Correlation between the Measurement of Transverse Diameter in the Proximal Neck on Computed Tomography and on Aortography before Endovascular Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the measurement of transverse diameter of the proximal neck on computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and graduated catheter aortography in patients who are candidates for endovascular graft placement in order to replace, if both measurements are equivalent, aortography for CTA alone. Preoperative dual-slice CTA and graduated catheter aortography were performed in 35 consecutive patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm within 10 days. Transverse proximal neck diameters were measured on a true axial section on CTA reconstructions and on aortographic images, always 6 mm distal from the most inferior main renal artery. Mean, median, and standard deviation were obtained and the measurements correlated for each patient using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis. A significant difference in proximal neck transverse diameter measurements was found between graduated catheter aortography and CTA in all cases. CTA values were a mean of 1.74 mm higher than aortography values. Pearson’s correlation indicates a strong correlation between both techniques, and a regression equation determines the predictive value of aortography on the basis of CTA values. Estimation of the transverse diameter of the proximal neck on aortography on the basis of that obtained on CTA allows us to affirm that CTA could be used as the sole method for the preoperative selection of appropriate endograft size in patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm.     

Laparoscopic partial cystectomy in the management of bladder endometriosis: report of two cases

Endometriosis is the proliferation of endometrial tissue outside the normal confines of the myometrium or uterine cavity. Endometriosis involving the urinary tract occurs in approximately 1% to 2% of cases. The bladder is affected in 80% of these patients. The diagnosis of vesical endometriosis is difficult, and it should be confirmed by cystoscopy with biopsy. Laparoscopic examination represents the gold standard for the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis. Urinary bladder endometriosis may be treated surgically or medically with hormone-suppressive therapy. However, medical treatments usually are only palliative, and symptoms generally recur on discontinuation. We report our experience in two patients with vesical endometriosis who were managed successfully with cystoscopy-assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy.     

Chyle fistula. Medical management with octreotide

Chyle fistula is an infrequent complication after neck surgery. The first line treatment is medical management, with adequate drainage and appropriate nutritional modifications. The use of octreotide in the treatment of chyle fistula is a novel approach that has been documented in only a few cases. We report a new case of thoracic duct injury effectively treated by octreotide, leading to an early decrease in drainage and early fistula closure with minimal adverse effects. This therapy may reduce length of hospital stay and morbidity. Further studies are required to confirm this observation.     

Diagnosis and treatment of urological complications in kidney transplants

ObjectiveTo analyze the incidence of urological complications, like fistula and stenosis in our series of 282 renal transplants and their management.Materials and methodsBetween December 1995 and October 2005, 282 adult recipients underwent renal transplant.The most common urological complication was urinary fistula. This complication was observed in 24 cases (8.5%), ureteral stenosis in 18 cases (6.4%) and both of them in 5 (1.7%). The items recorded on these patients included the time to diagnosis, the image technique, the type of ureteral stents and the clinical evolution.ResultsEndourologic treatment with percutaneos nefrostomy, double-J catheter and metalic endoprotesis was performed successfully in 76.4% of urinary fistula, in 66.7% of ureteral obstruction and in 60% of patients who developed both of them.ConclusionEndourologic procedures have replaced open reconstructive surgery in most patients with ureteral obstruction or urinary fistula after renal transplant, because they may offer a definitive treatment with low morbidity.     

Pretransplant immunomodulation of highly sensitized small bowel transplant candidates with intravenous immune globulin

Presence of preformed lymphocytotoxic antibodies may represent a barrier to isolated intestinal transplantation (IITx). We developed an intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) based desensitization protocol for candidates with high panel-reactive antibodies (PRA). Six patients with a mean PRA of 72+/-22% were included in a four-level (L) protocol with escalating doses of IVIg (L1, L2), addition of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or plasmapheresis (L3); and anti-CD20 (Rituximab) (L4). Four of six candidates improved their PRAs (from a mean of 66.2% to 25.5%; P=0.01) and were successfully transplanted. At a mean follow-up of 8 months, number and severity of rejection episodes of protocol patients did not differ from patients with low PRA transplanted during the same period. These data support the use of IVIg to desensitize patients waiting for IITx. It increases the applicability of IITx, and reduces the waiting time and mortality on the waiting list with outcomes comparable to nonsensitized recipients.