Mucormycosis after kidney transplantations: report of seven cases

This is a report of 7 cases of mucormycosis infections in patients who had undergone transplantation and been admitted in the kidney transplant centre of Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2002 to 2005. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records for demographic data, symptoms, diagnostic techniques and outcomes. Five patients were male and 2 female. The mean age of patients was 49.5 y. The time interval between transplantation and disease onset varied greatly (range: 1 month to 4 y). Patients' symptoms were fever (7 cases), respiratory distress (4 cases) and severe headache (3 cases). Suspected patients were evaluated by CT scan, BAL and biopsy and diagnosis confirmed by culture. The final diagnosis was pulmonary mucormycosis in 4 cases, rhino-cerebral mucormycosis in 2 cases and disseminated mucormycosis in 1 case. Despite early and intensive treatment with amphotericin B in all patients and extensive debridement in 3 cases, only 2 patients survived the disease. Mucormycosis is a potentially lethal complication after kidney transplantation. It could occur very early on or very late into the post-transplant period. Despite the results of other studies, the most frequent site of infection in our patients was the lungs.     

Outcome of unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation in 88 patients with primary immunodeficiency in Japan

We report the results of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) performed in 88 patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) between 1998 and 2008 in Japan; severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID, n = 40), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS, n = 23), chronic granulomatous disease (n = 7), severe congenital neutropaenia (SCN, n = 5) and other immunodeficiencies (n = 13). Five-year overall survival (5-year OS) for all patients was 69% [95% confidence interval (CI), 57-78%], and was 71% and 82% for SCID and WAS, respectively. The main cause of death before day 100 was infection (17/19), while that after day 100 was graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (5/7). Using multivariate analyses, pre-transplant infection, no conditioning, ≥ 2 human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches or diagnosis other than SCID, SCN or WAS were all associated with poor prognosis. Reduced-intensity conditioning was associated with decreased overall mortality compared with myeloablative therapy. The cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD at day 100 was 28% (95% CI, 19-38%), and that of chronic GVHD at day 180 was 13% (95% CI, 7-23%). We conclude that UCBT should be considered for PID patients without an HLA-matched sibling. The control of pre-transplant infection and selection of HLA-matched donors will lead to a better outcome.     

Hepatitis reactivation and liver failure in haemopoietic stem cell transplants for hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive recipients: a retrospective study by the Italian group for blood and marrow transplantation

Hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus (HBV/HCV) positive patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at risk of hepatitis reactivation and fatal liver failure: we have conducted a retrospective study to assess the risk in 20 Italian transplant centres. A total of 90 patients infected with HBV (n=33) or HCV (n=57) receiving allogeneic (n=36) or autologous (n=54) haemotopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) between 1996 and 2000 were reviewed. The biochemical profiles and outcomes of infection-related liver disease were also analysed. The risk of death at 2 years was comparable when considering type of infection (3% for HBV vs 8% for HCV, P=0.6) or type of HSCT (7% for allogeneic vs 5% for autologous HHSCT, P=0.34). Hepatitis reactivation followed by resolution was more frequent in HCV+ than in HBV+ patients receiving an allograft (100% vs 16%, P=0.004). In HBV+ cases, risk of reactivation was comparable after autologous or allogeneic transplantation (66 vs 81%, P=0.3), but liver disease was more severe and occurred earlier in the autologous group. Our results indicate that HBV and HCV infection should not be taken as an absolute contraindication for HSCT and the risk of life-threatening liver complications are similar after allogeneic or autologous transplants.     

不同骨髓间充质干细胞移植方法对糖尿病大鼠的影响

目的 探讨不同骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)移植方法对糖尿病治疗的影响.方法 54只成模糖尿病大鼠按随机数字表法分为3组:对照组(n=18)、经尾静脉注射MSCs组(n=18)及经心内注射MSCs组(n=18).MSCs从正常大鼠骨髓中分离培养获得,体外用5-溴-2-脱氧尿嘧啶核苷(BrdU)标记.制模前、制模1周和细胞移植后第3、7、14天检测血糖及体质量,胰腺组织行HE染色、胰岛素和BrdU免疫组织化学.多组样本均数比较采用单因素方差分析,其中两两比较采用LSD法.结果 三组各时点血糖差异均无统计学意义(F值分别为0.404、0.578及3.670,均P>0.05).MSCs移植后第7及14天,三组间体质量差异有统计学意义(F值分别为5.0及4.8,均P<0.05).经尾静脉注射MSCs组和经心内注射MSCs组体质量较成模时增加.MSCs移植后第7天,经心内注射MSCs组胰岛面积与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(F=4.50,P<0.05).MSCs移植后第14天,三组间胰岛素表达差异有统计学意义(F=4.613,P<0.05).经尾静脉注射MSCs组及经心内注射MSCs组胰腺内可见少量BrdU阳性细胞.结论 心脏注射MSCs是实验性糖尿病大鼠起效的较好途径.     

