Enhancing kidney function with thrombolytic therapy following donation after cardiac death: a multicenter quasi-blinded prospective randomized trial.

Kidneys from donors after cardiac death (DCD) are at risk for inferior outcomes, possibly due to microthrombi and additional warm ischemia. We describe an organ procurement organization-wide trial utilizing thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) during machine pulsatile perfusion (MPP). A kidney from each recovered kidney pair was prospectively randomized to receive tPA (50 mg Alteplase) or no tPA (control) in the MPP perfusate. From 2011 to 2013, 24 kidneys were placed with enrolled recipients from 19 DCD kidney donors. There were no significant differences for absolute values of flow or resistance while undergoing MPP between the groups, nor rates of achieving discrete flow and resistance targets. While there was a trend toward lower creatinine and higher glomerular filtration rates in the tPA group at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, these differences were not significant. Delayed graft function (DGF) rates were 41.7% in the tPA group vs. 58.4% in the control group (OR 0.51, 95%CI 0.10-2.59, p = 0.68). Death-censored graft survival was similar between the groups. In this pilot study, encouraging trends are seen in kidney allograft function independent of MPP parameters following DCD kidney transplantation for those kidneys receiving thrombolytic tPA and MPP, compared with standard MPP.

Utilization of vascular conduits to facilitate renal transplantation in patients with significant aortoiliac calcification.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of vascular conduits (donor iliac artery or saphenous vein) in renal transplantation recipients with extensive aortoiliac calcification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vascular conduits were used in 10 renal transplants with severe vascular calcification at Cleveland Clinic from 2009 to 2013. Both iliac artery (N = 8) and saphenous vein (N = 2) grafts were used. Surgical technique is reviewed in detail. Surgical complications, patency on renal transplant ultrasonography, and serum creatinine level at multiple time points were reviewed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 26 months (7-44 months). Mean serum creatinine level was 1.42 mg/dL (1.04-1.74 mg/dL) at 6 months, 1.35 mg/dL (0.83-1.86 mg/dL) at 12 months, and 1.43 mg/dL (0.79-1.81 mg/dL) at last follow-up. All patients were demonstrated postoperatively to have patent vasculature on renal ultrasonography. No patients experienced lower extremity vascular complications. Death-censored graft survival was 100%. One patient died from complications after mitral valve replacement, and one patient died from metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Both patients had functioning grafts at the time of death. CONCLUSION: Vascular conduits can be used to facilitate renal transplantation in the setting of severe recipient aortoiliac calcification, thus allowing for successful transplantation of these complex recipients.

The use of bovine pericardium for complex urologic venous reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of bovine pericardium (BP) in several scenarios for venous patching and as a tubularized graft in urologic surgery. METHODS: BP was used as patch or tubularized graft in 7 patients between 2010 and 2013. Clinical scenarios and operative indications were reviewed. We used BP as a patch graft for the inferior vena cava (IVC) (N = 3) and for the iliac venous system (N = 1) to restore venous outflow. Tubularized grafts were used (N = 2) to replace the left renal vein in oncology procedures and during renal autotransplantation (N = 1). Surgical technique is reviewed in detail. RESULTS: We used BP as a venous patching in 4 cases and as a tubularized graft in 3 cases. There was no evidence of venous thrombosis of the replaced system with a mean of 14.8 months (range, 9-26) follow-up. CONCLUSION: The use of BP as a patch or tubularized graft is an option for complicated urologic venous reconstruction. Although the follow-up interval is relatively short and this initial series small, our initial results are promising.

Surgical outcomes after cytoreductive nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine postoperative outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and level II through IV inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus (IVCT), and their ability to receive systemic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of all patients with mRCC and level II through IV IVCT who underwent surgery between January 1990 and December 2012 at our institution. Complications within 30 days of surgery were recorded according to the Clavien-Dindo system. Survival was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and intergroup comparisons were performed with the log-rank statistics. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were identified, of which 30 (40%), 31 (41%), and 15 (20%) patients had a level II, III, and IV IVCT, respectively. Perioperative mortality was 6.6%. The overall postoperative complication rate was 37%, of which 7.8% (n = 6) were classified as major postoperative complications (Clavien grade 3-5). Follow-up information was available in 60 patients, of whom 90% received a postoperative systemic therapy. Four patients chose expectant management, and 2 patients died of progressive disease before receiving systemic therapy. Overall median survival was 14 months and was significantly related to postoperative treatment with targeted molecular therapies and number of prognostic risk factors, but was not influenced by the level of IVC tumor thrombus. CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy can be performed with acceptable complication rates and should be considered as an integral part of the treatment approach for patients with mRCC and IVC tumor thrombi.

