Infectious disease complications of simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: Although technical success rate of simultaneous pancreas kidney (SPK) transplantation in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients with diabetic nephropathy has improved, morbidity remains high due to infection and rejection. The purpose of this study was to analyse infections encountered in our series of SPK transplants, using a restrictive antibiotic prophylaxis policy. METHODS: We reviewed all infectious diseases after 66 consecutive bladder-drained SPK transplantations in 64 IDDM patients with end-stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy. During follow-up, the perioperative antibiotic regimen was altered (from 5 days preemptive therapy with multiple drugs to 1 day prophylaxis with cefamandole), and long-term viral prophylaxis (high-dose aciclovir) was introduced. For post-operative urinary tract or opportunistic infection, no prophylaxis was given. RESULTS: Overall mean infection rate was 2.9 infections/ patient/year after a mean follow-up of 2.3 years. Surgical site infections (SSI) were seen in 30% of the patients, with Enterococci present in 47%. Logistic regression showed one day cefamandole prophylaxis to be associated with SSI, but there was no significant influence of SSI on either graft or patient survival. Forty-eight percent of all infections were lower urinary tract infections (UTI). There were 59 first UTIs (89%), probably related to long-term Foley catheter use, and 47 second UTIs (71%). Subsequent UTIs were not microbiologically related to first UTIs. Cytomegalovirus (10 patients) and other opportunistic agents did not cause mortality or graft loss. Five grafts were lost due to infection (SSI three times, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease twice). Only one patient died because of infection (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Infectious diseases after SPK transplantation caused significant morbidity but did not influence either patient or graft survival. A change in prophylactic policy for both SSI as well as recurrent UTI, combined with earlier Foley removal, may lower incidences of these infections.      

Renal replacement modalities for childhood end-stage renal failure

Summary: An overview is presented of the current management of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), focusing on specific therapies such as haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation. Also discussed is the overall management of such children, with attention directed at growth, nutrition and development.     

Complications of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators: radiographic, CT, and echocardiographic evaluation

Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICDs) were studied in three groups: (a) Serial radiographs were reviewed in 51 clinic patients. Twenty of 96 (21%) AICD patches distorted with time. (b) Thirty-six postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scans of asymptomatic patients revealed that pericardial fluid collections were frequent during the month after surgery but rare beyond that. Echocardiography was insensitive for these collections. CT also demonstrated dense fibrosis around some distorted patches, months after surgery. (c) Five other patients with pericardial infection had distorted patches, and the four studied with CT had fluid beneath their patches. (d) A case of constrictive pericarditis had distorted patches but was not diagnosed with CT. The authors conclude that distorted patches may indicate postoperative complications and that CT is the imaging modality of choice.     

Glioblastoma: catheter techniques for isolated chemotherapy perfusion

Techniques have been developed for isolated perfusion of chemotherapeutic agents in patients with glioblastoma. Three catheters that facilitate crossing the carotid siphon have been developed; two are based on an everting or toposcopic principle, and one uses microjets for deflectability and improved mixing. Blood from the ipsilateral jugular vein is aspirated at high volumes (300 ml/min) for extracorporeal circulation through an adsorption column (for recovery of carmustine) or dialysers (for recovery of cisplatin). Preliminary experience in 10 patients suggests that high doses of chemotherapeutic agent can be administered using these catheters, with reduced retinal and systemic toxicity.     

Control of colonic variceal haemorrhage with a somatostatin analogue

A 64 year old caucasian male with known alcoholic liver disease presented with rectal bleeding. The patient bled repeatedly despite resuscitation. A sigmoid colectomy was performed following an angiogram. Large colonic, rectal and mesenteric variceal vessels were noted at surgery. Further bleeding postoperatively was rapidly controlled with octreotide infusion. Octreotide may be as useful in the control of colonic variceal bleeding as it is in the control of oesophageal variceal bleeding.     

POSTERIOR VOCAL CORD ADHESION: AN UNUSUAL COMPLICATION OF ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

SUMMARY A case is presented of a patient who required endotracheal intubation followed by tracheostomy and who consequently developed an adhesion between the vocal processes, which was identified and divided at direct laryngoscopy.     

Glomerular filtration rate in transplantation patients: estimation of renal function using Tc-99m DTPA

The clinical assessment of a transplanted kidney is often difficult, especially in the immediate postoperative period. The biochemical parameters used to monitor renal function change slowly and can take several days to reflect the actual renal status. We have modified a technique for determining the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from a Tc-99m DTPA renal scan and have found that it correlates with the actual GFR throughout the postoperative course. In addition, we describe a method for changing dose calibrator measurements into administered counts. This technique for determining the GFR provides a quick and accurate assessment of renal function and is useful to guide therapeutic decisions.