Preservation fluid cultures. Clinical significance in liver transplantation.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of preservation fluids (PF) bacterial positive cultures, identify the germs involved, determine their correlation with infections in recipients during the postoperative period and compare outcomes in terms of morbidity, hospital stay and both patient and graft survival. We describe incidence and etiology of germs developed in PF cultures in our series and evaluate its impact on recipients. A prospective study in deceased donor liver transplants (LT) recipients was carried out from January 2014 to December 2017. Back table PF cultures were analized considering positive the development of any germs and negative to no signs of growth after 5 days. PF were classified as contamination or pathogens. Targeted antibiotic therapy was administered in the last ones. Recipients were divided in: PF (-) and PF(+). Recipients infections related to positive PF were analyzed. These were identified as "direct correlation" when the same germ grew up in PF. Hospital stay and 30 days follow up were compared. Eighty-eight patients PFs were included, 38% (33) had positive cultures, 28 (85%) of these were considered contamination and only 5 as pathogens. We found no differences in postoperative infections (p 0.840), ICU and total hospital stay (p 0.374 and 0.427) between both groups. Postoperative infections and hospital stay seem not to be infuenced by PF cultures positivity. Treatment of isolated pathogens could have prevented infections, therefore, those groups that perform PF cultures should consider treatment in these cases and conclude prophylaxis when PF is negative or contaminated.

Las infecciones bacterianas son frecuentes en pacientes sometidos a trasplante hepático. Describimos la incidencia y etiología de los cultivos de líquidos de preservación (LP) positivos en nuestra serie y analizamos su importancia clínica. Se trata de un trabajo prospectivo de pacientes trasplantados hepáticos, entre enero 2014 a diciembre 2017. Se analizaron muestras de LP tomadas al finalizar la mesa de banco, considerándose positivo el desarrollo de cualquier germen y negativo la ausencia del mismo luego de 5 días. Los LP positivos se clasificaron en: con contaminantes y con patógenos. Los pacientes con LP patógenos recibieron tratamiento antibiótico de acuerdo al antibiograma. Los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos: con LP + y LP-. Las infecciones relacionadas a los LP fueron analizadas. Se consideró "correlación directa" cuando el mismo germen desarrolló en el LP y en el recipiente. Se comparó estadía hospitalaria en ambos grupos. Se incluyeron 88 pacientes, 38% (33) presentaron LP+, de los que el 85% (28) fueron por contaminación y 5 por pa tógenos. No se hallaron diferencias significativas en infecciones postoperatorias (p 0.840) y estadía hospitalaria (p 0.427) entre ellos. No hubo casos de "correlación directa". Las infecciones postoperatorias y la estadía hospitalaria de los pacientes no parecen estar influidas por la positividad de los cultivos de LP. El tratamiento dirigido a los gérmenes aislados como patógenos pudo prevenir infecciones, por lo tanto, los grupos que realizan cultivos de rutina deberían considerar el tratamiento en estos casos y finalizar la profilaxis cuando el LP sea negativo o contaminado.

Uterus transplantation in a sheep model: novel surgical technique with long-term survival and uterus vitality. First case series in Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a sheep autologous uterus transplantation (UT) program with an innovative surgical technique and assess long term uterus vitality and animal survival. METHODS: A novel surgical technique consisting of the procurement of the complete uterus and the two ovaries, back table vascular reconstruction, and subsequent implantation in the same animal, performing only two arterial and two venous anastomoses. RESULTS: Four autologous transplantations were performed; anesthesia and surgery were well tolerated by all the animals without complications. Direct observation and Doppler US performed a week after UT and laparoscopy performed three months later confirmed uterus vitality. All animals were alive more than a year after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study was the first to describe a novel surgical technique for sheep uterus autologous transplantation in Latin America, showing long-term survival and uterus vitality.

[Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in liver transplantation in Argentina. Other collateral damage]. / Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 sobre el trasplante hepático en la Argentina. Otro daño colateral.

