Partial Nephrectomy: Is There Still a Need for Open Surgery?

Long-term outcome data indicate that open partial nephrectomy has cancer-free survival rates comparable to those of radical surgery, with better preservation of renal function, decreased overall mortality and reduced frequency of cardiovascular events. Open partial nephrectomy is increasingly being challenged by laparoscopic and/or robot assisted partial nephrectomy, which in the hands of experts appears to achieve comparable oncological results, albeit at a higher complication rate. We report a review based on literature published over the past years, which may provide insight into the role of open partial nephrectomy in the present urological practice and in years to come.     

Non-Invasive Assessment of Graft Fibrosis After Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Is There Still a Role for Liver Biopsy?

Non-invasive methods have evolved as a surrogate for liver biopsy such as indirect markers (aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, fibro-α score), transient elastography (TE), and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).The aim of this study is to prospectively compare the value of MRE, TE, and indirect markers in detecting and staging allograft fibrosis compared to liver biopsies in patients who have undergone living donor liver transplantation for complications related to hepatitis C virus.A total of 31 living donor liver transplantation recipients with hepatitis C virus recurrence underwent a liver biopsy, TE, and MRE within 3 months of a liver biopsy. Fibrosis was assessed according to the biopsy and staged according to Metavir criteria.There was a significant correlation between both MRE and fibro-α scores, as well as histologic classification by liver biopsy (P = .02, .002). The diagnostic accuracy of MRE and fibro-α scores in diagnosing significant fibrosis (F ≥ 3) was measured as the area under the curve (.708 and .833, respectively). Both methods showed good diagnostic performance. TE and aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index were insignificantly correlated with the degree of fibrosis in liver biopsy (P value of .134, .535). At a cutoff value of 5.5 kPa, MRE predicted graft fibrosis (Metavir stage ≥ 3) with 71.43% sensitivity, 75% specificity, 45.5% positive predictive value, and 90% negative predictive value; at a cutoff value > 1.47, fibro-α scores predicted significant graft fibrosis (Metavir stage ≥ 3) with 85.7% sensitivity and 70.83% specificity, with a positive predictive value of 46.2% and a negative predictive value of 94.4%. These data suggest that non-invasive methods could be considered a reliable tool in assessing significant graft fibrosis post-living donor liver transplantation.     

Is There Still a Place for Face-to-Face Meetings?

There is definitely an essential place for face-to-face meetings. We renew bonds; affirm and expand diversity; learn and share as both students and mentors; advance the field to the benefit of our patients; and gain wisdom from experienced and devoted leaders.     

Is Liver Biopsy Necessary in the Evaluation of a Living Donor for Liver Transplantation?

BackgroundThe role of liver biopsy in the evaluation of a candidate for living liver donation is controversial. Some authors suggest doing it routinely, but others do it only in selected cases. The aim of this work was to evaluate the usefulness of protocol liver biopsy in the evaluation of candidates for living liver donation.MethodsNinety potential candidates for living liver donation were evaluated. In 46 cases donation was contraindicated without the need of liver biopsy. In the remaining 44 candidates, liver biopsy was done on a protocol basis. The usefulness of protocol biopsy was compared with the use of biopsy according to the recommendations of the Vancouver Forum.ResultsFifteen of the 44 biopsies were indicated according to the recommendations of the Vancouver Forum. Twelve of them were normal, and 3 had liver steatosis or steatohepatitis. Of the 29 biopsies done per protocol, 28 were normal and 1 showed liver steatosis. Donation was contraindicated according to liver biopsy findings in 3 of the 15 patients with liver biopsy done according to the Vancouver Forum recommendations and in none of the 29 patients with biopsy done per protocol (P = .034).ConclusionsProtocol liver biopsy has a limited utility in the evaluation of the candidates for living liver donation.     

Is There Any Role for Antithymocyte Induction in Renal Transplantation?

The use of an antibody induction agent in kidney transplantation lowers the risk of an acute rejection episode and may improve graft outcomes. Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is the most commonly used antibody induction agent for kidney transplantation in the United States, despite its significant side effect profile and cost compared to the interleukin-2 receptor antagonists (IL2-RA). Our review suggests the IL2-RA are safe and well tolerated, and provide equal clinical benefit to ATG at a lower cost. We propose that there is insufficient evidence to justify the use of ATG induction in kidney transplantation.     

Liver Transplantation in Neurological Wilson's Disease: Is There Indication? A Case Report

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by copper overload. In this disease, inadequate hepatic excretion leads to copper accumulation in the liver, brain, kidney, and cornea. Severe neurological symptoms can develop in patients with WD, often in the absence of relevant liver damage: it is unclear whether liver transplantation (LT) could reverse neurological symptoms, and at present LT is not recommended in this setting. We report a case of regression of neurological symptoms in a patient affected by WD with prevalent neurological involvement. A 19-year-old man with disabling neuropsychiatric symptoms from WD that included frontal ataxia, akinesia, dystonia, tremors, and behavioral disorders in the presence of preserved liver function (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score = 7; Child-Turcotte-Pugh score = A5) underwent LT in November 2009. At the time of LT, encephalic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated diffuse neurodegenerative alterations involving subtentorial and supratentorial structures; bilateral Kayser-Fleischer ring was present. Four years after LT, laboratory tests show normalized copper metabolism and excellent liver function test results. Encephalic MRI shows a substantial improvement of already-known signal alterations at nuclei thalamus and putamen, mesencephalon, and pons. Kayser-Fleischer ring disappeared from the right eye, but a little remnant is still visible in the left eye. At neurological examination, all of the previous symptoms and signs are no longer present and behavioral disorders are no longer present; psychosocial functions are completely restored. The present case provides some evidence that LT may be a valid therapeutic option for WD patients with marked neurological impairment, particularly in those no longer responsive to chelation therapy.     