320排CT检查技术对肝移植术后肝动脉并发症的诊断价值

目的 探讨320排CT中采用高浓度低剂量对比剂对移植肝动脉并发症的临床诊断价值.方法 58例肝移植术后患者,分A、B两组,对比剂分别为碘350g/L(27例)和370g/L(31例);均采用320排CT扫描机,对比剂流速均为6 ml/s,总剂量50 ml,采用动态容积扫描模式,扫描参数:X线管转速0.5 s/r,层厚0.5 mm,管电流100～250 mA,管电压100 kV.利用4D DSA成像软件,测量纯肝动脉的达峰时间、达峰CT值;记录肝移植组患者的身高和体质量.选取最佳纯肝动脉期的图像,进行容积(VR),最大密度投影(MIP),多层面图像重建(MPR).应用SPSS10.0统计分析软件,根据不同数据资料进行非参数检验,χ~2检验或t检验.结果 (1)肝移植A组,B组间的年龄、性别、身高、体质量和人体质量指数间比较,差异均无统计学意义,A组、B组间肝动脉达峰时间分别为(19.71±3.11)s、(20.06±3.67)s,两者间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);B组肝动脉达峰CT值、达峰绝对CT值分别为451.39±113.16、412.06±112.30,与A组的396.26±89.46、357.59±87.54相比,差异具有统计学意义(t值分别为-2.036、-2.038,P值均＜0.05);(2)移植肝动脉成像:肝动脉吻合口假性动脉瘤2例,肝动脉吻合口轻度、中度、重度狭窄、闭塞分别为13例、5例、9例、1例;肝动脉吻合口处多发中重度狭窄4例,肝动脉吻合口病变发生率为58.6%(34/58),肝动脉闭塞及重度狭窄者伴有肝门部侧支动脉形成6例,肝动脉-门静脉瘘及肝动脉迂曲各12例,肝内动脉小分支开放8例,其他包括15例伴有肝内动脉小分支稀疏,3例供受体肝动脉管径粗细不一致.结论 320排CT低剂量对比剂的4D DSA成像可获得准确的移植肝动脉纯动脉期图像,对肝移植术后肝动脉病变的诊断具有安全、无创、准确的优点,可作为肝移植术后对肝动脉并发症进行随访的有效手段.     

Local excision and adjuvant radiotherapy for rectal adenocarcinoma T1-2 N0

AIM: To study retrospectively the relapse rate, the functional results and the survival rate in patients with rectal carcinoma treated with local excision and adjuvant radiotherapy. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1995, 43 patients were treated. All cancers were infiltrating tumours except 4 high grade dysplasias with positive margins. The pT classification was: pT1 (n=34), pT2 (n=4), pT3 (n=1). In 4 cases the depth of penetration of the tumor into the bowel wall was not evaluable. The endo-anal excision was performed by surgery (n=20) or by endoscopy (n=23). Only the tumor bed was irradiated in 35 cases (contact x-ray therapy: 30, interstitial iridium implant: 5) and in 8 cases the whole rectum was irradiated with external beam radiotherapy (+/- endocavitary irradiation). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 72 months. Four malignant relapses were observed (local: 1, perirectal lymphatic: 2, distant metastasis: 1). The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 80 and 68%, respectively. A total of 41 patients preserved a normal sphincter (95%). The anal function was evaluated as excellent or good in all the cases. No severe radiation toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: Small rectal carcinomas T1 N0 can be effectively treated in most cases by local excision and postoperative radiation therapy. A close multidisciplinary collaboration is necessary to achieve an optimal result.     

