The Potential for Information Sharing Between an Electronic Medical Record System and the Moroccan Transplantation and Dialysis Registry: Examining Semantic Interoperability.

Background and aim In 2005, the Moroccan Ministry of Health established Magredial, a registry to track and monitor patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with the aim of improving healthcare outcomes. After achieving initial success, Magredial's activity decreased, leading to its inactivity by 2015. Currently, efforts are underway to revive Magredial's use. The main goal of this study is to investigate the feasibility of data transfer between the electronic medical records (EMRs) of Hassan II Hospital of Fes, Morocco, and the registry by achieving semantic interoperability between the two systems Materials and methods The initial phase of this study involved a detailed review of existing literature, highlighting the importance of registries, especially in nephrology. This part of the study also aims to emphasize the role of semantic interoperability in facilitating the sharing of data between EMRs and registries. Following that, the study's second phase, which centered on the case study, conducted a detailed analysis of the data architectures in both Magredial and the EMR of the nephrology department to pinpoint areas of alignment and discrepancy. This step required cooperative efforts between the nephrology and IT departments of Hassan II Hospital. Results Our findings indicate a significant interoperability gap between the two systems, stemming from differences in their data architectures and semantic frameworks. Such discrepancies severely impede the effective exchange of information between the systems. To address this challenge, a comprehensive restructuring of the EMR is proposed. This strategy is designed to align disparate systems and ensure compliance with the interoperability standards the Health Level 7 Clinical Document Architecture (HL7-CDA) set forth. Implementing the proposed medical record approach is complex and time-consuming, necessitating healthcare professional commitment, and adherence to ethical standards for patient consent and data privacy. Conclusions Implementing this strategy is expected to facilitate the seamless automation of data transfer between the EMR and Magredial. It introduces a framework that could be a foundational model for establishing a robust interoperability framework within nephrology information systems in line with international standards. Ultimately, this initiative could lead to creating a nephrologist-shared health record across the country, enhancing patient care and data management within the specialty.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Hemodialysis Electronic Health Record Implementation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Nephrology Department of Hassan II Hospital in Fez, Morocco, has implemented an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for managing patients undergoing acute hemodialysis. This initiative aims to digitize patient monitoring and enhance the management of acute dialysis within the department. Conducting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis - assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats - was crucial to identifying and understanding the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats. This article outlines the SWOT analysis findings that may impact the project's success and shape decision-making. It also discusses strategies that could be implemented to allocate resources, mitigate risks, and capitalize on potential advantages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved a multidisciplinary team, including professors, nephrologists, nephrology residents, and a healthcare information system engineer. Brainstorming sessions were held during the specification drafting phase to pinpoint both internal and external factors affecting the project. User feedback during testing further refined these factors, ensuring the project's alignment with real-world needs and challenges. RESULTS: The study identifies the project's strengths as providing safe and immediate access to information, along with strong communication between the department (application users) and the project manager. The significant EMR weakness is the lack of logistical resources and the absence of a long-term maintenance plan for the application. The opportunity presented by this EMR implementation is its functionality's potential to evolve, enabling the solution to be deployed in other dialysis centers across the region. The project's threat is the potential abandonment of EMR use by future practitioners. CONCLUSION: These SWOT analysis findings enable the development and implementation of strategies to reduce the current deployment's vulnerabilities and ensure the success of future HIS implementations in the nephrology network of the Fez-Meknes region, Morocco.

From transfer to transition: review and proposition of the SFNDT dialysis Commission / Du transfert à la transition : mise au point et proposition de la Commission de dialyse de la SFNDT

Over the course of their disease, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) will be treated by several kidney replacement therapy (KRT) modalities. The transitions between KRT modalities can be experienced as traumatic by patients, and are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, notably when they are not anticipated. Planning these transition phases could reduce the psychological trauma induced by the transfer, as well as reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. However, the lack of a clear definition of a transfer, and the lack of criteria enabling the identification of patients at risk of transfer, prevents the anticipation of these transition phases at high risk for patients. We here discuss the various possible causes and risk factors of transfer from peritoneal dialysis (PD) to hemodialysis as well as transfer from hemodialysis to PD. The dialysis Commission of the Société francophone de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation (SFNDT) makes some proposals to improve transition phases, such as the identification of patients at risk, specific PD programs for unplanned PD start, transition unit and hybrid therapy.

