Use of HBsAg-positive donors in liver transplantation: An ILTS-EASL-AASLD multisociety survey.

The gap between organ supply and demand in liver transplantation remains large in most parts of the world. One strategy to increase the donor pool is to use grafts infected with HCV, HBV, and/or HIV viruses. We aimed to explore the current use of HBsAg-positive liver grafts worldwide. A prospective cross-sectional web-based survey was designed, with a total of 28 queries, assessing national and local regulations, center experience, and center-specific experience related to the topic, and sent to all members of International Liver Transplantation Society, European Association for the Study of the Liver, and American Association for the Study of the Liver, and promoted on social media. A total of 135 liver transplant centers answered the survey: 38% from WHO European Regions, 39% from American regions, and 9.7% from South-East Asian regions. Most of the participating centers (67.3%) had been performing liver transplantation for over 15 years, with a mean of 66.5 liver transplants per year, and 54% also performed living-donor liver transplants. HBV-related disease was the indication for liver transplantation in an average of 15% of all liver transplantation cases. Regarding national and/or regional regulations, 40% of the centers reported that the use of HBsAg-positive donors was permitted, and an additional 20% could use them under special circumstances. Thirty-two centers (31%) had previously used HBsAg-positive donors. Among these centers, 62.5% conducted living-donor liver transplants and showed an increased inclination towards the use of HBsAg-positive grafts in centers with elevated waitlist mortality. HBsAg-positive donors are underutilized worldwide. The use of HBsAg-positive liver grafts could help to increase the donor pool, particularly in highly endemic areas.

Which cava anastomotic techniques are optimal regarding immediate and short-term outcomes after liver transplantation: A systematic review of the literature and expert panel recommendations.

BACKGROUND: It has long been debated whether cava anastomosis should be performed with the piggyback technique or cava replacement, with or without veno-venous bypass (VVB), with or without temporary portocaval shunt (PCS) in the setting of liver transplantation. OBJECTIVES: To identify whether different cava anastomotic techniques and other maneuvers benefit the recipient regarding short-term outcomes and to provide international expert panel recommendations. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central. METHODS: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and recommendations using the GRADE approach derived from an international expert panel (CRD42021240979). RESULTS: Of 3205 records screened, 307 publications underwent full-text assessment for eligibility and 47 were included in qualitative synthesis. Four studies were randomized control trials. Eighteen studies were comparative. The remaining 25 were single-center retrospective noncomparative studies. CONCLUSION: Based on existing data and expert opinion, the panel cannot recommend one cava reconstruction technique over another, rather the surgical approach should be based on surgeon preference and center dependent, with special consideration toward patient circumstances (Quality of evidence: Low | Grade of Recommendation: Strong). The panel recommends against routine use of vevo-venous bypass (Quality of evidence: Very Low | Grade of Recommendation: Strong) and against the routine use of temporary porto-caval shunt (Quality of evidence: Very Low | Grade of Recommendation: Strong).

Recipient and Graft Outcomes in Simultaneous Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation With Steroid Avoidance in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Steroid avoidance in kidney transplantation has been proven noninferior. Long-term outcome data on steroid avoidance in simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) remains scant. METHODS: Utilizing the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between 2000 and 2020, we studied all primary crossmatch negative SPK recipients (N = 5683) who received antithymocyte globulin induction and were discharged alive with functioning grafts on tacrolimus and mycophenolate ± steroid maintenance. Recipients were grouped according to steroid use into 2 groups: steroid maintenance (n = 4191) and steroid avoidance (n = 1492). Kaplan-Meier curves censored at 10 y were generated for recipient and allograft survival by steroid maintenance. Predictors for recipient and graft survival were examined using Cox Proportional Hazards. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, ethnicity, diabetes type, human leukocyte-antigen mismatches, cold ischemia time, transplant era, preemptive transplantation, and pancreas donor risk index with the transplant center included as a random effect. RESULTS: Steroid avoidance gained popularity over time, accounting for over one-fourth of the studied cohort. One-year acute rejection rates by steroid avoidance were comparable for kidney (8.6% versus 9%, P = 0.783); however, the pancreas rejection rate was lower in the steroid avoidance group (7.9% versus 10%; P = 0.035). After adjustment, steroid avoidance did not influence recipient survival (lower level of confidence interval, adjusted hazard ratio, upper level of confidence interval: 0.94, 1.15, 1.39), pancreas (0.75, 0.93, 1.16), or kidney (0.95, 1.18, 1.45) death-censored survival, compared with steroid maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: Accounting for the recipient and graft characteristics, steroid avoidance is associated with similar recipient, pancreas, and kidney graft outcomes compared with steroid maintenance in SPK recipients after antithymocyte globulin induction with tacrolimus and mycophenolate maintenance.

Proceedings of the 27th Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society.

After a virtual congress in 2021 and a previous absence in 2020 because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the 27th Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society was held from May 4 to 7, 2022, in a hybrid format in Istanbul, with 1123 (58% on-site) liver transplant professionals from 61 countries attending the meeting. The hybrid format successfully achieved a balance of much yearned-for "in-person interaction" and global online participation. Almost 500 scientific abstracts were presented. In this report, the Vanguard Committee aims to present a summary of key invited lectures and selected abstracts for the liver transplant community.

Outcomes of Primary Simultaneous Pancreas-kidney Transplants by Induction Agent in the United States.

