Staged repair for a chronic dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm with no transfusion in a Jehovah's Witness patient

We present the case of a 59-year-old male Jehovah's Witness who underwent staged repair for a thoracic aortic aneurysm with no transfusion. The primary operation to replace the distal portion of the aortic arch and left subclavian artery reconstruction were performed. We applied axilla–femoral artery temporary external bypass. A second operation was carried out 8 months later. We replaced the descending aorta and reconstructed the intercostal arteries under temporary bypass in the same manner as was done during the previous operation. The blood losses and minimum hemoglobin values during the two operations were 2235 and 13 941 ml, respectively, 8.8 and 5.9 g/dl, respectively. Administration of erythropoietin and a drainage blood recovery device were useful. Surgical repair for a thoracic aortic aneurysm using a temporary bypass is thus considered a viable surgical option in such situations and is important for conducting effective perioperative management.     

胰肾联合移植的排斥反应

目的　探讨胰肾联合移植术后的排斥反应。方法　对我院施行的 3例胰肾联合移植的病人 ,采用FK5 0 6 MMF Perid Zenapax四联免疫治疗方案 ,通过床边彩超及Cr、BUN、血糖等来监测移植物的排斥反应。对排斥反应采用激素冲击疗法 ,对激素不敏感者采用OKT3治疗。结果　3例患者中有 2例出现排斥反应 ,其发生率达 6 6 % ;在出现排斥反应时 ,首先表现为低热、全身不适 ,尿量减少 ,血Cr、BUN升高 ,彩超示移植物血流阻抗升高 ,之后才是血糖升高。结论　胰肾联合移植中 ,排斥反应与多种因素有关 ,移植肾对移植胰具有保护作用 ,肾脏可以作为监测胰腺排异的窗口 ,彩超检查可以作为筛选移植物排异反应的手段。     

胰肾联合移植术的供体切取与修剪

目的: 总结胰肾一期联合移植手术有关供体切取与修剪的方法.方法: 结合我院临床开展胰肾联合移植的经验及在美国匹兹堡大学Starzl器官移植研究所进修学习的体会,对供体切取及修剪方法进行分析讨论.结果: 如此修剪后的供肾和供胰植入受体后立即恢复良好的血液循环,无出血及漏血现象,并且迅速恢复功能.结论: 掌握正确的供体切取与修剪方法是保证移植成功的关键因素之一,其中包括供体切取的速度与质量以及修剪过程中注意的要点等.     

Use of erythropoietin for bloodless surgery in a Jehovah's witness infant

We present a case of surgery in a 2-month-old infant of the Jehovah's Witness (JW) faith weighing 2.8 kg scheduled for left upper lobectomy because of congenital lobar emphysema. He presented with physiological anaemia (haematocrit 33.8%) in accordance with his age. Because of the relative emergency of surgery, a short erythropoietin course was instituted. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) at a dosage of 180 U x kg-1x day-1 was administered for 10 days preoperatively and for 4 days postoperatively. Iron was administered orally and intravenously over the entire perioperative period. No side-effects from either erythropoietin or intravenously administered iron were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first case published of a short perioperative rHuEPO course in an infant.     

Partial venous thrombosis of the pancreatic allografts after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation

Despite new advances in transplantation, complete venous thrombosis (VT) of the pancreas after simultaneous pancreas kidney (SPK) transplantation usually results in graft loss. Data are limited regarding the outcome and treatment of partial VT of the pancreas allograft. From July 1994 to December 1999, 126 patients with IDDM/end-stage renal disease underwent SPK with systemic bladder drainage at the University of Miami. We retrospectively reviewed our experience regarding the outcome and treatment options of partial VT of the pancreas allografts. From July 1994 to April 1997, partial VT was not seen in the first 66 SPK patients induced with anti-CD3 rnAb and oral or intravenous (i.v.) tacrolimus (TAC) in the operating room. From May 1997 to June 1999, 14 (29%) out of 48 patients had VT. These cases were identified following the i.v. use of TAC with anti-IL-2R antibody-induction therapy (7/15) or without (7/33). Partial thrombosis of the splenic vein (PTSV) was documented in 10 patients, 2 had complete thrombosis of the splenic vein (CTSV), 1 had partial thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (PTSMV), and 1 patient had PTSV and PTSMV. These were identified incidentally during routine color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU). None of these SPK recipients demonstrates a change in clinical parameters. The first 8 patients were systemically heparinized, followed by oral anticoagulation, except 1 patient with CTSV. He progressed to complete thrombosis of the pancreas allograft and was treated with percutaneous thrombectomy and urokinase infusion, followed by heparinization and oral anticoagulation. One patient required exploration for bleeding. In an attempt to reduce the morbidity of heparinization, we treated the next 6 patients with PTSV with aspirin followed by serial CDU. All 14 patients had preservation of the endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions. CDU showed resolution with recanalization of the thrombosed vein(s). From July 1999 to December 1999, 12 SPK recipients were administered TAC orally with or without induction therapy with anti-IL-2R antibody. So far, in this group, VT has not been identified. In summary, a total of 14 out of 126 patients (11%) had isolated VT with a mean follow-up of 36.4 months. Based on our experience, we suggest that extensive VT after pancreas transplantation, including splenic and superior mesenteric VT, be treated with heparin and subsequent oral anticoagulation for 3 months. For more limited, partial splenic VT, aspirin may be sufficient. Follow-up CDU is critical for a successful outcome. The i.v. use of TAC appears to be a risk factor for the increased incidence of VT. Currently, using IL-2rmAb as induction, TAC is started orally on postoperative days 3 or 4 and aspirin on postoperative day 2.     

