Partial Closure of Skin Wounds after Kidney Transplantation Decreases the Incidence of Postoperative Wound Infections

Wound infections are a major cause of morbidity after kidney transplantation. The purpose of our study was to evaluate an improved technique of wound closure. Data corresponding to 104 consecutive live donor kidney recipients were prospectively collected and analyzed. Our routine standard technique involved closure of the abdominal wall muscle and fascia in one layer with interrupted nonabsorbable full thickness sutures. No drains were used. The skin was closed with interrupted 2–0 nylon sutures 4 to 5 cm apart, leaving the skin and subcutaneous tissue in between partially open. Patients were allowed to shower starting on the first postoperative day. Examination of the wounds was continued for at least 1 month postoperatively, and then routinely as needed. All patients were thoroughly informed preoperatively of our technique. There were no immediate postoperative wound infections. There were no instances of dehiscence, evisceration, or need for revision. All patients were able to continue with their routine daily activities. Cosmetic results were satisfactory in all cases. We did not experience any patient complaints with respect to our technique. Patient satisfaction scores conducted by Press Ganey and Associates ranked in the 99 percentile with respect to peers undergoing kidney transplantation. Three patients returned six months postoperatively with suture granulomas which were treated nonoperatively. Partial closure of the skin wound with no associated drains is an effective and cosmetically desirable way to decrease the incidence of postoperative infections in kidney transplantation.     

40岁以上继发孔型房间隔缺损介入治疗的评价

目的 :评价 40岁以上继发孔型房间隔缺损 （ ASD）介入治疗的效果。方法 :全组 45例 ,年龄 40～ 65 （ 4 9土 7）岁。术前超声心动图检查 ASD最大直径 8～ 3 8（ 2 7土 7） mm。并发高血压 13例 ,糖尿病 2例 ,三尖瓣关闭不全 2 9例 ,二尖瓣关闭不全 8例 ,心房纤颤 4例 ,频发房性早搏 9例。所有病例均经导管置入 Amplatzer ASD封堵器。 1例大小紧邻的两个 ASD,采用一个封堵器关闭两个缺损。 1例两个 ASD相距较远 ,用两个封堵器分别关闭。术后 48h,1～ 3月分别行经胸超声心动图 （ TTE）、心电图及 X线检查。结果 :44例选择的封堵器直径为 10～ 40 （ 3 1土 7）m m。 1例双孔 ASD（分别 8m m和 16mm） ,分别采用 12 mm和 2 0 mm两个封堵器。封堵器置入均获得成功 ,技术成功率为 10 0 % ,术中未发生任何重要并发症 ,无急诊手术病例。术后即刻 ,TTE显示 3例 （ 7% ）存在微量至少量残余分流 ;术后 48h TTE显示 2例 （ 4 .4% ）存在微量至少量残余分流 ;术后 3月无 1例残余分流。术后右心房、室缩小 ,心功能明显改善。结论 :Amplatzer封堵器适合于 40岁以上继发孔型 ASD的介入治疗 ,具有操作简便、安全、技术成功率高及封堵效果好等优点     

Complex Atrial Septal Defect: Percutaneous Repair Guided by Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography

Three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) has been used to guide the percutaneous repair of simple atrial septal defects (ASDs). There has been limited experience in using this imaging modality to guide complex ASD repair. In this report, we describe how 3D TEE was used to guide the repair of a complex, multifenestrated ASD. In a single view, 3D TEE provides a superior anatomic definition when compared to the traditional two‐dimensional echocardiography. We believe that this emerging technology will play a critical role as the number and complexity of percutaneous techniques treating structural heart disease continue to rise. (Echocardiography 2010;27:590‐593)     

Aortic iatrogenic perforation during transseptal puncture and successful occlusion with Amplatzer ductal occluder in a case of mitral paravalvular leak closure

Complications of transseptal puncture are significant and potentially life threatening. Aortic perforation is one of these complications and it needs to be repaired immediately. We report the case of a 48‐year‐old female with a history of rheumatic mitral valve disease. She underwent three previous mitral valve replacements. Her last echocardiogram reported an anterolateral leak in the mitral prosthesis. Catheterization was performed. During the procedure, when attempting to perform transseptal puncture, catheterization was complicated by a forcefully puncture of the aortic root by the Brockenbrough needle followed by an immediately advancement of an 8‐Fr Mullins sheath. We decided to leave the 8‐Fr sheath in the aortic root recognizing the danger of removing the sheath and finally we advanced a 6/4 mm Amplatzer ductal occluder (ADO I) through the Mullins sheath and under fluoroscopy and TEE guidance we achieved a successful deployment of the device and closure of the perforation. Subsequently, the paravalvular leak was closed with an Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP III 10/5 mm). There are only three cases of a similar technique for the same injury in which the authors describe successful closing of aortic perforation with percutaneous closure devices. Our case is the first described during a mitral paravalvular leak closure. It is also the first to describe a different technique of leaving the Mullins sheath in the aortic root and advancing the Amplatzer device through it to achieve successful closure of the aortic perforation. We preferred the percutaneous closure over open‐heart repair. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Large Esophageal Hematoma Following Transesophageal Echocardiography‐Guided Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defect

A 47‐year‐old woman with a large ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) and severe pulmonary artery hypertension underwent device closure of ASD under transesophageal echocardiography guidance. She developed a massive esophageal hematoma which was diagnosed 4 days after the procedure. The use of dual antiplatelets after the device closure further aggravated the hematoma. As the patient remained stable and the site of leak could not be identified by contrast studies, she was managed conservatively with nil per mouth, broad‐spectrum antibiotics, and continuous nasogastric aspiration. We were faced with the risk of thromboembolism after stopping antiplatelets versus the risk of increasing peri‐esophageal hematoma if they were continued. With careful monitoring for thrombus formation on the device, the antiplatelets were stopped and the hematoma resolved. The hematoma resolved by 10 days, and the antiplatelets were restarted gradually. Iatrogenic esophageal injury is an important cause of esophageal perforation, which is a condition with high mortality and morbidity. Esophageal perforation following device closure of ASD is particularly challenging as the scenario is worsened by the use of antiplatelets and they have to be discontinued with the attendant risk of thromboembolism.