Long-term outcome data by induction type in simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) is limited. Methods: Utilizing the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we examined all primary SPK transplants between 2000 and 2020, excluding crossmatch-positive recipients. We grouped recipients according to induction regimen into 3 groups: rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) (n = 5678), alemtuzumab (n = 1199), and interleukin-2 receptor antagonist (IL-2RA; n = 1593). We analyzed the 10-y recipient and composite (kidney and pancreas) graft survival using the Kaplan-Meier survival function. Cox-proportion hazard models were generated to examine the association between induction type, the 10-y recipient, and graft survival. Models were adjusted for recipient age, sex, ethnicity, HLA-mismatch, diabetes type, dialysis dependency, cold-ischemia time, local versus imported organs, panel reactive antibody, steroid maintenance, and Pancreas Donor Risk Index. Results: r-ATG was associated with the lowest 1-y kidney and pancreas rejection rates compared with other agents (P < 0.001). In the univariable analysis, induction type was not associated with recipient (log-rank P = 0.11) or graft survival (log-rank P = 0.36). In the multivariable model for the composite graft survival, alemtuzumab use was associated with 22% increased kidney or pancreas graft loss compared with r-ATG (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.42), whereas IL-2RA use was not a predictor of graft survival. Induction type did not influence recipient survival in the adjusted model. Conclusions: r-ATG use was associated with the lowest SPK rejection rates. Compared with r-ATG, alemtuzumab but not IL-2RA was associated with worse long-term death-censored SPK graft outcome. Our analysis supports the common use of r-ATG for induction in US primary SPK recipients.

Proceedings of the 26th Annual Virtual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society.

After a 1-y absence due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the 26th Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society was held from May 15 to 18, 2021, in a virtual format. Clinicians and researchers from all over the world came together to share their knowledge on all the aspects of liver transplantation (LT). Apart from a focus on LT in times of coronavirus disease 2019, featured topics of this year's conference included infectious diseases in LT, living donation, machine perfusion, oncology, predictive scoring systems and updates in anesthesia/critical care, immunology, radiology, pathology, and pediatrics. This report presents highlights from invited lectures and a review of the select abstracts. The aim of this report, generated by the Vanguard Committee of International Liver Transplantation Society, is to provide a summary of the most recent developments in clinical practice and research in LT.

A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Effects of Call Schedules on Surgical Resident Sleep and Physical Activity Using the Fitbit.

BACKGROUND: Surgical residency training has an extended tradition of long hours. Residency programs use a variety of call schedules to combat resident fatigue and sleep deprivation while maintaining adherence to duty hour restrictions. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data regarding objective measurements of sleep during the different call schedules included in general surgery training. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to compare the quantity of sleep in 24-hour time frames across all types of shifts worked by general surgery residents at our institution. The secondary objective was to measure activity level in total steps during various time frames. METHODS: This prospective observational study was performed between April 4 and August 26, 2018, with general surgery residents. Each resident was assigned a Fitbit Charge 2 to wear during all rotations, including general surgery and subspecialty services. RESULTS: Twenty-six out of 31 residents voluntarily participated in the study (84%). In-house call (IHC) had significantly less sleep in a 24-hour time frame than home call and night float (144 vs 283 vs 246 minutes, P < .001 and P < .028). IHC had significantly more steps than home call (11 245 vs 8756 steps, P = .039). The smallest number of steps was obtained when residents were not working (7904 steps). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that surgical residents on IHC have significantly less sleep compared to all other types of on-call time frames. Residents on IHC have the most steps across all time frames.

Efficacy and safety of transversus abdominis plane blocks versus thoracic epidural anesthesia in patients undergoing major abdominal oncologic resections: A prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare patient outcomes for thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks. METHODS: A prospective, randomized trial was performed for patients undergoing abdominal oncologic surgeries. RESULTS: There were 32 TAP and 35 TEA subjects. The TEA group demonstrated increased episodes of hypotension in the first 24 h (3 v 0.6, p = 0.02). There was no difference in 24-48 h fluid balance between the groups. Overall parenteral morphine equivalents of opioids administered for the TEA group were higher for each postoperative day (p < 0.05). The post-operative survey did not demonstrate any difference in subjective pain between the TAP and TEA groups (6 v 6 p = 0.35). There was no attributable morbidity associated with either technique. CONCLUSIONS: TAP block use was associated with lower parenteral morphine equivalent usage and decreased incidence of hypotension in the early post-operative period compared to TEA.

Is there a role for Ytrrium-90 in the treatment of unresectable and metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Ytrrium-90 (Y-90) has been used to treat hepatic malignancies with success. This study focuses on the efficacy and safety of Y-90 in the treatment of unresectable and metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS: A single-institution retrospective case review was performed for patients with unresectable and metastatic ICC treated with Y-90 between 2006 and 2016. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with ICC underwent 21 Y-90 treatments. Four patients had undergone prior liver resection, and six patients had extrahepatic disease at the time of treatment. Five year overall survival was 26.8%, with a median survival of 33.6 months. One patient underwent margin negative liver resection after a single treatment. Complications were appreciated in two cases. Ninety-day mortality was 0%. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ICC using Y-90 is a safe and promising procedure. Further research is needed to clarify its role in the treatment of unresectable and metastatic ICC.