Lung Transplantation for End-Stage Respiratory Failure After Severe COVID-19: A Report of 2 Cases

We report 2 cases of bilateral lung transplantation for nonresolving coronavirus disease 2019 associated respiratory failure. In the first patient, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection caused acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support; in the second patient, coronavirus disease 2019 resulted in irreversible pulmonary fibrosis requiring only ventilatory support. The 2 cases represent the 2 ends of the spectrum showing significant differences in preoperative and postoperative courses.     

An Unusual Posttransplant T-cell Lymphoma After Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) encompass a spectrum of heterogeneous entities ranging from benign lymphocytic proliferations to high-grade malignant lymphomas. The majority of PTLDs are associated with reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which induces B-cell proliferation and occurs in the setting of severe immune suppression after solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. T-cell/natural killer cell PTLDs are relatively rare, constituting ～15% of all cases. T-cell PTLDs are usually aggressive, and outcomes are poor. This article describes an unusual case of T-cell PTLD with a favorable outcome. The patient is a 57-year-old man who underwent a liver transplantation due to hepatitis C cirrhosis. He developed graft-versus-host disease with skin and gastrointestinal involvement and generalized lymphadenopathy 4 months after transplantation. Histologic sections of an excised axillary lymph node showed atypical medium and larger T-lymphocytes that were positive for CD3, CD5, CD43, and CD8 but were negative for B-cell antigens, CD56, and in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed monoclonal T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangement. A diagnosis of high-grade T-cell PTLD was made. The patient was treated with 4 cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone and is currently in remission, 4 years after therapy. The rapid presentation of an EBV-negative T-cell PTLD with a nonaggressive course and complete response to treatment is an unusual presentation of posttransplantation T-cell lymphoma, which is usually associated with a high mortality rate.     

Hepatic Vascular Disease After Kidney Transplantation: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Severe hepatic vascular disease developed in two patients 4and 8 years after kidney transplantation, while receiving combinedimmunosuppressive therapy with prednisone and azathioprine.Portal hypertension and marked liver failure were observed inboth cases. The diagnosis was established by histological examinationof liver biopsies showing typical veno-occiusive disease ofthe liver associated with peliosis in both cases. Azathioprine was discontinued. Two years later one patient wasasymptomatic and liver function tests were normal. The secondpatient died 3 years later from liver failure. Early recognitionof hepatic vascular disease arising in kidney transplant recipientswould be of utmost importance, as substitution of another immunosuppressiveagent for azathioprine could halt the process leading to portalhypertension.     

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Positivity Immediately After Lung Transplantation: A Case Report

Management of COVID-19 in lung transplant recipients is challenging. We report a case of a 71-year-old male who underwent bilateral lung transplantation with an unexpected case of COVID-19. The patient had been fully vaccinated. The patient and donor tested negative for pretransplant COVID-19. On routine bronchoscopy on day 1 after transplant, the COVID-19 test was positive. Mycophenolic mofetil and the second dose of basiliximab were skipped, but tacrolimus and prednisone were continued. He was treated with casirivimab/imdevimab and remdesivir. He was discharged on day 14 and has had no episodes of acute rejection during the 3 months.     

Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to Pneumopericardium After Lung Transplantation: A Case Report

Pneumopericardium is a rare cause of cardiac tamponade. It is an exceptional complication of lung transplantation. We have presented a case of a patient with cystic fibrosis who experienced cardiac tamponade secondary to a tension pneumopericardium during the postoperative course after lung transplantation. Dehiscence of the bronchial suture line was confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy.     

Human Herpesvirus 8–Related Primary Effusion Lymphoma After Liver Transplantation

Primary effusion lymphoma is a rare subclass of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma associated with human herpesvirus 8 infection and principally seen in human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients. We report on the case of a 72‐year‐old human immunodeficiency virus–negative male with a hepatic transplant 10 years prior, who presented with a symptomatic right‐sided pleural effusion and was found to have primary effusion lymphoma by flow cytometric and cytopathologic examination. Immunohistochemistry of his lymphoma cells was positive for human herpesvirus 8. Both he and his donor had no identifiable risk factors for human herpesvirus 8 infection. The patient was intolerant of antiviral therapy and chemotherapy, dying 7 months after diagnosis. Posttransplant primary effusion lymphoma is exceedingly rare and carries a very poor prognosis. Individualized treatment strategies are necessary given the scant body of published literature with guidance based solely on case reports.     

