Urologic complications in renal transplant recipients by donor type.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reduced donor morbidity has been established after laparoscopic donor nephrectomy compared with open harvest, but differences in recipient outcomes remain less obvious. We compared the urologic complications in patients receiving kidneys procured by cadaveric, open, and laparoscopic harvest. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all the kidney transplantations performed between January 1998 and December 2003 was undertaken to extract 100 consecutive patients in each group. All urologic complications were obtained and grouped by the type of donor procurement. RESULTS: Overall, 48 of the 276 transplant patients (17%) had urologic complications: 14% of the cadaveric-donor recipients, 20% of the open-donor recipients, and 18% of the laparoscopic-donor recipients. There were no ureteral complications in the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopically procured donor kidneys were associated with significantly fewer recipient ureteral complications than open cadaver or live-donor procurement.

Complications of laparoscopic gastric banding in renal transplant recipients: a case study.

As bariatric surgery becomes more popular, the number of renal transplant recipients who undergo weight loss surgery will continue to grow. This population presents unique challenges because of increased infection risks, tendency to posttransplant weight gain, and inferior tissue-healing properties. We present two cases of renal transplant recipients who experienced the complications of band erosion and band migration after laparoscopic gastric banding, and we discuss the special considerations that apply to this patient population.

Guillain-Barré syndrome after solid organ transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Neurological complications occur frequently in solid organ transplant recipients. However, the peripheral nerves are usually spared significant toxicity. Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute neuropathy in adults. Despite numerous reports of GBS in recipients of bone marrow transplants, GBS has rarely been reported in recipients of solid organ transplants. Recent evidence supports the role of the immune system in initiating and perpetuating the ongoing neural damage in this entity. Infectious agents may initiate the immune attack, and the association of GBS with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been studied extensively. METHODS: To alert clinicians to the occurrence of GBS in the latter setting, we report five new cases of GBS after solid organ transplant and summarize five other cases previously reported in the literature. RESULTS: The GBS cases (published and unpublished) have much in common: all the patients were men, most had evidence of active CMV infection at or before the onset of GBS, and all but one developed GBS within 1 year after transplantation (range 1-26 months). CONCLUSION: The association of GBS with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the nontransplant population and evidence of CMV infection in almost all reported cases of GBS in solid organ transplant recipients suggest that CMV may have a role in triggering this illness.

Initial results of solitary pancreas transplants performed without regard to donor/recipient HLA mismatching.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that solitary pancreas transplants could be performed successfully even in the presence of poor HLA matching if an aggressive approach were taken with regard to immunosuppressive protocol and the performance of allograft biopsy. METHODS: Seven pancreas-after-kidney transplants and seven pancreas transplants alone were performed without consideration given to the degree of HLA mismatching (MM) using tacrolimus (FK506)/mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/prednisone maintenance therapy. Mean (+/-SD) total HLA MM was 4.8+/-1.2. All patients were followed for at least 6 months. The first four cases were induced with ATGAM for 7 to 10 days. In the remaining 10 cases, an ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle biopsy was attempted on a protocol basis 10 days after completing induction with OKT3 for 7 (n=2) or 14 (n=8) days. RESULTS: Overall patient survival, graft survival, and incidence of acute rejection requiring treatment were 86, 79, and 50%, respectively. Two patients receiving ATGAM developed grade III-IV rejection at 3 weeks. Both patients receiving OKT3 for 7 days developed early grade III rejection. However, only three of eight patients receiving OKT3 for 14 days developed rejection requiring treatment. Protocol biopsy was successfully performed in six of seven patients and uncovered three cases of otherwise undetectable grade III-IV rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Although based on a small number of cases, our results suggest that solitary pancreas transplants with a poor HLA match can be performed with an acceptable rejection incidence and graft survival rate using an OKT3/FK506/MMF/prednisone regimen with protocol biopsy.

Suprarenal or supraceliac aortic clamping during repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Suprarenal or supraceliac aortic clamping during repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms can be complicated by renal, hepatic, and intestinal ischemia. To determine whether suprarenal or supraceliac clamping increases morbidity and mortality we retrospectively reviewed our recent nonrandomized experience. Between January 1993 and December 1998, 716 patients underwent elective (n=682) or urgent (n=34) infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Infrarenal clamping was used in 516 (72. 1 %) and suprarenal or supraceliac clamping in 200 (279%). The suprarenal/supraceliac group had significantly more older patients (> or = 70 years of age) (65.5% vs 477%) and a higher incidence of preoperative renal insufficiency (75% vs 5.5%). Suprarenal or supraceliac clamping was used during repair of ruptured (n=25), juxtarenal (n=7), or inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (n=4); during concomitant renal or visceral revascularization (n=43); in other difficult settings (n=13); or at the surgeon's discretion (n=108). The decision for such clamping was always made during surgery In treating ruptured aneurysms, suprarenal/supraceliac clamping (25/200) was used more often than infrarenal clamping (9/516) (12.5% vs 1.74%). Operative times were similar in both groups, but transfusion requirements and length of hospital stay were slightly greater in the suprarenal/supraceliac group. Perioperative mortality was 3.1% overall, but higher in the suprarenal/ supraceliac group than in the infrarenal (75% vs 1.4%). Postoperative complications developed in 26 (13%) of patients who underwent suprarenal/supraceliac clamping. Abdominal re-exploration was required in 9 other patients. We conclude that, despite associated comorbidities, elective suprarenal/supraceliac clamping during infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is safe, facilitates repair, and does not significantly increase mortality.