Immunohistochemically proven cytomegalovirus end-organ disease in solid organ transplant patients: clinical features and usefulness of conventional diagnostic tests

We studied the main clinical features, outcome, and laboratory parameters in a group of solid organ transplant (SOT) patients with immunohistochemically proven cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. Confirmed CMV cases were obtained through databases. Demographics, clinical data, transplantation type, immunosuppressive regimens, donor and recipient CMV serostatus, therapy, outcome and laboratory results, pp65 antigenemia, and qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for CMV were analyzed. From 1995 to 2004, 31 cases with complete medical records were identified. Disease appeared between 24 and 2538 days after transplantation but most cases presented in the first 100 days. Gastrointestinal CMV disease was the most frequent form (71%), while thrombocytopenia was present in 50% of cases, and leukopenia was less common (35.5%). CMV pp65 antigenemia was positive in 58% of patients, but its sensitivity increased to 71% if performed during the first 6 months. A qualitative CMV PCR technique gave similar results during this period (71.4%). Most patients were treated with intravenous ganciclovir (n=25; 80.6%). In 4 cases (19.4%), use of foscarnet alone or a sequential regimen with ganciclovir-foscarnet was deemed necessary. Surgical procedures were necessary in 5 patients (16%). The death rate reached 13%. CMV end-organ disease can be a life-threatening infection in SOT patients. Gastrointestinal disease was the most frequent end-organ disease. CMV antigen detection is best suited for the early period after transplantation.     

前列腺素E脂质微球联合小剂量肝素及丹参预防60例异基因造血干细胞移植后肝静脉闭塞病

目的:探讨前列腺素E脂质微球联合小剂量肝素及复方丹参预防肝静脉闭塞病(VOD)的效果.方法:59例急、慢性白血病患者及1例T细胞淋巴瘤患者接受移植治疗.移植患者中3例曾有乙型肝炎病史,1例有轻度脂肪肝病史.移植前所有患者肝功能均正常.采用CyTBI加Ara-C/VP-16或改良BuCy2方案预处理.VOD预防方案:移植前8 d至移植后28 d,采用前列腺素E脂质微球(凯时)30～40vg/d联合小剂量肝素(100U/kg·d-1)及复方丹参30～40 ml/d,发生VOD后继续上述治疗,加用去纤苷10 mg/kg·d-1.结果:59例均获得植入,1例植入失败.2例出现重症VOD,其中1例为接受单倍型半相合外周血干细胞移植的复发ALL患者,1例患者有轻度脂肪肝,接受非血缘外周血干细胞移植.2例均采用较强的清髓性预处理方案,最终死于多脏器功能衰竭.结论:本研究采用的VOD预防方案,VOD发生率低于文献报道,提示前列腺素E脂质微球联合小剂量肝素及复方丹参方案对预防VOD的发生可能有一定效果.     

Surgical treatment of superior sulcus tumors: results and prognostic factors

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcome of patients with superior sulcus tumors who underwent surgery over a 15-year period. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. METHODS: Clinical records of all patients operated on for superior sulcus tumors by the same surgical team between 1988 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were operated on in this period. All the patients underwent en bloc lung and chest wall resection. Surgical approaches were as follows: posterolateral thoracotomy according to Paulson (n = 33), combined transcervical and transthoracic approach (n = 33), and isolated transcervical approach (n = 1). Types of pulmonary resection included lobectomies (n = 59), pneumonectomies (n = 2), and wedge resections (n = 6). Pathologic stages were IIB, IIIA, and IIIB in 49 cases, 12 cases, and 6 cases, respectively. Resection was complete in 55 patients (82%). Operative mortality was 8.9% (n = 6). Postoperative treatment was administered in 53 patients (radiotherapy, n = 42; chemoradiotherapy, n = 9; and chemotherapy, n = 2). Overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 54.2% and 36.2%, respectively. Five-year survival was significantly higher after complete resection than after incomplete resection (44.9% vs 0%, p = 0.000065). The presence of associated major illness negatively affected the outcome (5-year survival, 16.9% vs 52%; p = 0.043). Age, weight loss, respiratory impairment, tumor size, presence of nodal disease, and histologic type did not influence the long-term outcome. At multivariate analysis, only the completeness of resection and the absence of associated major comorbidities had an independent positive prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: Superior sulcus tumor remains an extremely severe condition, but long-term survivals may be achieved in a large percentage of cases. The presence of associated major illness and the completeness of resection are the two most important factors affecting the long-term outcome.     

