Donor and Recipient Matching in Facial Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: A Closer Look at the Donor Pool.

BACKGROUND: Identifying a donor for facial vascularized composite allotransplant recipients can be a lengthy, emotionally challenging process. Little is known about the relative distribution of key donor characteristics among potential donors. Data on actual wait times of patients are limited, making it difficult to estimate wait times for future recipients. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed charts of nine facial vascularized composite allotransplant patients and provide data on transplant wait times and patient characteristics. In addition, they analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing database of dead organ donors. After excluding donors with high-risk characteristics (e.g., active cancer or risk factors for blood-borne disease transmission), the authors calculated the distribution of relevant donor-recipient matching criteria (i.e., ethnicity, body mass index, age, ABO blood group, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C virus) among 65,201 potential donors. RESULTS: The median wait time for a transplant was 4 months (range, 1 day to 17 months). The large majority of United Network for Organ Sharing-recorded deaths from disease were white (63 percent) and male (58 percent). Female donors of black, Hispanic, or Asian descent are underrepresented, with 7, 5, and 1 percent of all recorded deaths from disease, respectively. Potential donors show cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus seropositivity of 65 and 95 percent, respectively. The number of annual hepatitis C-positive donors increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Actual facial vascularized composite allotransplant wait times vary considerably. Although most patients experience acceptable wait times, some with underrepresented characteristics exceed acceptable levels. Cytomegalovirus-seropositive donors present a large portion of the donor pool, and exclusion for seronegative patients may increase wait time. Hepatitis C-seropositive donors may constitute a donor pool for underrepresented patient groups in the future.

Infectious complications of vascularized composite allograft transplantation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Vascularized composite allograft (VCA) transplants constitute multiple tissues transplanted together as one functional unit. These procedures are increasing in frequency and complexity, yet data about graft survival, quality of life, and infection risk remain limited. RECENT FINDINGS: Informative guidance for this patient population is often inferred from the solid organ transplantation literature. Yet, it is important to understand that VCA transplantation additionally carries its own significant and distinctive risk factors for infection. SUMMARY: In this review, we give an overview of previously described infectious complications of VCA transplantation in the literature, discuss risk factors for future infection in these patients, and discuss how to manage such obstacles.

Hand and upper extremity transplantation: an update of outcomes in the worldwide experience.

BACKGROUND: Hand/upper extremity transplantation is the most common form of vascularized composite allotransplantation performed to date. An Update of worldwide outcomes is reported. METHODS: The authors summarize the international experience with 107 known transplanted hand/upper extremities in 72 patients. Data from published medical literature, national and international meetings, lay press reports, and personal communications were utilized to provide the most up-to-date summary. RESULTS: Although 24 losses (including four mortalities) are known, three of the four reported mortalities and eight of 24 limb losses were caused by multiple type vascularized composite allotransplantations (combined upper and lower limb or upper limb and face). Seven more losses were attributable to 15 patients in the early experience in China. In the United States and Western Europe, only three other non-acute graft losses have been reported, resulting in a patient survival rate for unilateral or bilateral hand transplantation in isolation of 98.5 percent and an overall graft survival rate of 83.1 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Published functional outcomes continue to demonstrate improvement in function and quality of life. The international experience supports the idea that, for properly selected individuals, hand and upper extremity transplantation should be considered an important treatment option.

[Esophagoplasty in combined scarry lesions of the esophagus, laryngopharynx and the trachea in children].

The experience of plasty of the pharynx and esophagus with graft of the free small intestine segment was presented in 12 children after burn stricture by the potassium permanganate. The technical aspects of operation using methods of the reconstructive vascular surgery were described. Good short-term result was obtained in all the patients. The long-term results were investigated during 15 years. It was observed, that the graft diverticulum developed by 4-7 years in 3 patients, whom repeated operation should be performed. According to the authors, the regional plasty of the esophagus by free revasculizated small intestine graft was really effective surgical supply and could be considered as the method of choice in limited scarry lesions of the pharynx and cervical esophagus, but the method should be improved.