Laparoscopic mesh repair of incisional hernia following right lower quadrant renal transplantation.

The development of an incisional hernia after lower quadrant renal transplantation is an infrequent complication, but poses a difficult surgical challenge due to the proximity of the incision to the allograft and the pelvic rim. We describe the first such case of a laparoscopic repair of a recurrent incisional hernia after renal transplantation in the literature.

Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms: Texas Heart Institute experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery (ECA) are rare. Large single-institution series are seldom reported and usually are not aneurysm type-specific. Thus, information about immediate and long-term results of surgical therapy is sparse. This review was conducted to elucidate etiology, presentation, and treatment for ECA aneurysms. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the case records of the Texas Heart Institute/St Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, and found 67 cases of ECA aneurysms treated surgically (the largest series to date) between 1960 and 1995: 38 pseudoaneurysms after previous carotid surgery and 29 atherosclerotic or traumatic aneurysms. All aneurysms were surgically explored, and all were repaired except two: a traumatic distal internal carotid artery aneurysm and an infected pseudoaneurysm in which the carotid artery was ligated. RESULTS: Four deaths (three fatal strokes and one myocardial infarction) and two nonfatal strokes were directly attributed to a repaired ECA aneurysm (overall mortality/major stroke incidence, 9%); there was one minor stroke (incidence, 1.5%). The incidence of cranial nerve injury was 6% (four cases). During long-term follow-up (1.5 months-30 years; mean, 5.9 years), 19 patients died, mainly of cardiac causes (11 myocardial infarctions). CONCLUSION: The potential risks of cerebral ischemia and rupture as well as the satisfactory long-term results achieved with surgery strongly argue in favor of surgical treatment of ECA aneurysms.

Infected postcarotid endarterectomy pseudoaneurysms: retrospective review of a series.

The development of infected pseudoaneurysms (PAs) following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is extremely rare. We retrospectively reviewed the data from 13 such aneurysms (in 12 patients) repaired over a period of 35 years at the Texas Heart Institute (THI) and included an overview of published cases to analyze the epidemiology, mode of presentation, methods of repair, and outcome. The diagnosis of PA should be considered when a patient develops a persistent hematoma, recurrent bleeding from the wound, or late wound infection. Sepsis is occasionally a presenting symptom. Surgical therapy for infected PAs can be challenging; excision of the aneurysm followed by autologous grafting constitutes the favored approach. Traditionally, Dacron patch repair has been associated with a high incidence of reinfection. Carotid artery ligation is required in a large percentage of cases (22.7%) and is associated with a prohibitive rate of death/major stroke (50%) compared with a low (12%) risk following arterial reconstruction. Prevention and early diagnosis of infected PAs are essential to limit complications and mortality.

Right atrial bypass grafting for central venous obstruction associated with dialysis access: another treatment option.

PURPOSE: Central venous obstruction is a common problem in patients with chronic renal failure who undergo maintenance hemodialysis. We studied the use of right atrial bypass grafting in nine cases of central venous obstruction associated with upper extremity venous hypertension. To better understand the options for managing this condition, we discuss the roles of surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent placement. METHODS: All patients had previously undergone placement of bilateral temporary subclavian vein dialysis catheters. Severe arm swelling, graft thrombosis, or graft malfunction developed because of central venous stenosis or obstruction in the absence of alternative access sites. A large-diameter (10 to 16 mm) externally reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (GoreTex) graft was used to bypass the obstructed vein and was anastomosed to the right atrial appendage. This technique was used to bypass six lesions in the subclavian vein, two lesions at the innominate vein/superior vena caval junction, and one lesion in the distal axillary vein. RESULTS: All patients except one had significant resolution of symptoms without operative mortality. Bypass grafts remained patent, allowing the arteriovenous grafts to provide functional access for 1.5 to 52 months (mean, 15.4 months) after surgery. CONCLUSION: Because no mortality directly resulted from the procedure and the morbidity rate was acceptable, this bypass grafting technique was adequate in maintaining the dialysis access needed by these patients. Because of the magnitude of the procedure, we recommend it only for the occasional patient in whom all other access sites are exhausted and in whom percutaneous dilation and/or stenting has failed.