胰肾一期联合移植

目的 总结胰肾联合移植治疗糖尿病并发晚期肾功能不全病人的疗效,并探讨分析术后并发症防治经验。方法 对５例糖尿病并发现期肾小功能不全者采用胰十二指肠肾一期联合移植。免疫抑掉方案采用激素,ＣｓＡ及硫唑嘌呤或激素,ＣｓＡ及骁悉三联用药。结果 联合移植后５例胰肾均发挥正常功能,病人均立即停用胰岛素,１例术后发生移植肾急性排斥以应,死于多器官功能衰竭,余４例分别发生胰周脓肿,急性胰腺炎,十二指肠瘘,血尿等并     

同期胰肾联合移植12例报告--德国埃森大学的经验

目的总结同期胰肾联合移植(SPK)术的治疗效果和经验。方法自2002年1月至2003年9月,以SPK术治疗胰岛素依赖型糖尿病(IDDM)合并终末期肾病(ESRD)患者12例。每例受者接受来自同一供者的胰腺和肾脏,移植肾以经典方法植入左侧盆腔,胰腺植于右下腹。1例移植胰腺静脉与受者门静脉系统吻合,11例与体静脉系统吻合。胰腺外分泌引流方法为:3例移植物十二指肠段与受者十二指肠吻合,9例与空肠上段吻合。术前应用甲泼尼龙及抗胸腺细胞球蛋白作为免疫诱导,术后以他克莫司、霉酚酸酯和泼尼松三联抗排斥药物维持。结果术后平均随访时间23个月,受者、移植胰腺和移植肾的存活率分别为100%、91.7%和91.7%。1例再次行SPK术的受者,术后出现了超急性排斥反应,且未能逆转,于术后13d切除移植物;其余11例首次行SPK术的受者中,3例(28.3%)出现急性排斥,均获成功纠治。2例受者术后移植肾功能延迟恢复,行过渡性透析。11例首次行SPK术的移植胰腺术后立即发挥了功能,分别于术后1~5d内停用胰岛素。结论同期胰肾联合移植是胰岛素依赖型糖尿病合并终末期肾病患者的一种安全而有效的治疗方法。     

Correction of cor triatriatum sinistrum in a Jehovah's Witness infant

A cor triatriatum sinistrum was successfully treated by operation in a 14-week-old infant of a Jehovah's Witness family. The child was pretreated with erythropoietin until a hemoglobin level of 14 g/dl was obtained. There was no cardiac catheterization before the operation. The operation was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. No blood products were transfused and the hemoglobin level after performing modified ultrafiltration was 11.5 g/dl. The infant was extubated on the same day and discharged from our institution on the eighth day after surgery. Two years after surgery the child is in sinus rhythm and is developing well.     