The COVID-19 pandemic declared in March 2020, has generated worldwide concern due to its effect on the health of the population and the potential health collapse. The strategy of "flattening the curve" through social distancing made it possible to adapt the resources of the health system to patients with COVID-19, but results in other areas of health could not be predicted. The objective of this work was to analyze the consequences of the pandemic on liver transplantation in general and for hepatocarcinoma (HCC). The following studies were carried out: a) a retrospective analysis using data from the CRESI / INCUCAI to compare admission to the waiting list, mortality on the list, donation and liver transplantation from 03/20 to 08/15, 2019 and the same period in 2020, and b) a survey of the transplant centers with the highest transplant activity to assess the effect of the measures taken in different institutional and regional situations. The first analysis showed a 55% decrease in liver transplants, with a similar reduction in donation and admission to the liver waiting list; while HCC transplantation rose from 10% in 2019 to 22% in 2020. The second analysis showed that the occupancy rate of beds by COVID-19 patients / week was variable: from 0.4% to 42.0%. The number of surgeries, hepato-bilio-pancreatic, resection of HCC and liver transplantation, were reduced by 47%, 49%, 31% and 36% respectively. The reduction in transplant activity mainly affected centers with high occupancy due to COVID-19. The final long-term outcome will need to be assessed.

La pandemia COVID-19 declarada en marzo del 2020, ha generado preocupación mundial por su efecto en la salud de la población y el potencial colapso sanitario. La estrategia de "aplanar la curva" mediante el distanciamiento social permitió adaptar los recursos del sistema de salud a pacientes con COVID-19, pero no se pudo prever su repercusión en otras áreas de la salud. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar las consecuencias de la pandemia sobre el trasplante hepático en general y por hepatocarcinoma (HCC). Fueron realizados los siguientes estudios: a) un análisis retrospectivo utilizando datos del CRESI/INCUCAI para comparar ingreso en lista de espera, mortalidad en lista, donación y trasplante hepático desde 20/03 a 15/08, 2019 e igual periodo de 2020, y b) una encuesta a los centros de trasplante de mayor actividad trasplantológica para valorar el efecto de las medidas tomadas en diferentes situaciones institucionales y regionales. El primer análisis evidenció una disminución del 55% de los trasplantes hepáticos, con una reducción similar en la donación y en el ingreso a lista de espera hepática; mientras que el trasplante por HCC ascendió de 10% en 2019 a 22% en 2020. El segundo análisis, mostró que la tasa de ocupación de camas por pacientes COVID-19/semana fue variable: de 0.4% al 42.0%. El número de cirugías, hepato-bilio-pancreática, resección de HCC y trasplante hepático, se redujeron en 47%, 49%, 31% y 36% respectivamente. La reducción de la actividad trasplantológica afectó mayormente los centros con alta ocupación por COVID-19. El impacto final a largo plazo deberá evaluarse.

[Liver resection in Privado Hospital's general surgery department: 13-year-experience liver resections]. / Resecciones hepáticas en el servicio de cirugía general del hospital privado: 13 años de experiencia resecciones hepáticas.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection constitutes the treatment of choice in the liver primary neoplasms and some cases of metastatic tumors, but entail significant morbidity and mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To present our experience in hepatic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 40 patients who underwent hepatectomies in our Institution from December 1991 through December 2004. The information was collected retrospectively and was analized descriptive and statistically. RESULTS: 40 patients underwent 40 hepatectomies. The diagnosis included primary benign hepatic disease (n= 9, 22.5%), primary hepatic malignancy (n= 7, 17.5%) and metastatic hepatic disease (n= 24, 60%). In the metastatic group, the most frecuent pathology was colonic adenocarcinoma (n= 17, 42%). There were 4 perioperatory deaths (10%) and the average hospitaly stay was 10.8 days. CONCLUSIONS: our data shows that the most frequent indication of hepatic resection in our experience was metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma as compared to the other Institutions with similar experience.

