Strategies for prevention and control of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease in the department of kidney transplantation

To summarize measures for the prevention and control of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the department of kidney transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of outpatients and inpatients in the department of kidney transplantation from January 20 to March 1, 2020, and followed up the in-home kidney transplant recipients and those waiting for kidney transplantation through the Internet platform. Our department had formulated detailed prevention and control measures, mainly including kidney transplant outpatient management, kidney transplantation ward management, management of kidney transplant surgery, dialysis management of patients waiting for kidney transplantation, personal protection of medical staff, and follow-up management of discharged patients after kidney transplantation. During the epidemic period, there were no COVID-19 cases among 68 outpatient examined kidney transplant recipients, 32 hospitalized kidney transplant recipients, 19 patients waiting for kidney transplantation in hospital, and 30 medical staff. There were no COVID-19 cases among 160 follow-up recipients after kidney transplantation and 60 patients waiting for kidney transplantation. During the epidemic period, we implemented strict prevention and control measures and adjusted working methods and procedures to ensure safe and orderly work of the department.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情特殊时期对乳腺癌治疗临床问题的若干思考

目前国内新型冠状病毒肺炎(新冠肺炎)疫情形势仍然严峻,在疫情的影响下,如何在规范治疗的前提下有序合理的开展乳腺癌治疗是极为紧迫的医学问题,更是关乎民生的社会问题。笔者结合临床病例资料,着眼新冠肺炎流行的特殊时期乳腺癌治疗中的若干问题,找出解决办法,旨在为新冠肺炎流行之际的乳腺癌治疗提供思路。     

The impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplantation and the kidney transplant recipient – One year into the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the landscape of kidney transplantation in the United States and worldwide. In addition to adversely impacting allograft and patient survival in postkidney transplant recipients, the current pandemic has affected all aspects of transplant care, including transplant referrals and listing, organ donation rates, organ procurement and shipping, and waitlist mortality. Critical decisions were made during this period by transplant centers and individual transplant physicians taking into consideration patient safety and resource utilization. As countries have begun administering the COVID vaccines, new and important considerations pertinent to our transplant population have arisen. This comprehensive review focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplantation rates, mortality, policy decisions, and the clinical management of transplanted patients infected with COVID-19.     

Renal transplantation during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic in the UK: Experience from a large‐volume center

There is uncertainty about the safety of kidney transplantation during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic due to the risk of donor transmission, nosocomial infection and immunosuppression use. We describe organ donation and transplant practice in the UK and assess whether kidney transplantation conferred a substantial risk of harm. Data from the UK transplant registry were used to describe kidney donation and transplant activity in the UK, and a detailed analysis of short‐term, single‐center, patient results in two periods: during the pre‐pandemic era from 30th December 2019 to 8th March 2020 (“Pre‐COVID era”) and the 9th March 2020 to 19th May 2020 (“COVID era”). Donor and recipient numbers fell by more than half in the COVID compared to the pre‐COVID era in the UK, but there were more kidney transplants performed in our center (42 vs. 29 COVID vs. pre‐COVID respectively). Overall outcomes, including re‐operation, delayed graft function, primary non‐function, acute rejection, length of stay and graft survival were similar between COVID and pre‐COVID era. 6/71 patients became infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 but all were discharged without critical care requirement. Transplant outcomes have remained similar within the COVID period and no serious sequelae of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were observed in the peri‐transplant period.     

华西医院心脏死亡器官捐献供体新型冠状病毒感染快速筛查工具的初步构建

目的初步构建在新型冠状病毒感染疫情背景下心脏死亡器官捐献(donation after circulatory death,DCD)肝移植供体的快速筛查工具。方法通过文献分析法和核心小组讨论法构建理论基础,采用德尔菲法进行两轮专家咨询确立维度和指标,最后采用层次分析法计算各维度和指标的权重系数。结果筛查工具包含流行病学史、医院暴露史、临床表现3个维度,15个条目。两轮专家权威系数均值为0.757和0.768,专家咨询问卷有效回收率分别为88%和100%。第2轮维度和指标协调系数分别为0.417和0.319。问卷内容效度为0.91。结论德尔菲法构建的DCD肝移植供体新型冠状病毒感染快速筛查工具科学性和可靠性较高,疫情期间,DCD肝移植供体风险筛查工具对肝移植风险防控具有重要意义。     