Dans le parcours de soins du patient insuffisant rénal chronique, les différentes modalités de suppléance rénale vont se succéder dans le temps créant ainsi des phases de transition. Ces phases de transition peuvent être vécues comme traumatisantes par les patients, et sont associées à une augmentation de la morbi-mortalité, particulièrement lorsqu'elles ne sont pas suffisamment anticipées. La planification de ces phases de transition par l'équipe de dialyse devrait permettre de diminuer l'expérience du traumatisme psychologique induit par le changement et de réduire le risque de sur-morbi-mortalité. Cependant, l'absence de définition standardisée de la phase de transition entre modalités, le manque de critères et d'outils identifiant les patients à risque de transfert et l'absence d'infrastructures dédiées à ces patients transitionnels sont autant de facteurs limitant l'anticipation de ces phases de transition. Nous abordons ici les différentes causes et possibles facteurs de risque du transfert de la dialyse péritonéale (DP) vers l'hémodialyse ainsi que du transfert de l'hémodialyse vers la DP. Dans cette mise au point, la Commission de dialyse de la Société francophone de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation (SFNDT) émet certaines propositions pour améliorer la définition et la prise en charge de ces phases de transition, et propose des outils d'identification des sujets « transitionnels ¼ ainsi que des exemples structurels de programmes soutenant la transition, tels que le démarrage en urgence de la DP, l'unité transitionnelle et la dialyse hybride.

The Role of Nephrologists in the Management of Methanol Poisoning.

Acute methanol poisoning is a rare but serious condition that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Toxic metabolites produced by methanol, primarily formaldehyde, can cause high anion gap metabolic acidosis, with the severity of clinical presentation ranging from mild symptoms to multi-organ failure. Nine people died and four patients needed treatment at our university hospital following a collective intoxication caused by the consumption of homemade alcoholic beverages in the central region of Morocco. The four patients presented to the emergency department with varying clinical symptoms, such as decreased visual acuity, severe agitation, and dyspnea. The laboratory tests confirmed high anion gap metabolic acidosis and a subsequent toxicology screen revealed that they had consumed methanol-tainted alcohol. The treatment regimen involved inhibiting the formation of toxic metabolites using an antidote (ethanol or fomepizole), correcting metabolic acidosis, enhancing the elimination of toxic metabolites through prolonged hemodialysis, and administering adjunctive therapies. While two patients had favorable outcomes, the other two died from multi-organ failure. These findings highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment in cases of methanol poisoning.

A Spontaneous Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture in a Patient Undergoing Long-Term Hemodialysis.

Spontaneous quadriceps tendon rupture is very rare. Its occurrence is usually linked to an underlying disease that weakens the tendons causing them to rupture. Here, we report the case of a 44-year-old patient undergoing long-term hemodialysis who had spontaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture. We present the clinical presentation and the management of this injury.

Early and Late Patient Outcomes in Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis: A Prospective Study of Unplanned Initiation of Chronic Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has become a well-established complementary alternative to hemodialysis (HD) as the first-line renal replacement modality. Unlike the temporary catheter for hemodialysis that can be used immediately after implementation, the PD catheter usage period remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes in patients under peritoneal dialysis according to the delay of starting the dialysis after catheter placement. METHODS: This observational prospective study was conducted over an eight-year and four-month period (from April 2014 to August 2021), including all patients treated with peritoneal dialysis for 18 months (from April 2014 to October 2015). The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the catheter was used during the first 15 days (PD-E) or 15 days after (PD-L) catheter placement. The primary outcomes were early complications (mechanical and infectious) within 90 days. Secondary outcomes included technique survival. RESULTS: Among the 36 patients included in the study, 14 started PD early (38.8%), while 22 started it 15 days after catheter placement (61.2%). The mean age between the two groups was not significantly different (41 ± 17 years vs 35 ± 16 years, p: not significant). There were no significant differences in the Charlson comorbidity index or the degree of autonomy. The incidence of infections was not significantly different between the two groups (13.6% in PD-L vs 21.4% in PD-E, p: not significant). The total number of mechanical complications was not significantly higher in the PD-E group compared to the PD-L group (42.8% vs 27.3%, respectively, p: not significant). Kaplan-Meier estimates of technique survival were comparable between the groups (log Rank: 1.908, p: 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed no increase in the risk of complications associated with early use of the PD catheter and no difference in technique survival. PD can be used as first-line renal replacement therapy in the unplanned initiation of chronic dialysis.

Beware of Rhabdomyolysis After a Renal Graft.

