Reversal of early acute rejection with increased doses of tacrolimus in liver transplantation: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In this pilot study, we present the results of treatment of early (3 months after liver transplantation) acute rejection episodes by increasing only the tacrolimus doses. METHODS: Ten patients who received tacrolimus as primary treatment experienced acute mild (one case), moderate (four cases), or severe (five cases) rejection episodes. Tacrolimus dosing was increased 1-2 mg every 1 or 2 days until hepatic enzymes started to improve. Steroid basic daily doses were kept unchanged. RESULTS: With the daily dose of tacrolimus increased by a median 1.89-fold (range: 1.2-5), alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase levels rapidly reached normal values within the first month. During a median follow-up time of 19.5 months (range: 14-24), none of the 10 patients died or lost their graft. Control liver biopsies were done 13.5 months (range: 7-19) after rejection episode in all patients, and none demonstrated evidence of rejection or sequela. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that increasing tacrolimus dosage could be considered as treatment against early acute rejection episodes including the severe grade.

[Diagnosis and treatment of hydatid cysts of the liver. Apropos of 87 cases operated on between 1980 and 1992]. / Diagnostic et traitement des kystes hydatiques du foie. A propos de 87 cas opérés entre 1980 et 1992.

Human echinococcosis is still endemic in some areas of the world, including Mediterranean countries and Lebanon. Because there is no effective medical therapy, surgery remains the principal mode of treatment. A consecutive series of 87 patients operated on for liver hydatid disease between January 1980 and March 1992 in the division of General Surgery at Saint George's Hospital, Beirut, were analyzed. Patients with hydatic cysts in other sites than liver were excluded from the study. There were 39 men (45%), and 48 women (55%) aged 12 to 75 years (mean 43). The right lobe of the liver was affected in 67 cases (77%), the left lobe in 18 cases (20.6%), and both lobes in 2 cases (2.4%). Clinical symptomatology consisted of abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, urticaria, and an abdominal mass. Preoperative diagnosis was established using imaging studies: plain abdominal films, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and serologic tests. Cases were classified into 3 groups: G1 (n = 44, 50.5%) had a partial resection of the cyst followed by an external drainage; G2 (n = 15, 17.2%) had a partial resection of the cyst with a filling of the residual cavity; G3 (n = 28, 32.2%) made benefit of complete resection of the cyst (pericystectomy) with or without partial hepatectomy. In this retrospective study we compared the results of these different surgical techniques: postoperative complications and mortality, hospital stay of patient. We noted the better postoperative course of the non-drained patient (G2 and G3). Three patients died during the postoperative period because of septic complications. Conclusions and general recommendations are proposed.

New trends: preperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is a relatively new and successful surgical technique and follow-up studies are beginning to provide short- and middle-term results. In this article, the authors discuss their experience and technique with the preperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair between the years 1993 and 1995 during which they accomplished 30 herniorrhaphies on 25 patients with one recurrence and four postoperative neuralgias.