Preservation fluid cultures. Clinical significance in liver transplantation / Cultivos de líquido de preservación en trasplante hepático. Significancia clínica

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of preservation fluids (PF) bacterial positive cultures, identify the germs involved, determine their correlation with infections in recipients during the postoperative period and compare outcomes in terms of morbidity, hospital stay and both patient and graft survival. We describe incidence and etiology of germs developed in PF cultures in our series and evaluate its impact on recipients. A prospective study in deceased donor liver transplants (LT) recipients was carried out from January 2014 to December 2017. Back table PF cultures were analized considering positive the development of any germs and negative to no signs of growth after 5 days. PF were classified as contamination or pathogens. Targeted antibiotic therapy was administered in the last ones. Recipients were divided in: PF (-) and PF(+). Recipients infections related to positive PF were analyzed. These were identified as "direct correlation" when the same germ grew up in PF. Hospital stay and 30 days follow up were compared. Eighty-eight patients PFs were included, 38% (33) had positive cultures, 28 (85%) of these were considered contamination and only 5 as pathogens. We found no differences in postoperative infections (p 0.840), ICU and total hospital stay (p 0.374 and 0.427) between both groups. Postoperative infections and hospital stay seem not to be influenced by PF cultures positivity. Treatment of isolated pathogens could have prevented infections, therefore, those groups that perform PF cultures should consider treatment in these cases and conclude prophylaxis when PF is negative or contaminated.

Resumen Las infecciones bacterianas son frecuentes en pacientes sometidos a trasplante hepático. Describimos la incidencia y etiología de los cultivos de líquidos de preservación (LP) positivos en nuestra serie y analizamos su importancia clínica. Se trata de un trabajo prospectivo de pacientes trasplantados hepáticos, entre enero 2014 a diciembre 2017. Se analizaron muestras de LP tomadas al finalizar la mesa de banco, considerándose positivo el desarrollo de cualquier germen y negativo la ausencia del mismo luego de 5 días. Los LP positivos se clasificaron en: con contaminantes y con patógenos. Los pacientes con LP patógenos recibieron tratamiento antibiótico de acuerdo al antibiograma. Los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos: con LP + y LP-. Las infecciones relacionadas a los LP fueron analizadas. Se consideró "correlación directa" cuando el mismo germen desarrolló en el LP y en el recipiente. Se comparó estadía hospitalaria en ambos grupos. Se incluyeron 88 pacientes, 38% (33) presentaron LP+, de los que el 85% (28) fueron por contaminación y 5 por pa tógenos. No se hallaron diferencias significativas en infecciones postoperatorias (p 0.840) y estadía hospitalaria (p 0.427) entre ellos. No hubo casos de "correlación directa". Las infecciones postoperatorias y la estadía hospitalaria de los pacientes no parecen estar influidas por la positividad de los cultivos de LP. El tratamiento dirigido a los gérmenes aislados como patógenos pudo prevenir infecciones, por lo tanto, los grupos que realizan cultivos de rutina deberían considerar el tratamiento en estos casos y finalizar la profilaxis cuando el LP sea negativo o contaminado.

Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 sobre el trasplante hepático en la argentina. Otro daño colateral / Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in liver transplantation in Argentina. Other collateral damage

Resumen La pandemia COVID-19 declarada en marzo del 2020, ha generado preocupación mundial por su efecto en la salud de la población y el potencial colapso sanitario. La estrategia de "aplanar la curva" mediante el distanciamiento social permitió adaptar los recursos del sistema de salud a pacientes con COVID-19, pero no se pudo prever su repercusión en otras áreas de la salud. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar las consecuencias de la pandemia sobre el trasplante hepático en general y por hepatocarcinoma (HCC). Fueron realizados los siguientes estudios: a) un análisis retrospectivo utilizando datos del CRESI/INCUCAI para comparar ingreso en lista de espera, mortalidad en lista, donación y trasplante hepático desde 20/03 a 15/08, 2019 e igual periodo de 2020, y b) una encuesta a los centros de trasplante de mayor actividad trasplantológica para valorar el efecto de las medidas tomadas en diferentes situaciones institucionales y regionales. El primer análisis evidenció una disminución del 55% de los trasplantes hepáticos, con una reducción similar en la donación y en el ingreso a lista de espera hepática; mientras que el trasplante por HCC ascendió de 10% en 2019 a 22% en 2020. El segundo análisis, mostró que la tasa de ocupación de camas por pacientes COVID-19/semana fue variable: de 0.4% al 42.0%. El número de cirugías, hepato-bilio-pancreática, resección de HCC y trasplante hepático, se redujeron en 47%, 49%, 31% y 36% respectivamente. La reducción de la actividad trasplantológica afectó mayormente los centros con alta ocupación por COVID-19. El impacto final a largo plazo deberá evaluarse.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic declared in March 2020, has generated worldwide concern due to its effect on the health of the population and the potential health collapse. The strategy of "flattening the curve" through social distancing made it possible to adapt the resources of the health system to patients with COVID-19, but results in other areas of health could not be predicted. The objective of this work was to analyze the consequences of the pandemic on liver transplantation in general and for hepatocarcinoma (HCC). The following studies were carried out: a) a retrospective analysis using data from the CRESI / INCUCAI to compare admission to the waiting list, mortality on the list, donation and liver transplantation from 03/20 to 08/15, 2019 and the same period in 2020, and b) a survey of the transplant centers with the highest transplant activity to assess the effect of the measures taken in different institutional and regional situations. The first analysis showed a 55% decrease in liver transplants, with a similar reduction in donation and admission to the liver waiting list; while HCC transplantation rose from 10% in 2019 to 22% in 2020. The second analysis showed that the occupancy rate of beds by COVID-19 patients / week was variable: from 0.4% to 42.0%. The number of surgeries, hepato-bilio-pancreatic, resection of HCC and liver transplantation, were reduced by 47%, 49%, 31% and 36% respectively. The reduction in transplant activity mainly affected centers with high occupancy due to COVID-19. The final long-term outcome will need to be assessed.