Navigating Kidney Transplantation in the Early Phase of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Screening Patients With Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction and Low-Radiation-Dose Chest Computed Tomography

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 changed organ transplantation. All elective cases at our institution were postponed for approximately 3 months. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services considers organ transplant surgery a Tier 3b case, along with other high acuity procedures, recommending no postponement. Our transplant program collaborated with our transplant infectious disease colleagues to create a protocol that would ensure both patient and staff safety during these unprecedented times.MethodsThe living donor program was electively placed on hold until we had the proper protocols in place. Preoperative COVID-19 testing was required for all recipients and living donors. All patients underwent a rapid nasopharyngeal swab test. After testing negative by nasopharyngeal swab, recipients also underwent a low-radiation-dose computed tomography scan to rule out any radiographic changes suggestive of a COVID-19 infection.ResultsWe performed 8 living donor and 9 deceased donor kidney transplants. In comparison, we performed 10 living donor and 4 deceased donor transplants during the same time period in the previous year. Our testing protocol enabled efficient use of all suitable organs offered during the viral pandemic. No recipients or living donors tested positive or developed COVID-19.ConclusionsCreation of a viral testing protocol, developed in conjunction with our infectious disease team, permitted kidney transplantation to be performed safely, and the number of deceased donor transplants increased considerably without adversely affecting our outcomes.     

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Organ Donation in Hong Kong: A Single-Center Observational Study

IntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was expected to have a negative impact on organ donation. With the differences in health care systems and lockdown policies in various regions, the pandemic's effect on organ donation and transplant service may vary. Most of the deceased donor organ referrals in our hospital came from non–intensive care units (ICUs). The objective of this study is to report our experience and quantify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on deceased donor organ donation in our center.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study comparing the deceased donor organ donation activity during the period January 23 to November 30, 2020 with the same period in 2018 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.ResultsThere was a 26.9% reduction in deceased donor organ donor referral in 2020 compared with 2018. No significant difference in the proportion of referrals from ICU or non-ICU areas between the 2 time periods was observed. The brain death confirmation rate was significantly higher in 2020 (40.8% vs 20.2%, P = .003). Nine patients had family consent for organ donation in 2020 (vs 7 patients in the same period in 2018). There were no significant differences in consent rate and number of recovered organs between the 2 periods.ConclusionsWith effective measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in a community, it is possible to support the needs of both patients with COVID-19 and deceased donor organ donation services.     

Strategies to halt 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) spread for organ transplantation programs at the Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital,China

During the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) outbreak in China (from January 24 to March 11, 2020), our center performed 16 organ transplants (10 kidney, 4 liver, and 2 lung transplants) harvested from deceased donors. Regarding the strategies to prevent infections of SARS‐CoV‐2, we implemented specific measures for the donor and recipient management, as well as prevention of hospital‐acquired infections. All 16 organ recipients had a favorable outcome without SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Our approaches aiming to interrupt the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 within the transplantation wards were successful, and allowed us to maintain the transplantation program for deceased liver, kidney, and lung organ recipients.     