In recent years, there has been a significant advancement in the field of immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation. However, these treatments have side effects, including rhabdomyolysis. In this article, we report the case of a transplant patient with rhabdomyolysis secondary to tacrolimus and shed light on different aggravating factors. Treatment withdrawal, hydration, and forced diuresis are allowed in the majority of cases.

Tuberculosis in Dialysis Patients in the Central Region of Morocco: What Is the Health-Care Delay?

INTRODUCTION: Due to the predominantly cellular immunosuppression, infections are frequent in chronic dialysis patients, in particular tuberculosis (TB). The main objective of our study is to evaluate tuberculosis healthcare delay in dialysis patients and to raise the diagnostic challenge in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is retrospective and multicenter including tuberculosis cases of chronic dialysis patients either in hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the central region of Morocco during a 10-year period between 2012 and 2021. RESULTS: We included 94 patients, five of whom were in PD, with a mean age of 50.79 ± 16.72 years, and a sex ratio of 0.67. The time between the initiation of dialysis and the onset of the clinical and biological presentation was 50.3 ± 67.12 months. The most frequent initial manifestations were an alteration of the general state (85.1%), a biological inflammatory syndrome (83%) or a prolonged fever (70.1%). Among our 94 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed with bacteriological evidence only in 18 cases (19.1%), by identification of Koch's Bacillus (BK) in 13 cases, by molecular biology test (GeneXpert; Cepheid, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) in five cases. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was presumptive in most cases (79 cases), i.e. 80.9%. Twenty-one patients underwent the interferon gamma release essay test (QuantiFERON; Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) which was positive in 14 patients. Thirty-four (36.1%) cases had a histological diagnosis. The remaining patients were offered a trial treatment. Tuberculosis localization was mostly extra-pulmonary (75.5%): lymph node (23.4%), pleural (13.8%), peritoneal (13.8%), whereas it was pulmonary in 23 cases (24.5%). Most of our patients had a clear delay in management from symptom onset to initiation of anti-TB treatment 78.9% (time >21days) vs 21.1% (time ≤21days). The median time to management delay was 46.5 interquartile range (IQR) (28.5-90), the mean delay was 78.4 ± 87.9 (6-360). All patients were treated according to the RHZE/RH protocol (R: rifampicin, H: isoniazid Z: pyrazinamide and E: ethambutol), with a duration between six and 18 months. Side effects associated with anti-tuberculosis treatment were observed in half of the patients (51.1%). The evolution was favorable with remission and improvement of the general condition in 90% of cases. Two cases of resistance were noted in our series. The overall mortality was 7.7%. CONCLUSION: We have confirmed a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in chronic dialysis patients. This can be explained by the often atypical or incomplete clinical and paraclinical presentation and the extra-pulmonary localizations, making diagnosis difficult in this population whose prognosis remains poor. It is therefore necessary to establish a diagnostic approach that is adapted to the specificities of these high-risk patients within the framework of a national tuberculosis control program.

Epiploic Appendagitis in a Renal Transplant: A Case Report.

Appendagitis is an inflammation of the epiploic fringes, generally unrecognized by the clinician. It is responsible for abdominal pain and may mimic other causes of acute abdomen. It can be primary or secondary. In this article, we describe the first case of primary epiploic appendagitis in a renal transplant patient who consulted for left inguinoscrotal pain, which was diagnosed as primary epiploic appendagitis.

Is the Use of Dialysis Associated With an Increased Risk of Death in COVID-19-Related Acute Kidney Injury?