Evaluation of pancreatic allograft dysfunction by laparoscopic biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Histologic evaluation of a failing pancreatic allograft is necessary for accurate classification of graft dysfunction. Unlike percutaneous or transcystoscopic techniques, laparoscopic biopsy allows visualization of the allograft in addition to obtaining tissue for histologic examination. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all laparoscopic pancreas transplant biopsies performed over a 15-month period ending February 2002. RESULTS: There were 12 laparoscopic pancreas biopsies performed in 11 patients between 6 weeks and 8 years (mean 2.5+/-2.8 years) after transplant. Indications for biopsy were hyperglycemia (n=8), hyperamylasemia (n=3), and graft tenderness (n=1). Adequate tissue was obtained in 11 of 12 biopsies. Two patients received definitive treatment at the time of laparoscopy (pseudocyst debridement, ovarian cyst excision). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic pancreas transplant biopsy allows safe visualization of the allograft and effective specimen retrieval, and in some cases provides the opportunity for therapeutic intervention.

In vivo biocompatibility and analytical performance of intravascular amperometric oxygen sensors prepared with improved nitric oxide-releasing silicone rubber coating.

The in vivo biocompatibility and analytical performance of amperometric oxygen-sensing catheters prepared with a new type of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing silicone rubber polymer (DACA/N2O2 SR) is reported. The NO-release silicone rubber coating contains diazeniumdiolated secondary amine sites covalently anchored to a dimethylsiloxane matrix. Narrow diameter (0.9 mm, o.d.) silicone rubber tubing coated with this polymer can be employed to construct functional oxygen-sensing catheters that release NO continuously at levels > 1 x 10(-10) mol/cm2-min for more than 20 h. In vivo evaluation of such sensors within the carotid and femoral arteries of swine over a 16-h time period demonstrates that sensors prepared with the new NO-release coating exhibit no significant platelet adhesion or thrombus formation, but control sensors (non-NO release) implanted within the same animals do show a high propensity for cell adhesion and bulk clot formation. Furthermore, the in vivo analytical data provided by sensors fabricated with NO-release coatings (N = 9) are shown to be statistically equivalent to PO2 levels measured in vitro on discrete samples of blood. Control sensors (N = 9) placed within the same animals yield average PO2 values that are statistically different (p < or = 0.05) (lower) from both the levels measured on discrete samples and those provided by the NO-release sensors over a 16-h in vivo monitoring period.

Survival benefit of kidney and liver transplantation for obese patients on the waiting list.