原发性肺隐球菌病52例临床及影像学表现和病理特征

目的 探讨原发性肺隐球菌病(pulmonary cryptococcosis,PC)的临床表现、病理特征、影像学特点及术前误诊原因.方法 回顾分析1998-2008年上海市中山医院收治的52例PC患者的临床、影像学及病理资料.结果 52例PC患者中,男36例,女16例,年龄17～80岁,中位年龄48岁.临床症状较轻,首发症状依次为咳嗽、咳痰及胸痛等.52例中13例既往有慢性疾病或肿瘤病史,其中肝癌并肝移植术后、糖尿病、结核及慢性活动性肝炎各2例,垂体瘤及结节病各1例,糖尿病合并肝痛及肺结核、糖尿病合并结核性胸膜炎及糖尿病合并高血压各1例.45例患者行胸部CT扫描,其中单发或多发结节团块37例,空洞4例,大叶实变3例,弥漫混合性病变1例;CT诊断为恶性肿瘤27例,肺炎15例,结核3例.49例光镜下表现为肉芽肿性病变,3例表现为纤维结缔组织病灶,Grocott六胺银及黏液卡红染色病灶内均可见新型隐球菌.结论 免疫功能正常者亦有发生PC的可能;临床及影像学表现缺乏特征性,且临床症状与影像学表现不符,易误诊为肺癌、肺炎或肺结核;诊断有赖于病理组织学检杳;CT引导下经皮肺穿刺等非开胸肺切除的方法有助于该病的早期诊断.     

G-CSF-mobilized haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in children with poor prognostic nonmalignant disorders

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is currently one of the alternative curative treatment options for some nonmalignant but also for malignant diseases. However, concerns regarding its safety cause delays in time and a successful outcome. Between 2000 and 2005, twenty-one children with poor prognostic nonmalignant disorders, 13 boys and 8 girls, with a median age of 12 months, underwent 28 haploidentical peripheral HSCT. Immunomagnetic bead depletion device (CliniMACS) was used for indirect T-cell depletion. Indications for transplant were severe combined immunodeficiency (n=16), osteopetrosis (n=2), MDS (n=1), amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (n=1), and aplastic anemia (n=1). Five patients (24%) had lung infection at the time of transplantation. The patients received a median of 25.67 x 10(6) G-CSF-mobilized peripheral CD34(+) progenitor cells and a median of 4.19 x 10(4) T-lymphocytes per kilogram of body weight with a T-cell depletion rate of median 4.59 logs. The rate of total engraftment was 66.6%. Median times for leukocyte and platelet engraftment were 14 and 16 days, respectively. The 6-year projected survival was 32% for all patients and 29.76% for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The rates of transplant-related mortality, graft failure, and severe GvHD were 14.2, 33.4%, and 8.3%, respectively. Infection was the main cause of death. The poor outcome may be explained with the poor prognostic factors of our patients such as the type of SCID in most cases (T-B- SCID), the median age over 6 months and the presence of lung infection in some children at the time of transplantation.     

Mucormycosis in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients: report of five cases and review of the role of iron overload in the pathogenesis.

In a 10-year consecutive series of 263 allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients, we identified five cases (1.9%) of invasive mucormycosis. Only one infection occurred within the first 100 days after transplantation, while the remainder complicated the late post-transplant course (median day of diagnosis: 343). Sites of infection were considered 'non-classical' and included pulmonary, cutaneous and gastric involvement. No case of fungal dissemination was observed. Mucormycosis was the primary cause of death in three of the five patients. Corticosteroid-treated graft-versus-host disease, either acute or chronic, or severe neutropenia were present in all cases. However, compared with a matched control population, the most striking finding was the demonstration of severe iron overload in each of the mucormycosis patients. The mean level of serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and number of transfused units of red cells (2029 microg/l, 92% and 52 units, respectively) in the study group is significantly higher compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The difference with other risk groups for mucormycosis, including deferoxamine-treated dialysis patients and acidotic diabetics, was analyzed in view of the possible pathogenic role of iron. Although these infections are often fatal, limited disease may have a better prognosis if diagnosed early and treated aggressively.     

Ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation

We carried out an analysis of the results obtained in patients (n=23) who received a ventricular assist device before heart transplantation between 1988 and 2005. Their mean age was 52.5 (8.4) years. Reasons for inclusion in the transplantation waiting list were postcardiotomy referral (n=10), myocardial infarction (n=5), primary graft dysfunction (n=7), and dilated cardiomyopathy (n=1). Different types of ventricular assist device were used: the Abiomed 5000 (n=13), the Biomed Comunidad de Madrid (n=9), and the BioMedicus (n=1). The mean transplantation waiting time was 3.0 (2.4) days. In-hospital complications were neurological (n=7), infectious (n=12), renal (n=3), hemorrhagic (n=3), and respiratory (n=2). In-hospital mortality was 39.1% (n=9). Kaplan-Meier analysis gave a 1-year survival rate of 55.2% and a 5-year survival rate of 32.2%. In patients who were discharged home, the 1-year survival rate was 92.3%. Careful patient selection is essential for obtaining good results.     

Herpesvirus type 6 in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: serologic features and detection by polymerase chain reaction

To evaluate the potential role of human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) infection in patients after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) we sequentially analyzed buffy coat leukocytes, oral lavage fluid, and urine from 57 patients for the presence of HHV-6 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before and after 60 BMTs. Twenty-four patients undergoing autologous BMT and 36 with allogeneic BMT were studied. Thirty-six patients (60%) were PCR positive in one or more tests. The majority of PCR-positive patients had positive results only sporadically, in 1 (n = 23) or 2 weeks (n = 5). Six patients were positive in 3 to 5 weeks. In 2 patients, we found a high frequency of positive tests, in 7 of 7 and 10 of 10 weeks analyzed. Twenty-four patients (40%) remained PCR negative throughout the post-BMT period. There was a significant correlation between the results of HHV-6 PCR and the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). In grade II-IV, 6 of 8 (75%) patients had 2 or more positive PCR tests, compared with 5 of 25 (20%) patients without or with grade I aGVHD (P = .01). There was no difference in the outcome of PCR tests with respect to the type of BMT or pre-BMT HHV-6 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers. Restriction enzyme analysis of PCR amplificates from 18 patients showed HHV-6 variant B in 16 (88.9%) and variant A in 2 cases (11.1%). We conclude that HHV-6 DNA can be detected in 60% of the patients after BMT. HHV-6 DNA can be detected more frequently in patients with moderate and severe aGVHD than in patients without aGVHD or with mild aGVHD.     

Mucormycosis of the central airways: CT findings in three patients.

Computed tomographic (CT) findings are described in three diabetic patients with central airways mucormycosis. The CT findings of the tracheobronchial mucormycosis include enhancing areas of mural thickening (n = 3), luminal narrowing (n = 3), intramural air (n = 3), low-attenuation nonenhancing bronchial wall thickening (n = 2), and bronchonodal fistula formation (n = 1). These CT features in a diabetic patient should raise a high index of suspicion for tracheobronchial mucormycosis, particularly when typical radiographic features of pulmonary tuberculosis are absent.     

肾移植2,3,5年患者的免疫抑制用药分析

目的：分析肾移植后免疫抑制剂对长期存活的影响，寻找移植后不同时间合适的免疫抑制用药方案及其用药剂量。 方法：对肾移植一年以上、肾功能正常的４９７例患者进行５年连续随访。根据移植后２、３、５年的不同免疫抑制用药将患者分为三联、二联、传统二联治疗三组。统计各组的排异发生率，排异和无排异患者免疫抑制用药的种类、剂量及ＣｓＡ浓度，对排异患者追踪排异发生前１２个月内的药物更动情况。 结果：肾移植后２、３、５     

Mucormycosis in COVID-19: A systematic review of cases reported worldwide and in India

