Survival and renal function after liver transplantation alone in patients meeting the new United Network for Organ Sharing simultaneous liver-kidney criteria.

In 2017, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) implemented a simultaneous liver-kidney transplant (SLK) allocation policy. Our institution uses a more restrictive criteria for SLK; thus, we have a group of patients that would have qualified for SLK under the new allocation policy but received liver transplantation alone (LTA). We compared survival and post-operative renal function in patients that received LTA stratified by whether they met the new UNOS SLK criteria. There was no difference in graft and patient survival. The majority (95%) of LTA patients meeting the UNOS SLK criteria did not need dialysis at 1 year, with a mean eGFR increase from 23 mL/min preoperatively to 48 mL/min at 1 year. Of those with eGFR ≤ 20 mL/min at 1 month after surgery, the majority did regain adequate renal function. The implementation of the UNOS SLK allocation policy was appropriate in the previously unregulated area. This policy provides an excellent framework for those that may benefit from SLK. Our data suggest that a more restrictive policy may be possible in order to promote the best use of donated organs. The current safety net is appropriately positioned to capture patients in need of subsequent kidney transplant.

Impact of center volume and the adoption of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy on outcomes in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Reports for pediatric kidney transplant recipients suggested better outcomes for ODN compared to LDN. Contemporary outcomes stratified by donor type and center volume have not been evaluated in a national dataset. UNOS data (2000-2014) were analyzed for pediatric living donor kidney transplant recipients. The primary outcome was GF; secondary outcomes were DGF, rejection, and patient survival. Live donor nephrectomies for pediatric recipients decreased 30% and transitioned from ODN to LDN. GF rates did not differ for ODN vs LDN (P = .24). GF was lowest at high volume centers (P < .01). Donor operative approach did not contribute to GF. LDN was associated with less rejection than ODN (OR 0.66, CI 0.5-0.87, P < .01). Analysis of the 0- to 5-yr recipient group showed no effect of ODN vs LDN on GF or rejection. For the contemporary era, there was no association between DGF and LDN in the 0- to 5-yr group (OR 1.12, CI 0.67-1.89, P = .67). Outcomes of kidney transplants in pediatric recipients following LDN have improved since its introduction and LDN should be the approach for live donor nephrectomy regardless of recipient age. The association between case volume and improved outcomes highlights future challenges in organ transplantation.

Liver transplant for hepatocellular cancer: very small tumors, very large tumors, and waiting time.

The role of liver transplant for treatment of early hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is no longer contested. However, its benefit relative to other therapies for patients with very early (<2 cm) HCC is still a matter of debate. Twenty years after the establishment of the Milan criteria, we are beginning to realize that the number and size of tumors may not be the best metric by which to prognosticate outcomes and allocate organs. A better assessment of tumor aggressiveness is clearly needed.

Allocation policy for hepatocellular carcinoma in the MELD era: room for improvement?

Currently, liver transplantation is the optimal cure for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) limited to the liver. The requisite use of a scarce resource and the effective "competition" between transplant candidates with and without HCC necessitates an allocation policy that defines the subset of HCC patients appropriate for transplantation and their equitable waiting-list prioritization relative to non-HCC patients. Under Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) allocation, HCC candidates must meet the Milan criteria (single tumor < or =5 cm in diameter or 2 or 3 tumors, each <3 cm in diameter) to qualify for exceptional HCC waiting-list consideration. Their waiting-list prioritization is based on estimating progression risk beyond the Milan criteria (termed dropout), an event for HCC patients considered equivalent to death for non-HCC patients. Although the Milan criteria may be too restrictive, thereby denying deserving patients access to transplantation, high rates of understaging by pretransplantation radiographic imaging and concern for erosion of recurrence-free survival rates have dampened enthusiasm for relaxation of tumor guidelines. The efficacy of pretransplantation locoregional therapies to reduce dropout, downstage patients, and/or decrease posttransplantation recurrence remains to be determined. Genomic, molecular, or clinical criteria to accurately differentiate HCC patients whose disease will recur from those whose disease will not recur would resolve much of the current controversy regarding appropriate criteria for HCC patients to qualify for transplantation.

Hook needle-guided excision of recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer in previously operated neck compartments: a safe technique for small, nonpalpable recurrent disease.

CONTEXT: As a result of more sensitive techniques to detect recurrent thyroid cancer, the number of patients presenting with small, nonpalpable recurrent thyroid cancer in cervical lymph nodes is increasing. Surgical excision of nonpalpable recurrent thyroid cancer can be difficult, particularly in a previously operated area. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether preoperative insertion of a hook needle under ultrasound guidance is useful in neck reoperations for recurrent thyroid cancer. PATIENTS: Ten consecutive patients presenting over a 4-month period with nonpalpable, ultrasound-visible, fine needle biopsy-proven recurrent thyroid cancer in previously operated neck compartment(s) were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured whether it was technically possible to insert a hook needle preoperatively, rate of negative neck exploration, and complication rate. RESULTS: The hook needle was inserted in seven patients. In three patients, the hook needle was not inserted; one patient had palpable disease 4 months after the preoperative clinic visit, one patient had a tumor too close to the carotid artery, and one patient had multiple bilateral foci of recurrent disease in the central neck. One patient had bleeding after insertion of the needle due to a penetration of an anterior jugular vein that was easily managed at neck reexploration. No other complication occurred during the hook needle insertion, and the only surgical complication was a transient recurrent nerve palsy. All pathology reports showed malignant disease. CONCLUSION: Hook needle-guided excision of recurrent thyroid cancer is feasible and appears to be a promising tool for safe and successful reoperation of patients with small recurrent thyroid cancer in cervical lymph nodes.

Surgery in developing countries: essential training in residency.

HYPOTHESIS: A surgical elective in a developing country setting is an essential new component in academic residency training. DESIGN: A survey of residents and faculty within the Department of Surgery at the University of California-San Francisco, and a collaborative program piloted between the Department of Surgery at the University of California-San Francisco and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, including a 6-week clinical elective. SETTING: Mulago and Nsambya hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. PARTICIPANTS: Two residents and three faculty advisors at the University of California-San Francisco. INTERVENTION: Development of a 6-week pilot clinical surgical elective. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of the level of interest in international health in an academic surgery program; pathology and case variety, diagnostic methods, and surgical and anesthetic resources and techniques in a pilot developing country. RESULTS: Forty percent of residents enter residency with prior international health experience whereas 90% express interest in a developing country elective. Twenty-five percent of faculty participate in voluntary international surgical service and research projects. As a result of the survey and the level of interest in our program, two visits to Uganda were made and a residency elective rotation was successfully created. This resulted in exposure of residents to the educational benefits of learning in a resource-constrained setting: a broader scope of surgical conditions and pathology, greater reliance on history-taking and physical examination skills in a low-technology environment, and sociocultural aspects of care provision. Greater questions about global health equity, access to information, and the role of surgery in public health are raised along with potential challenges in international collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: A developing country surgical experience complements the academic mission of service, training, and research, and should be an essential component of surgical training programs. There is interest among residents and faculty in such a program as well as a need for greater commitment to north-south collaborations among academic surgical institutions and societies, as has been successfully implemented abroad. More generally, surgery is an integral part of public health and health systems development worldwide.