As in the general population of the United States, obesity has become a significant problem in transplantation. Patient survival after deceased donor kidney transplantation is significantly lower among obese recipients (body mass index [BMI] > or = 30 kg/m2) than among non-obese recipients. Survival also appears to be decreased among obese liver transplant recipients. Based on these findings, some authors have argued against kidney or liver transplantation in the morbidly obese. However, the survival benefit for patients listed for and receiving either a kidney or liver transplant is not well understood. To determine if a significant survival benefit exists for obese patients after transplantation versus those on the waiting list, we studied a retrospective cohort of patients identified in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. Adjusted, time-dependent Cox regression models were used to evaluate the relative risk (RR) of death after transplantation compared with waiting list mortality for either kidney or liver transplantation. These results demonstrate that kidney transplantation offers a significant survival benefit and is the preferred therapy for most obese dialysis patients. Although liver transplant recipients with a BMI > or = 35 kg/m2 had an increased RR for mortality compared with other recipients with a lower BMI, all groups, regardless of BMI, demonstrated a significant transplant benefit. These data suggest obesity should not be a contraindication for transplantation.

Liver transplantation in children with metabolic disorders in the United States.

We studied pediatric liver transplantation for metabolic disease in a large national cohort to determine whether smaller studies suggesting a survival advantage for these recipients could be corroborated. We also hoped to determine whether higher survival rates in recipients with metabolic disease are associated with lack of structural liver disease, and to evaluate these recipients' risk factors for mortality. Data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients were used to analyze nationwide results (1990-99) of pediatric liver transplantation for patients with biliary atresia and metabolic disease. Adjusted patient survival rates for children with metabolic disease at 1 and 5 years were 94% and 92%, respectively, - significantly higher than for recipients with biliary atresia (90% and 86%) (p = 0.008). Cox regression models identified recipient black race [relative risk (RR) = 5.1] and simultaneous transplantation of other organs (RR = 3.2) as significant risk factors for mortality in the metabolic group. Adjusted survival rates for metabolic patients with structural and nonstructural liver diseases were similar to each other at both 1 and 5 years. Children with metabolic disease had significantly higher adjusted short- and long-term post-transplant survival rates than those with biliary atresia. Structural disease was not a risk factor for worse outcomes.

Reseccionea hepáticas en el servicio de cirugía general del Hospital Privado: 13 años de experiencia resecciones hepátidas / Liver resection in hospital privado's general surgery department: 13- year experience liver resections

Las resecciones hepáticas constituyen el tratamiento de elección en las neoplasias hepáticas primárias y en algunos casos de tumores metastáticos, pero conllevan tasas significativas de morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo: Presentar nuestra experiencia en cirurgías hepáticas. Material y método: Se incluyeron 40 paciente sometidos a hepatectomías en nuestra Institución desde diciembre de 1991 a diciembre de 2004. Los datos fueron recolectados en forma retrospectiva y analizados mediante método estadístico descriptivo. Resultados: Los diagnósticos incluyeron enfermedades hepáticas primarias benignas (n=9, 22.5%) y malígnas (n=7, 17.5%) y enfermedades hepáticas metastásicas (n=24, 60%). Dentro de las metástasis, la más frecuente fue el adenocarcinoma de colon (n=7, 17.42%). El índice de complicaciones quirúrgicas inmediatas fue del 55% (n=22). Hubo 4 muertees peri-operatorias (10%) y la tasa promedio de estadía hospitalaria fue de 10,8 días. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos demostraron que la indicación más frecuentes de resección hepática en nuestra experiencia es las metástasis de adenocarcinoma de colon y que los resultados observado en nuestra serie son comparables a los obtenidos por otras Instituciones a nivel mundial con similar flujo de pacientes.

Liver resection constitutes the treatment of choice in the liver primary neoplasms and some cases of metastatic tumors, but entail significant morbidity and mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To present our experience in hepatic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 40 patients who underwent hepatectomies in our Institution from December 1991 through December 2004. The information was collected retrospectively and was analized descriptive and statistically. RESULTS: 40 patients underwent 40 hepatectomies. The diagnosis included primary benign hepatic disease (n= 9, 22.5%), primary hepatic malignancy (n= 7, 17.5%) and metastatic hepatic disease (n= 24, 60%). In the metastatic group, the most frecuent pathology was colonic adenocarcinoma (n= 17, 42%). There were 4 perioperatory deaths (10%) and the average hospitaly stay was 10.8 days. CONCLUSIONS: our data shows that the most frequent indication of hepatic resection in our experience was metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma as compared to the other Institutions with similar experience.