A Case Report of Lung Transplantation After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Literature Review

Pulmonary complications may occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Lung transplantation is the only treatment option for end-stage lung failure. We presented a case of acute myeloid leukemia who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and underwent bilateral lung transplantation with end-stage usual interstitial pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung disease. This case showed that lung transplantation could be successfully applied in properly selected hematologic malignancy patients with long disease-free survival, like lung transplantations performed for other indications.     

Isolated Liver Rejection After Lung and Combined Kidney-Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Liver allografts are unique in solid organ transplantation as they are less susceptible to both acute and chronic rejection. Operational tolerance, defined as prolonged graft survival in the absence of immunosuppression, is also achieved more frequently with liver allografts. It is unknown if the presence of multiple allografts in the same individual, levels of immunosuppression, or the presence of cystic fibrosis (CF) impacts the livers ability to ward off rejection or achieve operational tolerance. We describe an unsensitized, ABO-compatible patient with CF who underwent double lung transplantation and several years later a combined liver-kidney transplant. He developed isolated late acute T-cell mediated rejection of his liver allograft despite a high level of immunosuppression (IS) required for his lung and kidney allografts. To our knowledge, this is the first case of isolated liver rejection in a patient with 3 separate organ allografts, or in a patient with CF, to be reported in the literature. This isolated liver rejection is out of keeping with typically accepted ideas about orthotopic liver tolerance.     

单肺移植治疗终末期肺气肿三例

目的探讨肺移植治疗终末期肺气肿的手术适应证、手术方式和术后并发症。方法2002年9月至2003年6月为3例终末期肺气肿患者进行单肺移植,其中例2、例3为同一供者的左、右肺移植,其手术同期进行。结果第1例术后肺功能明显改善,术后47d出院,现已恢复工作,生存1年6个月以上;例2术后15d死于急性4级重症排斥反应;例3术后因对侧肺急性过度膨胀,而行胸腔镜下对侧肺减容术纠正,术后第71d出院,肺功能明显改善。结论终末期肺气肿是肺移植最常见的手术适应证,单肺移植术后肺功能获得明显改善;利用同一供者单肺移植能挽救更多患者的生命,宜积极开展。     

Donation After Circulatory Arrest in Pancreas Transplantation: A Report of 10 Cases

Introduction

Transplantation of pancreas allografts procured from donation after circulatory death (DCD) remains uncommon. This study reviews a series of pancreas transplants at a single center to assess the donor and recipient characteristics for DCD pancreas transplant and to compare clinical outcomes.

Outcomes of Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty After Lung Transplantation

Lung transplantation is increasingly common with improving survival rates. Post-transplant patients can be expected to seek total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) to improve their quality of life. Outcomes of 20 primary total joint arthroplasties (15 THA, 5 TKA) in 14 patients with lung transplantation were reviewed. Clinical follow-up time averaged 27.5 and 42.8 months for THA and TKA respectively. Arthroplasty indications included osteonecrosis, osteoarthritis, and fracture. All patients subjectively reported good or excellent outcomes with a final average Harris Hip Score of 88.7, Knee Society objective and functional score of 92.0. There were 4 minor and 1 major acute perioperative complications. 1 late TKA infection was successfully treated with two-stage revision. The mortality rate was 28.5% (4/14 patients) at an average 20.6 months following but unrelated to arthroplasty. Overall, total joint arthroplasty can be safely performed and provide good functional outcomes in lung transplant recipients.     

Pancreas Transplantation After Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Our aim was to describe the clinical indications, surgical technique, and clinical outcomes of a pancreas transplantation, performed 4 years after liver transplantation, as treatment for new-onset, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in a 53-year-old man. Liver transplantation was performed for end-stage liver disease secondary to hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient had no history of diabetes prior to the liver transplantation. The decision to proceed with a pancreas transplantation was made when the patient's blood sugar levels could not be normalized despite insulin doses >100 IU/d. A modified cadaveric transplantation technique was used, with the recipient's inferior vena cava dissected for anastomosis with the portal vein of the graft, using a diamond-shaped patch procedure. Moreover, the right common iliac artery was anastomosed with a Y-graft in the pancreas graft, and the duodenum remnant of the graft was anastomosed to the recipient's duodenum using a side-to-side procedure. The 6-month postoperative follow-up included repeated endoscopic biopsy of the graft duodenum, with no evidence of thrombosis or rejection of the graft, with glucose level within normal limits without requirement for diabetic drugs. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pancreas transplantation after liver transplantation.     

