjects. Ureteroileoplasty appears to be reserved for elderly patients.

[Renal and adrenal involvement in von Hippel-Lindau disease: clinical features and therapeutic strategies]. / Atteintes rénales et surrénaliennes dans la maladie de von Hippel-Lindau: aspects cliniques et stratégies thérapeutiques.

OBJECTIVES: We report our experience of renal and/or adrenal manifestations of von Hippel-Lindau disease and propose a practical approach. METHODS: Eight patients (mean age: 43 years) presented with predominant renal and adrenal lesions in 6 cases and 2 cases, respectively. RESULTS: All patients are alive with a mean follow-up of 8.1 years. A local recurrence after partial nephrectomy was observed in two cases. Two patients are in renal failure and are treated by dialysis and two patients require hormone replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The predegenerative nature of simple renal was not observed. Conservative renal surgery is adapted to small renal tumours, with a low cytological grade and without any distant lesions in the same kidney. Radical nephrectomy is reserved for large lesions (greater than 5 cm) with a high cytological grade. The presence of pheochromocytoma must be systematically excluded. Preservation of the adrenal gland in the case of homolateral renal surgery for cancer is recommended. The reliability of the genetic test allows early diagnosis of this disease.