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently reported in the setting of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS­CoV­2) infection. The aim of our work is to evaluate the impact of acute dialysis use on mortality in patients with AKI during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted in the Hassan II University Hospital of Fez, Morocco. From July 2020 to December 2021, we included all patients admitted to a COVID-19 unit with acute kidney injury defined according to Kidney Disease Improvement Global Outcomes 2012 (KDIGO 2012) criteria. Our patients were older than 18 years, and SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a positive RT-PCR test or thoracic CT scan imaging. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and pregnant women were excluded from our study. RESULTS: The total number of patients hospitalized in the COVID-19 unit during the study period was 2560, including 206 in an intensive care setting. We included 61 patients with AKI, with an incidence in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting of 15.5%. Eighty percent of patients had respiratory distress on admission, which was the main reason for consultation. Stage 1 AKI was found in 1.6% of patients, 25.8% had stage II AKI, and 72.6% had KDIGO stage 3 AKI. The main etiology of AKI was acute tubular necrosis. Lung involvement secondary to infection was severe in 18 patients; 21 had moderate involvement. In our study, twenty-one of our patients (34.4%) were hospitalized in an ICU. Thirteen of our patients were intubated (21.1%). Twenty-one (34.4%) patients were hemodynamically unstable and were put on vasoactive drugs. Twenty-three (37.7%) of our patients received at least one session of conventional acute hemodialysis with an average duration of 2.1 hours ± 0.9 (1-3.5). The indication was overload (27%), severe metabolic acidosis (1.6%), threatening hyperkalemia (1.6%), and symptomatic hyperuremia (62%). The evolution was marked by a return to baseline renal function in two patients, partial improvement in 35 of them at discharge, and no improvement in 24 patients. We recorded a death rate of 34.4% (n=21). In a univariate analysis, we compared the demographic, clinical, paraclinical, and dialytic characteristics of the dialysis and non-dialysis groups. There was a significant difference between unstable, intubated patients and those hospitalized in the ICU in the dialysis group, with respective p-values of p=0.0001, p=0.0001, and p=0.01. We noticed there were more deaths in the dialysis group than in the non-dialysis group; this difference was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.005. In multivariate analysis, a logistic regression model was performed to test the relationship between dialysis and COVID-19 mortality while adjusting for other co-factors. The final model did not show a significant association between dialysis and mortality (p = 0.150, OR: 2.578 [0.710-9.364]). The only factor that remained independently significant was admission to the intensive care unit (p = 0.004, OR: 6.732 [1.847-24.540]). CONCLUSION: AKI is a frequently encountered complication in patients with COVID-19, especially those hospitalized in the ICU. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the use of at least one dialysis session seems to represent an excess risk of mortality related to AKI.

[Renal amyloidoses in nephrology]. / Les amyloses rénales en néphrologie.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological, evolutionary and clinical features of the renal amyloidosis and to identify poor prognostic factors. We conducted a retrospective study focusing on all patients hospitalized for renal amyloidosis between January 2013 and December 2014. The diagnosis was confirmed by renal puncture-biopsy or by biopsy of minor salivary glands. We collected data from 25 patients, 17 men and eight women, with an average age of 47.2 ± 18 years. Hospitalization rate and prevalence were 2.4% and 12.5 cases/year respectively. On admission, nephrotic syndrome was detected in 100% of cases and renal failure in 68% of cases. Proteinuria was ≥6g/24h in 60% of cases. Digestive symptoms (n=14), cardiac symptoms (n=10) and arterial hypotension (n=11) were the other manifestations. Infectious and inflammatory diseases were the main causes found (60%). Tuberculosis alone accounted for 20%. After a mean follow-up period of 219.5 days, chronic renal failure was found in 16 cases (64%), including 11 cases with end-stage disease (44%). Six patients died. Renal insufficiency at the time of diagnosis, the worsening of renal function and readmission were associated with a risk for chronic terminal renal failure (p: 0.03-0.04). Cardiac damage, the readmission and proteinuria ≥6g/24h were factors associated with the risk of mortality (p< 0.03). Renal failure, cardiac damage, proteinuria ≥6g/24h and readmission were the main factors for poor prognosis in this cohort.

[Fistulized renal hydatic cyst in a patient on chronic hemodialysis]. / Kyste hydatique rénal fistulisé dans les voies urinaires chez un hémodialysé chronique.

Hydatidosis is a parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Renal hydatic cyst is unusual. It may fistulize into the urinary excretory system, requiring specific management. The aim of our study was to highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic specificity of this pathology in patients on chronic hemodialysis among whom diuresis is not always preserved, in order to focus attention on hydaturia and to give an indication to diagnosis. We report the case of a 47-year old patient with a 4-year history of hemodialysis due to glomerular nephropathy detected at the final stage. Moreover, the patient had a 6-month histoiry of impaired general condition associated with right lower back pain, without fever. Abdominal CT scan showed right kidney measuring 13.4cm, with important ureteropyelocaliceal dilation, pushing the renal parenchyma associated with renal pelvis measuring 4.3cm, without detectable lithiasic obstacle. However, it showed membranous cyst at the level of the lower right renal polar parenchyma, measuring approximately 76.5 x 54 mm, contacting the renal pelvis, also containing a few membranes. The patient underwent thorough interview revealing the presence of hydaturia in the few drops of residual diuresis. Given that the patient had end stage chronic renal failure and that he was under renal replacement therapy, therapeutic approach was based on total nephrectomy.

[Pseudotumoral calcinosis in a patient on chronic hemodialysis]. / Calcinose pseudo-tumorale chez un hémodialysé chronique.