“Hybrid Lung Transplantation” Combining Living Donor and Cadaveric Lung Transplants: Report of 2 Cases

We present 2 cases of “hybrid lung transplant,” which included sequentially implanting a living lobar graft to 1 side and a cadaveric graft to the other side. This procedure was approved by the institutional review board at Okayama University Hospital. The 2 recipients were diagnosed with severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and living donor lobar lung transplant was considered; however, 2 appropriate donors were not available. Therefore, we accepted extended criteria donor lungs with a partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of <251 mm Hg. However, 1 of the 2 patients developed grade 2 primary graft dysfunction. The living donor lobar lung had a low volume but was in good condition, which contributed to the patient's recovery after primary graft dysfunction during the perioperative period. The other patient's status of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome had gradually progressed to grade 3, and only the living donor lung was functioning at that time. However, both patients are alive 5.5 and 4.2 years after lung transplant, respectively. Hybrid lung transplantation may increase patients’ chances of receiving transplants because patients are not likely to survive while waiting for ideal donor lungs to become available.     

Intestinal Ischemia After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Report of Four Cases

Gastrointestinal ischemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is a rare complication not well-described in the literature. Herein we retrospectively review charts of four patients who developed intestinal ischemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation at our institution. The patients were found to be predominately younger males who presented with nonspecific abdominal pain. Graft-versus-host disease was a common finding among all patients. Laboratory values suggestive of microangiopathy were present in two patients. Obesity and hypertriglyceridemia were cardiovascular risk factors found in these patients. The development of thrombotic microangiopathy and cardiovascular risk factors after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may predispose patients to gastrointestinal ischemia and may portend a poor prognosis.     

Late-Onset Central Nervous System Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder After Lung Transplantation:A Case Report

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is caused by uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoid cells after a hematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplant procedure related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A primary central nervous system (CNS) PTLD (CNS-PTLD) is rare and important to distinguish from an intracranial lesion after transplantation.A 66-year-old man with pulmonary arterial hypertension who underwent living-donor lung transplantation 9 years prior noticed disorientation regarding route and dates. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple white matter lesions and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography showed FDG uptake in the brain and skin. CNS-PTLD was diagnosed by craniotomy biopsy and EBV-encoded RNA was positive in in situ hybridization findings and elevated in brain tissue. The treatment was started with immunosuppressant reduction and whole brain radiotherapy. But the condition progressed rapidly over 2 months after the first symptom and the patient was passed away 25 days after hospitalization.CNS-PTLD can occur several years after transplantation and it is necessary to keep in mind to distinguish brain disease because early diagnosis and treatment are important.     

Hepatic Angiosarcoma Post-Renal Transplantation: A Case Report

BackgroundDNA damage and oncogenic viruses increase the risk of cancer post-kidney transplantation, including skin cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, oral cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Here we report an uncommon case of liver angiosarcoma that occurred 8 years after kidney transplantation. This study strictly complied with the Helsinki Congress and the Istanbul Declaration regarding donor source.Case reportA 57-year-old female patient received a cadaver kidney transplantation 8 years ago. She followed a long-term regimen of tacrolimus, mycophenolate sodium, and everolimus, with good renal function. She received annual regular abdominal ultrasound examinations after kidney transplantation, which showed no findings. The patient suffered from several symptoms for approximately 2 weeks before a scheduled abdominal ultrasound: diarrhea, epigastric pain, abdominal fullness, tea-colored urine, and little stool passage. The abdominal computerized tomography showed multiple hepatic tumors in both the hepatic lobes with engorged vasculatures and mild hemoperitoneum. A liver biopsy revealed the histopathology of angiosarcoma. The patient suffered multiple organ failure within one month of treatment.ConclusionsVarious post-transplant malignancies are not uncommon after transplantation, warranting periodic screenings for any symptoms in these patients.     

腹腔镜肝左外叶切除治疗原发性肝癌23例

目的探讨腹腔镜肝左外叶切除的可行性。方法2002年1月~2007年6月,对23例原发性肝癌行腹腔镜肝左外叶切除手术,应用腹腔镜下肝门阻断器阻断第一肝门的血流,电刀、超声刀等断肝,肝断面腔镜下用肝针缝合,并喷洒生物蛋白胶。结果23例手术均获得成功,手术时间(131.7±33.9)min,术中出血(297.9±124.0)ml。术后恢复顺利,无并发症,术后住院时间(5.5±1.3)d。随访20例,随访率87%(20/23),均存活。随访时间2~12个月9例,无复发;13~24个月11例,复发3例。结论腹腔镜肝左外叶切除安全、可行,具有微创的优点,可作为治疗肝癌局限于左外叶的首选治疗方法。