Transfusion-free cardiopulmonary bypass in Jehovah's Witness patients weighing less than 5 kg

Performing cardiac surgery on pediatric Jehovah's Witness patients is a great challenge for the surgical team and especially for the perfusionist. Jehovah's Witnesses reject blood transfusions on the grounds of their literal interpretation of passages of the Bible. In accordance with this belief, Jehovah's Witnesses feel that it is also forbidden to retransfuse autologous blood that has been separated from their own circulatory system. We report the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during open-heart surgery in three infants with a body weight of 4.5 kg, 3.5 kg, and 3.1 kg, respectively, without transfusion of blood components. A small-volume CPB circuit with a priming volume of 200 mL, including the arterial line filter, was designed to decrease the degree of hemodilution. A dedicated pediatric heart lung machine console with remote pump heads and intensive blood conservation efforts allowed the operation without the use of donor blood. The CPB circuits were primed with crystalloid solution only. The procedures were performed in normothermia or in moderate hypothermia. Pre-CPB hemoglobin levels were 10.8 g/dL, 10.6 g/dL, and 8.5 g/dL. The hemoglobin concentrations measured during CPB ranged from 5.9 to 6.5 g/dL, 6.4 to 6.8 g/dL, and 5.5 to 5.9 g/dL, respectively. The patients did not receive any blood or blood products during their entire hospital stay.     

Outcomes of simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation in African-American recipients: a case-control study

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have suggested that African-American (AA) ethnicity is a risk factor for rejection and graft loss after kidney transplantation. However, little data is available regarding outcomes after simultaneous kidney pancreas transplantation (SKPT) in AA recipients. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of SKPT in AA patients to matched Caucasian patients as controls. METHODS: From January 1996 to September 1999, we performed 79 SKPTs, including 10 in AA recipients. Ten Caucasian controls were selected and matched for age, gender, weight, timing and technique of transplantation, and immunosuppressive regimen. Clinical outcomes were collected and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The two groups were well matched for donor and recipient demographic, immunologic and transplant characteristics, including 2 patients in each group with type 2 diabetes. All patients received tacrolimus (TAC), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroids, and about half in each group received antibody induction therapy. Patient survival was 100% in both groups with a mean follow-up of 18 months (range 6 47). Kidney and pancreas graft survival rates were both 80% in the AA and 100% in the Caucasian groups, respectively (p = 0.14). All but one kidney (in the AA group) and all pancreas grafts experienced immediate function. There were two immunologic kidney and two immunologic pancreas graft losses in the AA group. No grafts were lost due to technical problems. The mean length of initial hospital stay was 16 d in the AA group compared to 10 d in the Caucasian group (p = 0.07). The AA group had a slight increase in the number of readmissions (mean 2.2 AA vs. 1.6 Caucasian, p = 0.08). The incidence of biopsy-proven pancreas acute rejection was significantly higher in the AA group (50%) compared to the Caucasian group (10%) (p = 0.05). The incidence of either kidney or pancreas acute rejection was also higher in the AA group (60% AA vs. 20% Caucasian, p = 0.06). TAC levels were comparable at specific times after transplantation, al-though there was a trend toward higher doses of TAC in the AA group to achieve therapeutic levels. The incidences of relaparotomy (30% AA vs. 20% Caucasian) and major infection (40% AA vs. 60% Caucasian) were similar between groups. Renal and pancreas allograft functions were comparable between groups at specific times after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SKPT in AA recipients may be associated with a higher incidence of rejection and immunologic graft loss compared to matched Caucasian controls.     

Laparoscopic splenectomy in a Jehovah's Witness with profound anemia

Open surgery in a severely anemic patient may be complicated by a substantial blood loss from a large incision and subsequent poor wound healing secondary to the anemia. We report our success in performing a splenectomy laparoscopically in a profoundly anemic patient. A 50-year-old white male Jehovah's Witness who was HIV positive was referred for splenectomy after he developed profound, worsening anemia secondary to hypersplenism that was refractory to medical management. His preoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were 2.7 g/dl and 8.8%, respectively, but his religious beliefs precluded transfusion. A laparoscopic splenectomy by the posterior gastric approach was performed. The patient tolerated the surgery well and experienced no additional morbidity. On postoperative day 7, his hemoglobin and hematocrit were 6.8 g/dl and 22%, respectively. We conclude that laparoscopic splenectomy is an attractive procedure in a severely anemic patient who requires splenectomy and refuses blood transfusion. Received: 29 March 1996/Accepted: 4 June 1996     

