Prophylaxis of Wound Infections-antibiotics in Renal Donation (POWAR): A UK Multicentre Double Blind Placebo Controlled Randomised Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative infection after hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN) confers significant morbidity to a healthy patient group. Current UK guidelines cite a lack of evidence for routine antibiotic prophylaxis. This trial assessed if a single preoperative antibiotic dose could reduce post HALDN infections. METHODS: Eligible donors were randomly and blindly allocated to preoperative single-dose intravenous co-amoxiclav or saline. The primary composite endpoint was clinical evidence of any postoperative infection at 30 days, including surgical site infection (SSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). FINDINGS: In all, 293 participants underwent HALDN (148 antibiotic arm and 145 placebo arm). Among them, 99% (291/293) completed follow-up. The total infection rate was 40.7% (59/145) in the placebo group and 23% (34 of 148) in the antibiotic group (P = 0.001). Superficial SSIs were 20.7% (30/145 patients) in the placebo group versus 10.1% (15/148 patients) in the antibiotic group (P = 0.012). LRTIs were 9% (13/145) in the placebo group and 3.4% (5/148) in the antibiotic group (P = 0.046). UTIs were 4.1% (6/145) in the placebo group and 3.4% (5/148) in the antibiotic group (P = 0.72).Antibiotic prophylaxis conferred a 17.7% (95% confidence interval 7.2%-28.1%), absolute risk reduction in developing postoperative infection, with 6 donors requiring treatment to prevent 1 infection. INTERPRETATION: Single-dose preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis dramatically reduces post-HALDN infection rates, mainly impacting SSIs and LRTIs.

Iliofemoral Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft Interposition: A Rescue Procedure in External Iliac Artery Dissection to Restore Lower Limb Revascularization and Salvage Kidney Transplant.

External iliac artery dissection is a catastrophic complication during kidney transplant surgery. We present a technically challenging case of external iliac artery dissection that occurred in severely atherosclerotic vessels of a high-risk patient receiving his third kidney transplant. The intimal dissection constituted by the upstream application of a vascular clamp during the preparatory dissection ofthe vessels and progressed rapidly along the iliofemoral axis. The external iliac artery was severely diseased and in an irreparable condition, hence ligated and removed. After a common iliac endarterectomy, an iliofemoral polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft interposition was performed. The transplant kidney was anastomosed directly on the vascular graft. Satisfactory lower limb vascularization and kidney transplant perfusion were achieved withouttechnical difficulties. The patient had an uneventful recovery without complications. The kidney transplant recipient retained stable graft function at 6 months postoperatively. This rare case highlights the benefit of a surgical strategy in a vascular emergency that threatens the lower limb during a kidney transplant, and we emphasize the technical details of the procedure. As patients with extended indications are accepted onto the transplant waiting list, it is important for transplant surgeons to acquire surgical skills of vascular graft interposition. A postoperative blood flow monitoring device may be beneficial in high-risk kidney transplant cases.

Morbidity Following Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy.

Background: The incidence of morbidity and readmission rate after hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN) is not clear. Aims: Our study aims to review our experience with HALDN, mainly the reasons for patient readmissions. Methods: Prospectively collected data on all patients undergoing HALDNs between August 2007 and June 2015 were retrieved. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission rate. Secondary outcomes were complications and readmission etiology. Results: There were 161 nephrectomies with a median age of 51 years, 72 (44.7%) men, and 114 (70.8%) left-sided operations. Twenty-one (13%) individuals were readmitted within 30 days. There were total 25 (15.5%) readmissions during the study period. The characteristics of patients readmitted and patients not readmitted were broadly similar. Nine of 21 (43%) individuals readmitted had nonspecific findings (nonspecific findings on imaging, negative blood cultures, and raised inflammatory markers). The reasons for readmission were unrelated to nephrectomy in 24% and 19% required surgery for complications unrelated to nephrectomy. Conclusion: We observed a high readmission rate after HALDN. A significant proportion of readmissions were due to nonspecific abdominal pain associated with raised inflammatory markers and no obvious source of sepsis. Living donors should be fully informed about the risks including the possibility of complications unrelated to HALDN.

Comparison of surgery and compression with compression alone in chronic venous ulceration (ESCHAR study): randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic venous leg ulceration can be managed by compression treatment, elevation of the leg, and exercise. The addition of ablative superficial venous surgery to this strategy has not been shown to affect ulcer healing, but does reduce ulcer recurrence. We aimed to assess healing and recurrence rates after treatment with compression with or without surgery in people with leg ulceration. METHODS: We did venous duplex imaging of ulcerated or recently healed legs in 500 consecutive patients from three centres. We randomly allocated those with isolated superficial venous reflux and mixed superficial and deep reflux either compression treatment alone or in combination with superficial venous surgery. Compression consisted of multilayer compression bandaging every week until healing then class 2 below-knee stockings. Primary endpoints were 24-week healing rates and 12-month recurrence rates. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS: 40 patients were lost to follow-up and were censored. Overall 24-week healing rates were similar in the compression and surgery and compression alone groups (65% vs 65%, hazard 0.84 [95% CI 0.77 to 1.24]; p=0.85) but 12-month ulcer recurrence rates were significantly reduced in the compression and surgery group (12% vs 28%, hazard -2.76 [95% CI -1.78 to -4.27]; p<0.0001). Adverse events were minimal and about equal in each group. INTERPRETATION: Surgical correction of superficial venous reflux reduces 12-month ulcer recurrence. Most patients with chronic venous ulceration will benefit from the addition of simple venous surgery.

Candida arteritis in a pair of renal transplant recipients.

Graft site candidiasis is a rare but life-threatening complication of renal transplant. We report the course and management of 2 renal transplant recipients, using kidneys from a single donor, both of whom developed vascular complications secondary to Candida infection.

Long term results of compression therapy alone versus compression plus surgery in chronic venous ulceration (ESCHAR): randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether recurrence of leg ulcers may be prevented by surgical correction of superficial venous reflux in addition to compression. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Specialist nurse led leg ulcer clinics in three UK vascular centres. PARTICIPANTS: 500 patients (500 legs) with open or recently healed leg ulcers and superficial venous reflux. INTERVENTIONS: Compression alone or compression plus saphenous surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were ulcer healing and ulcer recurrence. The secondary outcome was ulcer free time. RESULTS: Ulcer healing rates at three years were 89% for the compression group and 93% for the compression plus surgery group (P=0.73, log rank test). Rates of ulcer recurrence at four years were 56% for the compression group and 31% for the compression plus surgery group (P<0.01). For patients with isolated superficial reflux, recurrence rates at four years were 51% for the compression group and 27% for the compress plus surgery group (P<0.01). For patients who had superficial with segmental deep reflux, recurrence rates at three years were 52% for the compression group and 24% for the compression plus surgery group (P=0.04). For patients with superficial and total deep reflux, recurrence rates at three years were 46% for the compression group and 32% for the compression plus surgery group (P=0.33). Patients in the compression plus surgery group experienced a greater proportion of ulcer free time after three years compared with patients in the compression group (78% v 71%; P=0.007, Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSION: Surgical correction of superficial venous reflux in addition to compression bandaging does not improve ulcer healing but reduces the recurrence of ulcers at four years and results in a greater proportion of ulcer free time. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN07549334 [controlled-trials.com].