Routine Kidney Graft Ultrasound After Elective Ureteric Stent Removal: Does it Help?

Transplantation (KTx) is considered to be the best renal replacement therapy, and improving its outcomes remains a primary challenge. KTx ureteral stenting has been used to prevent urological complications, but there is no consensus on the timing of stent removal, and literature regarding routine ultrasonography after ureteric stent removal (RUSUS) to detect complications is lacking. Point-of-care ultrasound has been gaining drive in the medical community in recent years, including nephrologists. We aimed to define the incidence of urological complications diagnosed with RUSUS, if those findings changed patient's management and ultrasound utility. Contrary to previously published data, in our cohort RUSUS allowed a timely diagnosis and early treatment of urological complications, a key factor for successful transplantation. KTx point-of-care ultrasound is a cost-effective and reproducible test that provides relevant information to guide clinical decisions, seeming most efficient when performed approximately 2 weeks post ureteral stent removal. Interventional nephrologists can promptly perform these examinations, reducing waiting times and improving graft and patient's survival.

Kidney Autotransplantation and Orthotopic Kidney Transplantation: Two Different Approaches for Complex Cases.

Introduction: Transplantation surgery teams often have to face complex cases. In certain circumstances, such as occlusion of the iliac vessels or prior pelvic surgery, heterotopic kidney transplantation may not be feasible and orthotopic kidney transplantation (OKT) could be a good alternative. Kidney autotransplantation (KAT) has been described as a potential treatment for complex renovascular, ureteral, or neoplastic conditions. There are scarce data regarding the complications and outcomes of these procedures; therefore, we present our experience. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of both 21 patients who had received OKT and 19 patients who underwent KAT between 1993 and 2020. We collected demographic features and data regarding surgical technique, complications, and graft outcomes. Kidney graft survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Regarding OKT, in 15 (71.43%) cases, it was the first kidney transplantation. The most common indication was the unsuitable iliac region due to vascular abnormalities (57.14%). The early postoperative complication rate was high (66.67%), with 23.81% of Clavien grade 3b complications. During the follow-up period (mean 5.76 -SD 6.15- years), we detected 9 (42.85%) graft losses. At 1 year, the survival rate was 84.9%. Concerning KAT, the most frequent indication was ureteral pathology (52.63%), followed by vascular lesions (42.11%). The overall early complication rate was 42.11%. During the follow-up period (mean of 4.47 years), 4 (15.79%) graft losses were reported. Conclusions: Although OKT and KAT have high complication rates, these techniques can be considered as two valuable approaches for complex cases, in the absence of other therapeutic options.

Immunoguided Discontinuation of Prophylaxis for Cytomegalovirus Disease in Kidney Transplant Recipients Treated With Antithymocyte Globulin: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Antiviral prophylaxis is recommended in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive kidney transplant (KT) recipients receiving antithymocyte globulin (ATG) as induction. An alternative strategy of premature discontinuation of prophylaxis after CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) recovery (immunoguided prevention) has not been studied. Our aim was to determine whether it is effective and safe to discontinue prophylaxis when CMV-CMI is detected and to continue with preemptive therapy. METHODS: In this open-label, noninferiority clinical trial, patients were randomized 1:1 to follow an immunoguided strategy, receiving prophylaxis until CMV-CMI recovery or to receive fixed-duration prophylaxis until day 90. After prophylaxis, preemptive therapy (valganciclovir 900 mg twice daily) was indicated in both arms until month 6. The primary and secondary outcomes were incidence of CMV disease and replication, respectively, within the first 12 months. Desirability of outcome ranking (DOOR) assessed 2 deleterious events (CMV disease/replication and neutropenia). RESULTS: A total of 150 CMV-seropositive KT recipients were randomly assigned. There was no difference in the incidence of CMV disease (0% vs 2.7%; P = .149) and replication (17.1% vs 13.5%; log-rank test, P = .422) between both arms. Incidence of neutropenia was lower in the immunoguided arm (9.2% vs 37.8%; odds ratio, 6.0; P < .001). A total of 66.1% of patients in the immunoguided arm showed a better DOOR, indicating a greater likelihood of a better outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis can be prematurely discontinued in CMV-seropositive KT patients receiving ATG when CMV-CMI is recovered since no significant increase in the incidence of CMV replication or disease is observed. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03123627.

[Renal allograft transplant vascular complications. Diagnostic and treatment.] / Complicaciones vasculares del trasplante renal. Diagnóstico y tratamiento.

Vascular complications remain common after renal transplantation, occurring in 3% to 15% of patients. These complications can compromise graft function,with graft loss rates ranging from 12.6 to 66.7%.Vascular abnormalities of the graft, specifically the presence of multiple vessels, represent the most frequently studied risk factor for the development of vascular complications. Other risk factors identified for the development of vascular complications are linked to the characteristics of the recipient, or thromboembolic diseasesharing atherosclerosis and/or hypercoagulant state aspathogenic features.Although the most frequent vascular complication is renal artery stenosis, we will also address the complications according to their early or late on set in order to highlightthe potentially more severe complications that may affectgraft survival during the follow-up period.Early vascular complications include mainly arterial and venous thrombosis and lacerations or disruptions of artery and/or vein, as well as arterio-venous fistulas or intrarenal pseudoaneurysms. In contrast, late-onset complications include stenosis or kinking of the renal artery-and less commonly of the renal vein-, as well as extrinsic compression as a consequence of the presence of perigraft fluid collections. Finally, extrarenal pseudoaneurysm is a potentially severe complication in the late post-transplant period.Finally, this article explores special transplant situations such as complications derived from the paediatric donor in adult recipients, transplantation in the paediatric recipient and emerging techniques like robotic renal transplantation.