Background and aimsThere are increasing case reports of rhino-orbital mucormycosis in people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially from India. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for both severe COVID-19 and mucormycosis. We aim to conduct a systematic review of literature to find out the patient's characteristics having mucormycosis and COVID-19.MethodsWe searched the electronic database of PubMed and Google Scholar from inception until May 13, 2021 using keywords. We retrieved all the granular details of case reports/series of patients with mucormycosis, and COVID-19 reported world-wide. Subsequently we analyzed the patient characteristics, associated comorbidities, location of mucormycosis, use of steroids and its outcome in people with COVID-19.ResultsOverall, 101 cases of mucormycosis in people with COVID-19 have been reported, of which 82 cases were from India and 19 from the rest of the world. Mucormycosis was predominantly seen in males (78.9%), both in people who were active (59.4%) or recovered (40.6%) from COVID-19. Pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 80% of cases, while concomitant diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was present in 14.9%. Corticosteroid intake for the treatment of COVID-19 was recorded in 76.3% of cases. Mucormycosis involving nose and sinuses (88.9%) was most common followed by rhino-orbital (56.7%). Mortality was noted in 30.7% of the cases.ConclusionAn unholy trinity of diabetes, rampant use of corticosteroid in a background of COVID-19 appears to increase mucormycosis. All efforts should be made to maintain optimal glucose and only judicious use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19.     

Mucormycosis in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of mucormycosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to review other patients reported in the English literature. METHOD: A Medline search for articles about mucormycosis in SLE published between 1970 and 2002 was performed by using the key words "lupus," "mucormycosis," "zygomycosis," "Mucorales," "Rhizopus," and "Mucor." Cases were pooled for analysis, and the mycology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of mucormycosis in SLE was reviewed. RESULTS: Eight cases of mucormycosis in SLE were identified (female:male = 7:1). The mean age at the time of infection was 31.8 +/- 7.6 years and the mean duration of SLE was 6.3 +/- 3.9 years. All except 1 patient had active lupus and all were receiving high-dose corticosteroids. Concomitant cytotoxic agents were used in 4 patients. Additional predisposing factors for opportunistic infection included hypocomplementemia, nephrotic syndrome, uremia, leukopenia, and diabetes mellitus. The disseminated form of mucormycosis was the most common presentation and the diagnosis often was made only at autopsy (63%). For cases with positive culture results, Rhizopus was the causative species. In 4 patients, manifestations of the fungal infection mimicked those of active SLE. The overall mortality of mucormycosis was very high (88%) and, in most cases, was probably a function of delayed diagnosis and treatment. The cutaneous form appeared to have the best prognosis with combined medical and surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Mucormycosis is a rare but usually fatal fungal infection in SLE. Judicious use of immunosuppressive agents, a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis, and combination treatment with amphotericin B and surgical debridement may improve the prognosis of this serious infection.     

Cardiothoracic surgery after heart and heart-lung transplantation

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine our management and the outcomes of cardiothoracic procedures after heart and heart lung transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of cardiothoracic surgical procedures carried out between 1990 and 2004 in patients who had previously undergone heart or heart-lung transplantation at our institution. RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 340 patients (6.2 %) were identified. Cardiothoracic surgery was performed 44.4 +/- 33 months (range 1 - 115 months) after transplantation. Predominant types of surgery were coronary artery bypass grafting due to allograft vasculopathy (n = 5), aortic surgery due to acute dissection (n = 3), biventricular assist device implantation due to acute rejection (n = 1), tricuspid valve repair (n = 1), multiple cardiac surgical procedures including coronary artery bypass grafting, retransplantation, and tricuspid valve replacement (n = 2), explantation of a functionless heterotopic transplanted heart (n = 1). Lung surgery was performed in six patients due to pneumonia (n = 2), primary lung carcinoma (n = 3), lung torsion following heart-lung transplantation (n = 1). All patients underwent either lobectomy or segmental lung resection. Single lung retransplantation (n = 2) after prior heart-lung transplantation due to bronchiolitis obliterans was performed. In one patient a pneumonectomy (n = 1) due to severe chronic rejection of the contralateral lung was performed. Six subsequent deaths after cardiothoracic procedures were recorded after 1, 4, 78, 163, 205, and 730 days, respectively. Causes of death were advanced carcinoma (n = 1), multi-organ failure due to sepsis (n = 2), sudden heart death (n = 2), and advanced heart failure (n = 1). Fifteen out of 21 patients having undergone cardiothoracic procedures (71.4 %) survived the observation period of 56.6 +/- 34 months (range 1 - 114). CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for cardiothoracic procedures after prior heart or heart-lung transplantation were allograft vasculopathy, aortic dissections years after transplantation, chronic rejection, and either lung infections or malignancies. Surgical repair can be performed with an acceptable operative risk and good long-term survival rates.