Continuous Flow Peritoneal Dialysis: Is There a Need for it?

Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) is the fastest growing technique of peritoneal dialysis. However, recently APD has displayed some limitations imposed by the characteristics of the technique and by the characteristics of the peritoneal membrane of some patients. In general, the advent of a new technique such as continuous flow peritoneal dialysis (CFPD) should be seen as a benefit for several patients based on different considerations: CFPD is a high-efficiency technique which could overcome some of the limitations imposed by other techniques in terms of adequacy targets and performance. CFPD may become a useful tool to keep patients on PD who would otherwise be transferred to hemodialysis. CFPD may present advantages in terms of biocompatibility and also in terms of the possible modulation of the peritoneal solution to patient needs. Recent developments in technology seem to have made CFPD easily feasible and well tolerated. A new era of PD is probably beginning and CFPD will definitely represent one of the key issues in the future of PD.     

Augmentation Enterocystoplasty in Overactive Bladder: Is There Still a Role?

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a highly prevalent syndrome defined as “urinary urgency, usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia with or without urgency urinary incontinence, in the absence of urinary tract infection or other obvious pathology.” It is known to generate a large degree of bother and can lead to significant morbidity. Augmentation cystoplasty (AC) historically has been reserved for patients refractory to conservative management. Over time, the treatment options for OAB have grown. We now have multiple pharmacological agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat OAB. In addition, neuromodulation and botulinum toxin now are viable options for patients who have suboptimal outcomes after treatment with anticholinergics and/or pelvic floor behavioral therapy. This may suggest that AC no longer is utilized as a mainstay therapy for OAB. However, despite these many possible treatment options, AC remains an important, time-tested tool in the armamentarium of the urologist to combat the patient with refractory OAB.     

Superficial Venous Disease Treatment - Is There Still a Role for Open Surgery in 2011 ?

The treatment of superficial venous disease (commonly described as varicose veins by the general public) has remained relatively constant over the past 100 years until the refinements of endovenous treatments such as sclerotherapy and more recently, the development of endovenous ablation. This has radically changed the treatment profile of this disease with treatments easily administered and well tolerated even in those patients who would not be considered fit for open surgery previously. With the advent of day surgery and improved general and local anaesthetic techniques, venous surgery has forged a path towards the end goal of outpatient treatment with no requirement for inpatient stay. The end goal of all superficial venous surgery is an improvement in quality of life, and with such new treatments reducing the impact of the actual intervention, such gains are easier to make.

This review assesses and presents the current literature describing superficial venous disease treatments covering all treatment modalities.

With endovenous treatment, true ambulatory treatment is available, providing high quality treatment at speed and convenience for patients.     

Should a Complex Uropathy Be a Contraindication for Renal Transplantation in Children?

Background

Anatomic and functional disorders of the lower urinary tract represent up to 40% of the causes of renal failure in children. Several centers avoid renal transplantation in these patients because of the high risk of complications and lower graft survival. The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of urinary tract abnormalities (UTAs) among our pediatric series, and to compare the frequency of complications, function, and long-term graft survival among patients without versus with UTA.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective study compared outcomes between pediatric recipients with versus without UTA. We analyzed demographic features, etiology, pretransplant protocol, urinary tract rehabilitation, incidence of complications, rejection events, as well as graft function and survival.

Results

Among 328 pediatric cases performed between 1998 and 2008, we excluded nine patients due to incomplete medical records, analyzing 319 procedures in 312 patients. Sixty-seven patients (21%) had UTA. The average age, weight, and height at the time of grafting were significantly lower in the urologic group: 11.1 versus 12.6 years, 28.8 versus 34.4 kg; 125.4 versus 138.4 cm, respectively. There were significantly higher frequencies of a transperitoneal approach and vena cavae and aortic anastomoses among patients with UTA (P < .001), posing a greater technical challenge in this population. No differences in creatinine levels were observed at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 years: 1.3 versus 1.6 at 5 years, and 1.4 versus 1.5 at 8 years. Urologic complications, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), occurred among 80.6% of patients with UTA versus 42.1% in the non-UTA group (P < .001). UTIs appeared predominantly in patients with UTA (62.7% vs 35.3%, P < .001), representing a 2.7-fold risk compared with those children transplanted for other reasons. Rejection incidence was similar in both groups (49.8%). There was no significant difference in 5-y (89.8% vs 85%) or 10-year (83% vs 67%) graft survivals between the groups (P = .162).

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that with proper interdisciplinary care, graft and patient survivals of pediatric recipients with UTAs were not affected; therefore, these patients should not be rejected for transplantation.