Urodynamic testing predicts long-term urological complications following simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION: Combined pancreas-kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with type I diabetes mellitus associated with chronic renal failure. The introduction of the bladder drainage technique constituted a marked improvement of the surgical technique with a reduction of life-threatening complications. However, drainage of pancreatic secretions via the urinary bladder causes urological complications leading, in some cases, to cystoenteric conversion. We retrospectively analysed whether pre-operative urodynamic findings may predict the subsequent development of urological complications and influence the choice of exocrine secretion drainage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1987 to 1997, 39 bladder-drained simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations were performed in 16 men and 23 women with a mean age of 38.5 yr. All patients underwent a complete urological assessment prior to surgery, including medical history, physical examination, urethrocystography and urodynamic assessment. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients are alive with a mean follow-up of 62 +/- 8 months. In 60% of cases, both kidney and pancreas remain functional. Seven patients experienced recurrent lower urinary tract infections. Six patients suffered from chemical urethritis (four men and two women) and six suffered from recurrent haematuria (blood transfusions were required in two patients). One patient had incrusted stones at the site of duodenal staples. Urological complications were mostly observed in the 22 patients (79%) with abnormal urodynamic characteristics (Relative risk: 5.1). Intravenous Somatostatin failed to definitively cure these complications in most cases. Seven patients (17%) (five with urethritis, two with haematuria) required cystoenteric conversion. Two patients developed post-operative ileal fistula, one cutaneous and one into the bladder. All urinary symptoms resolved in these seven patients. CONCLUSION: The frequency of specific urinary complications is high (28%) in bladder-drained simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation patients. These complications are statistically more frequent in the case of an abnormal pre-transplant urodynamic assessment.     

Results of Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty in Jehovah's Witness Patients

Total knee arthroplasty can be challenging in Jehovah's Witnesses, as these patients do not accept blood transfusions. We reported our experiences with a special blood management protocol for these patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. There were 124 self-reported Jehovah's Witnesses who had a mean age of 64 years and who underwent total knee arthroplasties between 1998 and 2009. Mean follow-up was 60 months (range, 24-120 months). Implant survivorship, with revision for aseptic component failure as an end point, was 98%. At the final follow-up, mean Knee Society objective and function score improved to 91and 81 points, respectively. The authors believe that this blood management protocol was responsible for performing safe and transfusion-free total knee arthroplasties that can ultimately lead to excellent outcomes.     

Microvascular free-tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction in Jehovah's Witness patients

BACKGROUND: Jehovah's Witnesses' religious convictions disallow blood transfusion. Major surgery in these patients is therefore problematic. The objective of this study is to describe our experience with microvascular reconstruction of complex head and neck defects in Jehovah's Witness patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all Jehovah's Witnesses' patients undergoing head and neck free-flap reconstruction at a tertiary academic referral center from 1997 to 2006. RESULTS: Five Jehovah's Witnesses patients underwent a total of 7 free-flap reconstructions (6 radial, 1 rectus). Four flaps were immediate: 1 osteocutaneous radial forearm, 2 fasciocutaneous radial forearm, and 1 rectus abdominus myocutaneous. One fasciocutaneous radial forearm flap was staged. Two patients were planned secondary reconstructions, both facsciocutaneous radial forearm. Iron supplements and/or erythropoietin were administered perioperatively in 6 of the 7 microvascular reconstructions. Selective external carotid embolization was performed preoperatively in 1 patient. Hematocrit levels were 36% to 46% preoperatively and 30% to 41% postoperatively. Immediate postoperative hematocrit decline was 5.2% (3.0% to 6.0%). No transfusions or blood products were administered. CONCLUSIONS: Our case series supports the feasibility of head and neck free-flap reconstruction in these challenging patients.     

胰肾联合移植术后并发症的防治(附四例报告)

目的探讨肠腔引流式胰肾联合移植术后并发症的防治。方法对4例胰肾联合移植的患者,通过完善术前准备,术后加强抗感染、抗凝,抑制胰液分泌,合理使用免疫抑制剂,密切观察病情变化等措施来防止并发症的发生、发展;对出现的并发症及时地采用相应的治疗措施。结果4例患者中并发巨细胞病毒性肺炎1例、急性排斥反应3例、慢性排斥反应1例,血栓形成1例,1例因肺部感染、呼吸功能衰竭于术后23d死亡,1例移植肾因慢性排斥失功能,其余并发症均治愈。结论术后并发症严重影响着胰肾联合移植的效果,胰肾联合移植术后各种并发症的防治关键在于早期预防、早期诊断、合理治疗。     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of severe acute anaemia in a Jehovah's Witness

A case is described in which a Jehovah's Witness patient who refused blood transfusion suffered massive antepartum haemorrhage, her haemoglobin falling as low as 2.0 g.dl(-1). She was treated on an intensive care unit with intermittent positive pressure ventilation and general supportive measures, pulsed hyperbaric oxygen therapy and recombinant human erythropoietin.