Pseudotumoral calcinosis (PTC) is characterized by calcium phosphate crystal deposition in periarticular soft tissues leading to the development of large calcified masses. Although PTC physiopathogeny is not completely clear, the increase in calcium-phosphorus product beyond the threshold value for precipitation as well as severe hyperparathyroidism seem to play a determining role. PTC may even cause recurrent minor joint traumas. In patients on hemodialysis, the frequency of PTC is estimated between 0.5 and 7%, according to case series. Its treatment is controversial. Surgical resection is often recommended. We here report a case of PTC in a patient on haemodialysis. The study involved a 56-year old patient on chronic haemodialysis for 9 years due to indeterminate nephropathy. The patient had suffered from gradual worsening of pain at the level of the right hip associated with difficulties in joint mobilization over the last 6 months. CT scan showed multiple lobed calcified mass, measuring 8.6 x 7.6 x 5.9cm, located very closely to the sciatic nerve, which probably explained the very painful physical symptoms. Laboratory tests showed high phosphocalcic product and hyperparathyroidism. Surgical resection was difficult due to the closeness of the tumor to vasculo-nervous elements. Our study highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of PTC. This uncommon disease should be suspected in patients on chronic hemodialysis with periarticular calcified mass suggesting tumor.

[Role of hemodialysis in the management of acute lithium intoxication]. / Place de l'hémodialyse dans la prise en charge de l'intoxication aiguë au lithium.

We report the case of a 47-years old patient, traited with lithium for manic-depressive psychosis over a period of twenty and admitted to hospital with a disorder of consciousness after suicide attempt with lithium overdose (ingestion of 30 tablets of Téralithe(®) LP 400, delayed action galenic forms corresponding to 12 g of lithium carbonate), clinically improved after three hemodialysis sessions. This study illustrates the therapeutic role of hemodialysis in voluntary intoxications with extended release lithium even a week after the ingestion and the therapeutic insufficiency of a single hemodialysis session.

[Improvement of tumoral calcinosis of the right hand after parathyroidectomy in a patient on chronic hemodialysis]. / Amélioration de la calcinose tumorale de la main droite après para thyroïdectomie chez un hémodialysé chronique.

Periarticular tissue calcifications are common in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. We report the case of a patient on chronic hemodialysis for 10 years with significant improvement of isolated pseudotumoral calcinosis of the right hand after parathyroidectomy The aim of this study was to show the impact of parathyroidectomy on pseudotumoral calcinosis.

[Medical simulation in hemodialysis]. / Simulation médicale en hémodialyse.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation is an innovative educational tool based on learning experience in a secure environment without fear of repercussions especially in critical situations such as in emergencies. It offers great prospects in the development of dialysis training. METHODS: We report the results of an observational study comparing medical simulation to conventional training methods in the management of hemodialysis in emergency situations. We discuss afterwards the possibilities currently allowed by medical simulation in dialysis training. RESULTS: The training was beneficial (significant difference between initial and final level of knowledge) for all participants. There was no significant difference between the conventional approach, simulation training and the two combined tools. However, satisfaction rate was higher in simulation training. We observed a tendency to have better results in "active players" of the simulation compared to observers. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the importance of integrating medical simulation training in our dialysis training strategies as a complementary tool to classical teaching/learning methods.

Outcome assessment of pregnancy-related acute kidney injury in Morocco: A national prospective study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a rare but life-threatening complication of pregnancy. The aim of this paper is to study the characteristics of acute AKI in pregnancy and to emphasize on its management modalities in Moroccan hospitals. This is a national prospective study performed over six months from July 1 to December 31 2010 on AKI developing in pregnant patients, both preand post-partum period. Patients with pre-existing kidney disease were excluded from the study. Outcome was considered unfavorable when complete recovery of renal function was not achieved and/or maternal death occurred. Forty-four patients were included in this study. They were 29.6 ± 6 years old and mostly illiterate (70.6%). Most AKI occurred in the post-partum period, with 66% of the cases occurring in those who did not receive antenatal care. The main etiologies were pre-eclampsia (28 cases), hemorrhagic shock (six cases) and septic events (five cases). We noted three cases of acute fatty liver, one case of obstructive kidney injury and one case of lupus nephritis. Hemodialysis was necessary in 17 (38.6%) cases. The outcome was favorable in 29 patients. The maternal mortality rate was 11.4%. Two poor prognostic factors were identified: Age over 38 years and sepsis. AKI is a severe complication of pregnancy in developing countries. Its prevention necessitates the improvement of the sanitary infrastructure and the establishment of the obligatory antenatal care.