器官捐献时代再次肝移植单中心回顾性研究

目的总结再次肝移植的病因、预后及并发症防治。 方法回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年12月复旦大学附属华山医院完成的26例再次肝移植供、受者临床资料。根据再次肝移植时间不同,将2015年1月至2017年12月(代表公民逝世后器官捐献时代早期再次肝移植治疗经验探索期)完成的再次肝移植受者纳入早期移植组(共9例),将2018年1月至2019年12月完成的再次肝移植受者纳入成熟期移植组(共17例)。根据移植间隔时间不同,将26例受者分为移植间隔>1年组(15例)和移植间隔≤1年组(11例)。采用两独立样本t检验比较早期与成熟期移植组受者再次肝移植术前年龄、终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分、手术时长、供肝冷和热缺血时间、无肝期时长及术后第7、14天血清白蛋白水平。采用Mann-Whitney U检验比较两组受者移植间隔时长、术中出血量和输血量以及术后第7、14天总胆红素、ALT和AST。采用Kaplan-Meier法计算再移植术后受者生存率并绘制生存曲线,采用Log-rank检验比较早期与成熟期移植组、移植间隔>1年与≤1年组受者术后2年生存率。P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果再次肝移植病因包括：胆道并发症8例,移植物失功8例,原发病复发4例(肝细胞肝癌复发),慢性排斥反应2例,首次肝移植术后急性肝功能衰竭2例,血管并发症2例(门静脉血栓和肝动脉栓塞各1例)。早期移植组受者术中无肝期时长和术后第7天血清白蛋白分别为(53.3±7.9)min和(34±5)g/L,成熟期移植组受者分别为(45.1±1.8)min和(38±4)g/L,差异均有统计学意义(t＝3.098和-2.111,P均<0.05)。早期移植组肝移植术前年龄、MELD评分、移植间隔时长、手术时间、术中出血量、术中输血量、供肝冷和热缺血时间、术后第7天总胆红素、ALT和AST以及术后第14天总胆红素、ALT、AST和白蛋白差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。随访至2020年10月1日,26例受者中位随访时间为715 d(105～1 842 d),期间9例受者均于术后1年内死亡(早期移植组6例,成熟期移植组3例)。早期移植组和成熟期移植组受者术后2年累积生存率分别为33.3%和82.4%,差异有统计学意义(χ²＝6.248,P<0.05)。移植间隔≤1年组和移植间隔>1年组受者术后2年累积生存率分别为54.5%和73.3%,差异无统计学意义(χ²＝0.990,P>0.05)。 结论胆道并发症及移植物失功能是再次肝移植的主要原因,器官捐献成熟时期的再次肝移植预后优于器官捐献时代早期。因再移植受者病情复杂、手术困难,应谨慎进行再次肝移植手术评估。合理的个体化治疗能够为再次肝移植受者带来良好预后。     

Cadaveric transplantation activities in our centers

Baskent University is one of the most important transplantation centers in Turkey. This study assesses the contribution that Baskent University Hospital Network is currently making to the national solid organ pool. The National Coordinating Center (NCC) was founded in 2001, and data from the Baskent University transplantation center from January 2001 to through May 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. The number of brain-dead patients in this period was 36 and the number of family consent was 20. For all brain-death cases, the rate of consent for donation was 55.6%. Of the 64 total grafts collected in this study period, 85.9% were transplanted at this center and 14.1% were offered to the NCC. The rate of heart and liver grafts offered to the NCC was 9.4% and 4.7%, respectively. According to the results, 29.6% of all heart grafts, 4.5% of all liver grafts, and 4.5% of all kidney grafts in Turkey are performed from donors identified by Baskent University. The current rate of consent for cadaver organ donation is high compared with other centers. The majority of these grafts were used in our center, but we also made some contribution to the national donor organ pool. The transplantation activities in our network will hopefully lead to a larger organ pool and shorter waiting lists.     

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Organ Donation and Transplantation in São Paulo,Brazil

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected donation and transplantation activities in São Paulo, Brazil, as well as the patients receiving these organs. In this study, information from the database of the São Paulo Organ Allocation System was analyzed and compared 2 periods—before the pandemic and during the pandemic—to identify this effect. The COVID-19 pandemic interfered in the mortality rate and the time on the waiting list for heart, liver, pancreas, lung, and kidney transplants; the number of effective donors; and the use or disposal of available organs from deceased donors. It also reduced the transplant activity with living donors. Regarding the activity of eye tissue transplantation, the time on the waiting list increased and the number of transplant procedures decreased. The kidney transplant program was the most affected in our study. There was an increase in waiting time and mortality in the waiting list for this organ and also a decrease in kidney utilization rates.     

