Blood loss and perioperative transfusions related to surgery for spinal tumors. Relevance of tranexamic acid

IntroductionTranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce bleeding. Patients with spinal tumors are fragile and acute anemia may be harmful. Tumor excision surgery is reputed to be hemorrhagic and treatment may increase thromboembolic complications. The aim of this study was to compare blood loss with or without perioperative TXA injection. The transfusion-related and postoperative complications were documents.MethodThis retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data involved 83 patients with spinal tumors who underwent decompressive surgery associated with bone fixation. Tranexamic acid was used arbitrarily in 36 of them, while the other 47 did not receive TXA. The overall, intraoperative and postoperative blood loss was recorded. Blood loss was reported relative to the number of fixed levels and the number of levels decompressed by laminectomy. Transfusions were quantified in number of red blood cell packets and erythrocyte volume. Postoperative complications were documented.ResultsEpidemiological and morphological data were similar between groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the overall, intraoperative, and postoperative blood loss. A significant reduction in postoperative bleeding was found in the TXA group when the volume was related to the number of decompressed levels. A significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the volume of transfused blood was identified in the treated group. No predictor of blood loss was identified, and no additional complications occurred.ConclusionThe efficacy of TXA appears to be moderate during spinal tumor surgery since it does not lead to a reduction in perioperative bleeding. However, a significant reduction in transfusion volume was found without an increase in complications.     

Influence of lisuride, a dopaminergic agonist, on the sexual function of male patients with chronic renal failure

The effects of Lisuride, a dopaminergic agonist, on the levels of plasma prolactin (PRL), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and on the variations of libido and coital frequency of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have been investigated in a group of 20 male patients (ten normoprolactinemic and ten hyperprolactinemic). Ten patients were included in a hemodialysis program and another ten received conservation therapy (all had creatinine clearance rates below 15 mL/min). The response of PRL to TRH administration and that of LH and FSH to LH-RH administration have also been studied. Low levels of plasma testosterone found initially in all the patients, increased in both normoprolactinemic (P less than 0.05) and hyperprolactinemic patients (P less than 0.01) during Lisuride administration. PRL decreased (P less than 0.01) in both groups during therapy. The increase of plasma testosterone was greater in hyperprolactinemic patients (86% v 15% in normoprolactinemic) and was accompanied by a clear improvement in the studied parameters of sexual behaviors. The response of PRL to TRH was modified in hyperprolactinemic patients while that of LH and FSH to LH-RH was not modified, although Lisuride induced an increase of the basal value of LH (P less than 0.01) in the hyperprolactinemic group. The drug was fairly well tolerated, did not induce hypotension, and the overall incidence of side effects decreased along the study. These results stress the need for further studies with this agent in patients with chronic renal failure and sexual dysfunction.     

Obliteration of the pelvic space with pedicled omentum after excision of the rectum for cancer

From 1979 through 1982, removal of the rectum for cancer in 67 patients (50 of whom underwent preoperative radiotherapy) was completed by obliteration of the resulting dead space with pedicled omentum. No complication could be related to the method. After abdominoperineal resection (54 patients), primary healing of the perineal wound was achieved in 77 percent of the patients (85 percent during the last 2 years), and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 22 days. Minor perineal suppuration occurred in 10 patients with a 40 day average time of healing, and major suppuration occurred in 1 patient only with a 3 month time of healing. After the extended Hartmann operation (12 patients), no pelvic abscess was observed and the median hospitalization stay was 19 days. Pelvic filling in the management of patients undergoing rectal excision is an adjunctive procedure that is mainly intended to provide a better postoperative course. It might also facilitate postoperative radiotherapy.     

Cardiac echinococcosis: report of 3 cases and review of the literature.

Three patients who underwent successful surgical treatment of cardiac hydatid disease are discussed. The nonspecificity of diagnostic measures and the importance of keeping this diagnosis in mind when faced with a patient coming from an area where hydatidosis is endemic are stressed. We propose the use of cardiopulmonary bypass in the surgical treatment of this problem.     

Localized Sudeck's dystrophy and distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis of a finger: anatomicoradiologic study

After an injury to the right ring finger, a 44-year-old woman experienced pain in the distal interphalangeal joint. A subcutaneous mucoid cyst was noted near the joint. The x-ray films revealed no fracture but a narrowing of the joint space and a well-defined radiolucent area in the ulnar condyle of the middle phalanx. The biopsy specimen of this area excluded infection or tumor and revealed active osteogenic remodelling. These elements permitted a diagnosis of distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis that was associated with highly localized Sudeck's dystrophy (also called " parcellar algodystrophy"). This unusual case suggests the possibility that this dystrophy might be favored by an "osteoarthritic terrain" and might also play a role in the evolution of the osteoarthritis.     

Renal Transplant Immunosuppression in Patients With Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Four Case Reports

A high rate of recurrence has been described in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome renal transplant recipients, favored by certain immunosuppressant drugs that can induce complement activation. We present four case series in which three patients were diagnosed pretransplantation and a fourth who had onset in the very early post-transplantation period. The patients received different immunosuppression schedules, and all had improvement after more than 2-years. We suggest the need to stratify the risk of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome recurrence using genetic studies and the available drugs as the main factors that allow graft survival improvement today.     