Las complicaciones vasculares siguen siendo frecuentes después del trasplante renal, ocurriendo entre el 3% y el 15% de los pacientes. Estas complicaciones pueden comprometer la función del injerto,con unas tasas de pérdida del injerto que varían entreel 12,6 ­ 66,7%.Las anomalías vasculares del injerto, y concretamente la presencia de múltiples vasos, representan el factor de riesgo más frecuente y estudiado para el desarrollo de complicaciones vasculares. Otros factores de riesgo de complicaciones vasculares se han relacionado con las características del receptor, o la enfermedad tromboembólica, compartiendo como características patogénicas la aterosclerosis y/o el estado hipercoagulante. Aunque la complicación vascular más frecuente está constituida por la estenosis de la arteria renal, expondremos las complicaciones en función de su presentación clínica temprana o tardía en un intento de destacar para el lector las complicaciones potencialmente más severas y que en cada momento del tiempo pueden condicionar la supervivencia del injerto.Las complicaciones de presentación preferentemente perioperatoria incluyen fundamentalmente la trombosis arterial y venosa y las laceraciones o disrupciones de arteria y/o vena, así como las fístulas arterio-venosas opseudoaneurismas intrarrenales. Por el contrario, otras complicaciones tienen comúnmente una presentación clínica más tardía. En este grupo incluimos la estenosiso acodamiento de la arteria renal y excepcionalmente de la vena renal, así como la compresión extrínseca de los vasos del injerto como consecuencia de la presencia de colecciones peri-injerto. Finalmente, una complicación severa que puede manifestarse de forma tardía enla evolución del receptor, es el pseudoaneurisma extrarrenal. Finalmente, haremos brevemente referencia a situaciones especiales del trasplante como las complicaciones derivadas del donante pediátrico en receptores adultos,del trasplante en el receptor pediátrico y de técnicas emergentes como el trasplante renal robótico.

Complicaciones vasculares del trasplante renal. Diagnóstico y tratamiento / Vascular complications of kidney transplantation. Diagnosis and treatment

Existen diferentes técnicas quirúrgicaspara la reconstrucción del tracto urinario en el trasplanterenal. Sin embargo es frecuente la aparición de complicaciones urinarias en el postoperatorio, siendo el uréterla localización frecuente de las mismas. Esto implicaun alto gasto sanitario, aumentando la morbimortalidaddel paciente y pudiendo llegar a desencadenar la pérdida del injerto. Por ello es importante la prevención, elcorrecto diagnóstico y su tratamiento.El objetivo de esta revisión es describir las técnicas quirúrgicas más usadas en el trasplante renal para la ureteroneocistostomía. Analizar las ventajas y desventajas decada una de ellas y comparar sus complicaciones. Porotro lado se resume la literatura reciente sobre las cuatrocomplicaciones urinarias más frecuentes en el postoperatorio del trasplante. Se exponen las posibles causas ytratamiento de la fuga urinaria, la obstrucción ureteral,la hematuria y el reflujo ureterovesical.(AU)

There are different surgical techniques forreconstruction of the urinary tract in kidney transplant.However, urinary complications are frequent in the postoperative period, being the ureter the frequent locationof these complications. This results in high health carecosts, increasing patient morbimortality and sometimesgraft loss. For this reason, prevention, correct diagnosisand treatment are important.The aim of this review is to describe the surgical techniques most commonly used in kidney transplant forureteroneocystostomy. To analyze the advantages anddisadvantages of each of them and to compare theircomplications. On the other hand, we summarize therecent literature on the four most frequent urinary complications in the postoperative period after transplantation.The possible causes and treatment of urine leak, uretericobstruction, hematuria and vesicoureteral reflux are presented.(AU)

Infarto renal agudo: características clínicas y factores pronósticos / Acute renal infarction: Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors

Introducción: El infarto renal agudo (INRA) es una patología de diagnóstico infrecuente, cuya incidencia real es probablemente superior a la detectada, y que asocia una evolución desfavorable en un alto porcentaje de casos. Objetivos: Describir las principales características clínicas, bioquímicas y radiológicas, y determinar qué factores se asocian a una peor evolución (muerte o deterioro permanente de la función renal). Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo y observacional, que incluyó a todos los pacientes diagnosticados de INRA mediante TAC con contraste en un único hospital durante 18 años. Los pacientes fueron clasificados según el origen cardiogénico o no cardiogénico del INRA. Se analizaron las principales características clínicas, bioquímicas y radiológicas, y, mediante un modelo de regresión logística multivariante, se determinaron los factores asociados a una peor evolución. Resultados: Se incluyeron 62 casos, de los que 30 fueron de origen cardiogénico. Los 32 pacientes con INRA no cardiogénico eran más jóvenes, con menos comorbilidad y menor frecuencia de tratamiento previo con anticoagulación. La extensión media de daño isquémico por radiología fue del 35%, sin observarse diferencias entre los subgrupos etiológicos. El 38% de los pacientes tuvo una evolución desfavorable, y los principales determinantes fueron: la función renal al diagnóstico (eGFR) (OR=0,949; IC 95%: 0,918-0,980; p=0,002) y la anticoagulación oral antes del episodio agudo (OR=0,135; IC 95%: 0,032-0,565; p=0,006). Conclusiones: El INRA es una patología infrecuente, con manifestaciones clínicas poco específicas y, en más de la mitad de los casos, no asociada a enfermedad cardiaca o arritmias. Una alta proporción de pacientes evoluciona desfavorablemente. La función renal al diagnóstico es uno de los principales factores pronósticos (AU)

Introduction: Acute renal infarction (ARI) is an uncommon disease, whose real incidence is probably higher than expected. It is associated with poor prognosis in a high percentage of cases. Objectives: To describe the main clinical, biochemical and radiologic features and to determine which factors are associated with poor prognosis (death or permanent renal injury). Materials and methods: The following is a retrospective, observational, single-hospital-based study. All patients diagnosed with ARI by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) over an 18-year period were included. Patients were classified according to the cardiac or non-cardiac origin of their disease. Clinical, biochemical and radiologic features were analysed, and multiple logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with poor prognosis. Results: A total of 62 patients were included, 30 of which had a cardiac origin. Other 32 patients with non-cardiac ARI were younger, had less comorbidity, and were less frequently treated with oral anticoagulants. CT scans estimated mean injury extension at 35%, with no differences observed between groups. A total of 38% of patients had an unfavourable outcome, and the main determinants were: Initial renal function (OR=0.949; IC 95% 0.918-0.980; p=0.002), and previous treatment with oral anticoagulants (OR=0.135; IC 95% 0.032-0.565; p=0.006). Conclusions: ARI is a rare pathology with non-specific symptoms, and it is not associated with cardiological disease or arrhythmias in more than half of cases. A substantial proportion of patients have unfavourable outcomes, and the initial renal function is one of the main prognostic factors (AU)

Acute renal infarction: Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors.

INTRODUCTION: Acute renal infarction (ARI) is an uncommon disease, whose real incidence is probably higher than expected. It is associated with poor prognosis in a high percentage of cases. OBJECTIVES: To describe the main clinical, biochemical and radiologic features and to determine which factors are associated with poor prognosis (death or permanent renal injury). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The following is a retrospective, observational, single-hospital-based study. All patients diagnosed with ARI by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) over an 18-year period were included. Patients were classified according to the cardiac or non-cardiac origin of their disease. Clinical, biochemical and radiologic features were analysed, and multiple logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with poor prognosis. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were included, 30 of which had a cardiac origin. Other 32 patients with non-cardiac ARI were younger, had less comorbidity, and were less frequently treated with oral anticoagulants. CT scans estimated mean injury extension at 35%, with no differences observed between groups. A total of 38% of patients had an unfavourable outcome, and the main determinants were: Initial renal function (OR=0.949; IC 95% 0.918-0.980; p=0.002), and previous treatment with oral anticoagulants (OR=0.135; IC 95% 0.032-0.565; p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: ARI is a rare pathology with non-specific symptoms, and it is not associated with cardiological disease or arrhythmias in more than half of cases. A substantial proportion of patients have unfavourable outcomes, and the initial renal function is one of the main prognostic factors.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney graft: an extremely uncommon presentation of tumor in renal transplant recipients.

Purpose. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) affecting the graft after renal transplantation is a very infrequent way of presentation of this tumor. Our aim is to present our single institution experience with 2 cases, as well as to perform a review of the literature about this tumor after the transplant. Materials and Methods. TCC of the graft developed in 2 of 1365 patients from 1977 to 2010, both cases in women. Data were analyzed for incidence, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes. Results. Both cases occurred in 2 mid-age women and resulted to be high grade and locally advanced TCCs, representing an incidence of 0,14% (2/1365). Clinical presentation was urinary obstruction for the first case and incidental ultrasound finding for the second. Preoperative staging was made with CT, cytology, pyelography, ureterorenoscopy, and biopsy. Treatment performed was nephroureterectomy of the graft with bladder cuff and regional lymphadenectomy. Pathological examination showed in both cases a locally advanced and high grade urothelial carcinoma of the pelvis allograft. After 24 and 14 months of followup, both patients are disease free. Conclusions. TCC of the kidney graft is an infrequent tumor that has only been reported in a few cases in the literature. It usually appears at a lower age, more often locally advanced, and with poor differentiation. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment should be required in these cases.

Importancia del donante añoso como fuente de órganos válidos para el trasplante renal: ¿dónde está el límite? / Importance of elderly donors as a source of valid organs for renal transplantation: where is the limit?

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