Pediatric transplantation in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic: Early impact on activity and healthcare

The current pandemic SARS-CoV-2 has required an unusual allocation of resources that can negatively impact chronically ill patients and high-complexity procedures. Across the European Reference Network on Pediatric Transplantation (ERN TransplantChild), we conducted a survey to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on pediatric transplant activity and healthcare practices in both solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The replies of 30 professionals from 18 centers in Europe were collected. Twelve of 18 centers (67%) showed a reduction in their usual transplant activity. Additionally, outpatient visits have been modified and restricted to selected ones, and the use of telemedicine tools has increased. Additionally, a total of 14 COVID-19 pediatric transplanted patients were identified at the time of the survey, including eight transplant recipients and six candidates for transplantation. Only two moderate-severe cases were reported, both in HSCT setting. These survey results demonstrate the limitations in healthcare resources for pediatric transplantation patients during early stages of this pandemic. COVID-19 disease is a major worldwide challenge for the field of pediatric transplantation, where there will be a need for systematic data collection, encouraging regular discussions to address the long-term consequences for pediatric transplantation candidates, recipients, and their families.     

The decrease in organ donations from 1985 to 1990 caused by increasing medical contraindications and refusals by relatives.

After the progressive improvement in the results of organ transplantation we now face the challenge of shortage in organ supply. The decreasing number of organ retrievals performed in 1990 at our hospital has raised questions concerning loss of potential organ donors and opposition to donation by the next of kin. We investigated these questions and the number of organs available per million inhabitants in the area covered by our university hospital. Our surgical intensive care unit provides about 85% of all organ donations for this area. To this end, all 375 deaths occurring in the surgical ICU during the period between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1990 were analyzed. Of 138 brain-stem deaths, 43 presented medical contraindications preventing organ harvesting for transplantation. Consent for donation was sought from the families of the 95 remaining potential donors and was refused for 17 patients. Organ retrieval followed all of the 78 agreements to donate, so that no suitable donor was lost. Over the 6 years surveyed, a progressive decrease in organs procured was observed, due to an increase of medical contraindications to organ harvesting for transplantation (P less than 0.001) and a higher rate of refusals to donate organs (P less than 0.002). The rate of kidney retrieval was thereby reduced from 45 to less than 25 per million population per year between 1985 and 1990 for our hospital's catchment area. The reasons cited by the families for denying organ donation suggest that the publicity campaigns aimed at the medical community and the public concerning organ transplant programs should be modified, and that a careful selection of indications for transplantation seems mandatory.     

How Different Conceptions of Risk Are Used in the Organ Market Debate

The success of kidney and liver transplantation is hindered by a shortage of organs available for transplantation. Although currently illegal in nearly all parts of the world, a living ‘donor’ or ‘vendor’ kidney market has been proposed as a means to reduce or even end this shortage. Physician members of the American Society of Transplantation, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease were surveyed regarding organ markets for both living kidney and living liver transplantation. The survey queried respondents about their attitudes toward directed living donation, nondirected living donation, the potential legalization of living donor organ markets and the reasons for their support or opposition to organ markets. Partial or completed surveys were returned by 346 of 697 eligible respondents (50%). While virtually all supported or strongly supported directed living donation (98% and 95% for kidney and liver lobes, respectively), the vast majority disagreed or strongly disagreed with the legalization of living donor organ markets (80% for kidneys and 90% for liver lobes). Both those who support and those who oppose a legalized living donor organ market rate risk to the donor among the most important factors to justify their position.     

Evolving Impact of COVID-19 on Transplant Center Practices and Policies in the United States

In our first survey of transplant centers in March 2020, >75% of kidney and liver programs were either suspended or operating under restrictions. To safely resume transplantation, we must understand the evolving impact of COVID-19 on transplant recipients and center-level practices. We therefore conducted a six-week follow-up survey May 7-15, 2020, and linked responses to the COVID-19 incidence map, with a response rate of 84%. Suspension of live donor transplantation decreased from 72% in March to 30% in May for kidneys and from 68% to 52% for livers. Restrictions/suspension of deceased donor transplantation decreased from 84% to 58% for kidneys and from 73% to 42% for livers. Resuming transplantation at normal capacity was envisioned by 83% of programs by August 2020. Exclusively using local recovery teams for deceased donor procurement was reported by 28%. Respondents reported caring for a total of 1166 COVID-19–positive transplant recipients; 25% were critically ill. Telemedicine challenges were reported by 81%. There was a lack of consensus regarding management of potential living donors or candidates with SARS-CoV-2. Our findings demonstrate persistent heterogeneity in center-level response to COVID-19 even as transplant activity resumes, making ongoing national data collection and real-time analysis critical to inform best practices.     