Arterial supply of ligaments of the metacarpophalangeal joints

The arterial supply of the collateral ligaments of the second, third, fourth, and fifth metacarpophalangeal joints has not been described. We studied the blood supply of these collateral ligaments, the palmar plate, and the dorsal articular capsule after arterial injection of a radiopaque substance in 20 hands. These ligaments obtain their blood supply from five pedicles, which form anastomotic rings proximal and distal to the joint.     

Continuing Training Accreditation in the Organ Donation Process in Andalusia: Results From the Education and Training Unit of the Regional Transplant Organization of Andalusia

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to evaluate the results obtained by the Training Unit of the Regional Transplant Organization of Andalusia from 2015 to 2017.MethodsThe following indicators were analyzed: number of activities carried out, number of students trained per year, students who do not complete the course, student and teacher satisfaction, learning assessment via postformation test, and transfer of training to the workplace.ResultsBetween the years 2015 to 2017, 86 courses were carried out, and 2600 students were trained (1325 doctors, 1064 nurses, and 211 students with other degrees). A total of 83 students (3.2%) withdrew from training after its initiation. The overall assessments from teachers and students were 95/100 and 92/100, respectively. Student scores from the postformation test to assess learning averaged 77 points.ConclusionIt is worth noting the elevated number of courses offered and students trained over this 3-year period. We believe this has had a strong impact on the donation rate in Andalusia, which rose from 37.5 donors per million inhabitants in 2014 to 52.5 donors in 2018. Although student and teacher satisfaction was very high, it is clear that the transfer of new skills to the workplace could benefit from improvements in teamwork, communication with the transplant coordinator, the overall work environment, and the resources at their disposal.     

False-Positive Tumor During Organ Retrieval: All Cats Are Gray in the Dark

ObjectiveEfforts to expand the organ donor pool to meet growing transplant demands remains a top priority, as does maintaining the quality and safety standards of potential recipients. There is a short window of time from organ retrieval to decision making on organ acceptance, based on the available data. Furthermore, the limitations of intraoperative biopsy can often lead to donor or organ refusal due to a suspected tumor, which, if not confirmed in the final biopsy, results in the loss of a transplant opportunity.MethodsDonor characteristics and organs discarded on suspicion of neoplastic disease at the time of extraction were analyzed in Andalusia between January 2014 and July 2018. The variable analysis included sociodemographic data, type of donor, location of the potential malignancy, histopathologic examination, and discarded organs.ResultsA total of 43 cases were identified. The organs of 33 donors (76.7%) were discarded. Kidneys were the most frequent location for a suspected tumor (44%), followed by the liver (21%). In 18 of the 43 cases (42%), the suspected malignancy was not confirmed, and of these, only 3 livers and 1 kidney were implanted. Sixty potentially transplantable organs were discarded, including those that would have been extracted and/or implanted in the absence of a suspected tumor.ConclusionsThese results highlight the need not only to improve the accuracy of intraoperative biopsies but to seek new decision-making strategies for the short interval after organ retrieval. This involves avoiding both extremes of donation contraindications, while maintaining quality and safety standards.     

Factors That Affect the Attitudes of the Bolivian Population in Spain With Regard to Organ Donation for Transplant

Background

The Bolivian population is an emerging Latin American immigrant group in Spain, several of whom have been transplanted or are awaiting transplant. We aimed to assess attitudes toward organ donation among Bolivians currently residing in Spain.

Approach of Social Groups With Little Sensitization to Organ Donation: Pilot Study in the Gypsy Population to Assess the Best Approach to Determine the Attitude Toward Organ Donation for Transplantation

Background

There are social groups with very low donation rates, and action is needed to try to reverse this situation. The goal of this study was to determine which approach is the best to use with the gypsy population in Spain to determine their attitude toward organ donation.

Knowledge of the Brain Death Concept Among the Population of Havana,Cuba

Background

One of the main reasons against organ donation is the fear of apparent death due to ignorance of the brain death concept. Our aim was to assess knowledge about and acceptance of the brain death concept among the population of Havana, Cuba.

Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis (CASTER) Study: Early and Long-Term Outcomes

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Chronic obstructive pancreatitis after healing of a necrotic pseudocyst

Seven patients presented with chronic pancreatitis localized upstream to a complete stenosis of the main pancreatic duct in its median part. This stenosis seemed to be secondary to the healing of a necrotic pseudocyst after either acute pancreatitis (four patients) or blunt abdominal trauma (three patients). In five patients, after spontaneous regression of the clinical symptoms of the initial pseudocyst, a silent period which ranged from 2 to 5 months was followed by recurrent attacks of pain of lesser intensity and shorter duration (less than 2 days) than observed during the evolution of the initial pseudocyst. These attacks of pain decreased spontaneously with time, probably because of the atrophy of the left part of the pancreas drained by the obstructed duct (in 6 months to 2.5 years). In 2 patients, the initial pseudocyst was revealed at the same time as the obstructive pancreatitis.The histologic features of chronic obstructive pancreatitis have been described. Fibrosis uniformly spread throughout the diseased pancreas with uniform atrophy of the exocrine parenchyma. Dilated ducts showed far less damages than in chronic calcifying pancreatitis. Since spontaneous clinical healing may be observed, surgical treatment is often useless. Only in patients with severe or frequent attacks is a Roux-Y anastomosis with the dilated part of the main pancreatic duct indicated rather than a risky left pancreatectomy.