Saturation technique does not improve cancer detection as an initial prostate biopsy strategy.

PURPOSE: We reported on the results of a sequential cohort study comparing office based saturation prostate biopsy to traditional 10-core sampling as an initial biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on improved cancer detection of office based saturation prostate biopsy repeat biopsy, we adopted the technique as an initial biopsy strategy to improve cancer detection. Two surgeons performed 24-core saturation prostate biopsies in 139 patients undergoing initial biopsy under periprostatic local anesthesia. Indication for biopsy was an increased PSA of 2.5 ng/dl or greater in all patients. Results were compared to those of 87 patients who had previously undergone 10-core initial biopsies. RESULTS: Cancer was detected in 62 of 139 patients (44.6%) who underwent saturation biopsy and in 45 of 87 patients (51.7%) who underwent 10-core biopsy (p >0.9). Breakdown by PSA level failed to show benefit to the saturation technique for any degree PSA increase. Men with PSA 2.5 to 9.9 ng/dl were found to have cancer in 53 of 122 (43.4%) saturation biopsies and 26 of 58 (44.8%) 10-core biopsies. Complications included 3 cases of prostatitis in each group. Rectal bleeding was troublesome enough to require evaluation only in 3 men in the saturation group and 1 in the 10-core group. CONCLUSIONS: Although saturation prostate biopsy improves cancer detection in men with suspicion of cancer following a negative biopsy, it does not appear to offer benefit as an initial biopsy technique. These findings suggest that further efforts at extended biopsy strategies beyond 10 to 12 cores are not appropriate as an initial biopsy strategy.

Prostate cancer detection with office based saturation biopsy in a repeat biopsy population.

PURPOSE: Patients at increased risk for prostate cancer with previously negative biopsies pose a diagnostic challenge. We have previously demonstrated that extensive saturation biopsy can be performed in an office setting. We now report the diagnostic yield of office saturation biopsy in patients at increased risk for prostate cancer and at least 1 negative prior biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed saturation prostate biopsy with local anesthesia in the office in 116 patients with at least 1 prior negative biopsy and with certain risk factors, namely persistently elevated prostate specific antigen, abnormal digital rectal examination, or prior atypia or PIN on prior biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 34 cancers were detected for an overall diagnostic yield of 29%. A 64% detection rate was noted when a patient had undergone a single prior sextant biopsy. Subgroup analysis revealed a cancer detection rate of 41% when only prior sextant biopsies were performed, and a 24% detection rate when 10 or more cores were taken on prior biopsy. The detection rate was 33% when only 1 prior biopsy was taken and it was 24% when 2 or more prior biopsies were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Saturation biopsy can be performed safely and effectively in the office with a significant diagnostic yield even in patients with previous extended biopsy schemes. We believe that it should be the next diagnostic step after an initial negative biopsy in patients in whom the diagnosis of prostate cancer is strongly suspected.

Laparoscopic versus open cytoreductive nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcomes of those patients who underwent laparoscopic versus open cytoreductive nephrectomy. Cytoreductive nephrectomy before systemic therapy has been shown to offer a survival advantage compared with systemic therapy alone for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: We reviewed the outcomes of all patients who underwent either open or laparoscopic cytoreductive nephrectomy between 2000 and 2003. The inclusion criteria included patients with tumors 15 cm or less without local invasion, venous involvement, or bulky local adenopathy who had concurrent metastatic disease. A total of 64 patients (22 in the laparoscopic group and 42 in the open group) fulfilled these criteria. The parameters measured were age, tumor size, operative time, estimated blood loss, complications, length of hospital stay, percentage of patients receiving systemic therapy, and the interval to the start of systemic therapy. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were compared. RESULTS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic cytoreductive nephrectomy had a shorter length of stay (2.3 versus 6.1 days) and less operative blood loss (288 versus 1228 mL) than those who underwent open nephrectomy. Patients in the laparoscopic group received systemic therapy sooner after surgery (36 versus 61 days) than those in the open group. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were similar for both groups, with a 1-year survival rate of 61% in the laparoscopic group and 65% in the open group. CONCLUSIONS: With judicious patient selection, laparoscopic cytoreductive nephrectomy can be performed safely, with minimal morbidity, and may shorten the interval from nephrectomy to the start of systemic therapy.