Transformation of organ donation in China

The organ donation system in China has far lagged behind international levels. Transformation of this situation began in July 2005. A complete organ donation system that ensures fairness, impartiality, transparency, and respect for life has now been developed. This system is composed of regulations and policies, an organizational structure, operational guidelines, organ procurement organizations, registration of donors and recipients, and an organ allocation system. Since March 2010, pilot trials on donation after circulatory death (DCD) have been carried out. In 4 years, organ donation has started in 25 of 32 provinces in the country. From 2010 to 2013, the ratio of DCD liver transplantation to total case numbers in China rose from 1.38% to 26.1%, whereas for kidney, the ratio were 0.59% and 24.6%, respectively. The total number of DCD in China has accumulated to 1564 cases, and 4243 organs were transplanted. To alleviate the further difficulties of donation, establishment of professional organ procurement organizations in transplant hospitals, legislation of brain death, and promulgation of legal guidelines on DCD will be the main targets of organ donation development in China.     

Examining the association between media coverage of organ donation and organ transplantation rates

Research addressing the organ shortage in the USA has examined multiple factors influencing one's decision to become an organ donor. One of these research lines addresses media coverage of organ donation. The present investigation seeks to advance this research line by examining the association between organ donation media coverage and organ transplantation rates. A content analysis spanning January 1990 to December 2005 of three television networks reveals an overall positive association between coverage and transplantation rates. The implications of our findings are discussed along with recommendations for practitioners and advocates alike.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情下急诊创伤骨科诊疗行为的建议和策略

目的探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情下急诊创伤骨科诊疗行为的建议和策略。方法回顾性分析2020年1月21日至2月15日期间武汉大学人民医院骨外科收治的128例急诊创伤骨科患者资料,男71例,女57例;年龄为5~88岁,平均48.7岁。门诊处置107例;住院手术21例,其中急诊手术4例,择期手术17例。记录患者和医务人员感染COVID-19的情况,总结疫情暴发以来实施的一些措施和经验。结果107例接受门诊处置的患者中,3例确诊COVID-19,3例疑似COVID-19。4例接受急诊手术的患者中,1例疑似COVID-19;17例接受择期手术的患者中,1例确诊COVID-19,2例疑似COVID-19。医务人员感染COVID-19的情况:2名护士确诊COVID-19,但均为轻症患者;1名医生和1名护士均疑似COVID-19。医务人员感染COVID-19均发生在疫情防控措施执行之前,不排除社区感染的可能。结论各级医疗机构在做好COVID-19防控的同时,保证安全、有效的医疗行为正常运转尤为重要。在COVID-19疫情期间,参与急诊创伤骨科的一线医务人员的接诊过程均面临诸多挑战。通过健全急诊创伤分诊流程、住院患者分类管理、住院病房优化管理、围手术期标准预防、完善落实医护防护制度、患者及陪护宣教配合等措施,可降低院内COVID-19感染发生率,在疫情期间依然可以为急诊创伤骨科患者提供优质、安全的医疗服务。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎暴发流行中心疫区急腹症诊治经验

目的分析新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情下在中心疫区开展急腹症诊治的临床效果,总结临床经验。方法回顾性分析2020年1月24日至2020年2月29日华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院急诊收治和院内会诊的急腹症病人的临床处置和预后,随访结束时间为2020年3月8日。结果2020年1月24日至2020年2月29日已处置腹痛为主要表现的急腹症病人19例,其中,合并COVID-19病人(确诊及疑似病例)5例。19例病人中,有急诊手术指征并行急诊手术处置的9例,恢复顺利者7例,死亡2例,其中确诊COVID-19病人行急诊手术处置1例,死亡1例;行保守治疗并密切观察病情变化者10例(包括4例COVID-19病人),均恢复良好;随访至今未见密切接触上述COVID-19病人的医护人员出现感染表现。结论COVID-19疫情期间在中心疫区诊治急腹症病人时无论其是否是COVID-19病人都做到仔细检查,严格把握手术指征,术中熟练操作,术后密切监护及观察,同时做好医护人员个人防护。