Aortic surgery and laparoscopy: still a future in the endovascular surgery era?

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is the minimally invasive alternative to open surgery and endovascular approach for treating major aortic diseases. Only few reports in the literature describe the long-term outcomes of the laparoscopic approach for major vascular diseases. Furthermore, the widespread use of endovascular techniques has limited the use of LS to wellselected patients. This review evaluated the results of LS for aortic disease and compared the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic technique with those of open and endovascular surgery. A systematic review was performed by using the MEDLINE database, along with a meta-analysis of the reported studies on the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and/or aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Forty-three studies were analyzed (17 for AAA and 26 for AIOD), with a total of 1197 patients with AAA and 1307 patients with AIOD. Laparoscopic surgery, when performed in experienced centers, is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of AAA and AIOD in patients unfit for open and endovascular repair. Assisted laparoscopic approach has shown better outcomes than totally laparoscopic repair, with a lower rate of mortality and morbidity. Endovascular repair, however, remains the gold standard in the treatment of AAA. KEY WORDS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Aorta, Aneurysm, Aorto-iliac occlusive disease, Endovascular aneurysm repair, EVAR, Laparoscopy, Endovascular, Repair, Laparoscopic Assisted, Laparoscopy Vascular, Laparoscopic surgery, Totally.

Simultaneous Native Nephrectomy and Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous unilateral nephrectomy with kidney transplantation and to determine the effect of this procedure on perioperative morbidity and mortality and graft and patient survival. METHODS: Between January 2000 and May 2015, 145 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) underwent kidney transplantation. Of those, 40 (27.5%) underwent concurrent ipsilateral native nephrectomy (group NT). Patients in group NT were compared with patients with ADPKD not undergoing concurrent nephrectomy (group NT-) and asymptomatic patients undergoing pretransplant nephrectomy (group PNT). RESULTS: The average follow-up was 66 months. The graft survival rate at 1 and 5 years was 95% and 87.5% versus 93% and 76.2% in the NT and NT- groups, respectively (P = .903 and P = .544, respectively); 1-year patient survival was 100% for NT and 97% for NT- patients (P = .288), whereas 5-year patient survival was 100% and 92% for NT and NT- groups, respectively (P = .128). After propensity score matching (34 patients per group) no significant differences were observed in 1-year (97.1% in NT and 94.1%; P = 1) and 5-year (88.2% in NT and 91.2% in NT-; P = 1) graft survival, and in 1-year (100% for both groups; P = 1) and 5-year (100% in NT and 94.1% in NT-; P = 1) patient survival. Perioperative mortality was 0% among NT and 1.2% among NT- patients, whereas perioperative surgical complications were similar in both groups. One- and 5-year graft and patient survival were similar between the NT and PNT groups, but patients in the PNT group had significantly lower levels of hemoglobin and residual diuresis volumes at the time of transplant. Moreover, PNT patients had a longer pretransplant dialysis and a longer time on the waiting list. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous unilateral nephrectomy does not have a negative effect on patient and graft survival in patients with ADPKD and is associated with low morbidity. Pretransplant nephrectomy should be restricted only to highly symptomatic patients, whereas unilateral nephrectomy in asymptomatic patients should be performed during kidney transplantation only if massive kidney size precludes graft positioning.

Psychological perspective of medication adherence in transplantation.

AIM: To identify the risk factors and the post-transplant psychological symptoms that affect adherence to therapy in a population of kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: The study examined the psychological variables likely responsible for the non-adherent behavior using a psychological-psychiatric assessment, evaluation of the perception of patients' health status, and an interview regarding the anti-rejection drug therapy assumption. The study included 74 kidney transplant recipients. RESULTS: Individuals with a higher level of education and more years since transplantation showed better mental balance. Regarding gender, women appeared to be less adherent to therapy. Further, the years since transplantation adversely affected the proper pharmacological assumption. Adherence to therapy did not significantly change with the mental health index. CONCLUSION: The biopsychosocial illness model provides a conceptual frame of reference in which biological, psychological, and social aspects take on the same importance in the adherence to treatment protocols. For effective management, it is necessary to understand the patients' personal experiences, their assumptions about the disease, health status perception, and mood, and to identify any "barriers" that could cause them to become noncompliant.

Aortic surgery and laparoscopy: still a future in the endovascular surgery era?

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is the minimally invasive alternative to open surgery and endovascular approach for treating major aortic diseases. Only few reports in the literature describe the long-term outcomes of the laparoscopic approach for major vascular diseases. Furthermore, the widespread use of endovascular techniques has limited the use of LS to wellselected patients. This review evaluated the results of LS for aortic disease and compared the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic technique with those of open and endovascular surgery. A systematic review was performed by using the MEDLINE database, along with a meta-analysis of the reported studies on the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and/or aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Forty-three studies were analyzed (17 for AAA and 26 for AIOD), with a total of 1197 patients with AAA and 1307 patients with AIOD. Laparoscopic surgery, when performed in experienced centers, is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of AAA and AIOD in patients unfit for open and endovascular repair. Assisted laparoscopic approach has shown better outcomes than totally laparoscopic repair, with a lower rate of mortality and morbidity. Endovascular repair, however, remains the gold standard in the treatment of AAA. KEY WORDS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Aorta, Aneurysm, Aorto-iliac occlusive disease, Endovascular aneurysm repair, EVAR, Laparoscopy, Endovascular, Repair, Laparoscopic Assisted, Laparoscopy Vascular, Laparoscopic surgery, Totally.