Results of liver transplantation in acute liver failure caused by viral hepatitis

Abstract Fulminant liver failure due to acute viral hepatitis is the most common emergency indication for liver transplantation. The postoperative course is highly correlated with the type and duration of infection. The complication rate is lowest in fulminant hepatitis B patients and highest in subacute hepatitis C/NANB patients.     

Laparoscopic therapy of diaphragmatic rupture on both sides

The usual treatment for operative repair of diaphragmatic injuries is laparotomy or thoracotomy. We report on a 26-year-old patient, who was treated by laparocopic surgery for a rupture on both sides of the diaphragm. The operation was without complications and the advantages of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery were clearly evident. There was much less strain on the patient and the postoperative recovery period was short. In addition, for unclear findings there is a high diagnostic potential in laparoscopy. The rupture on the right side of the diaphragm was not diagnosed until laparoscopy, although our patient underwent extensive diagnostics prior to the intervention.     

The importance of late infections for the long-term outcome after liver transplantation

Abstract  We investigated the late infections of 400 consecutive liver transplantations performed in 368 patients. After a mean follow-up of 45 months, a total of 180 late infections occurred in 110 liver recipients. Frequent agents were CMV, entero-coccus, candida and staphylococcus. Pneumonia was the most dangerous late infection with a high mortality rate. Late infections were responsible for ten deaths that were all caused by atypical pneumonia. The majority of late infections appeared during the first year after liver transplantation. Thereafter, the risk of infection declined significantly.     

Body Mass Index Thresholds and the Use of Bariatric Surgery in the Field of Kidney Transplantation in Germany

Background

Obesity in the recipient is linked to inferior transplant outcome. Consequently, access to kidney transplantation (KT) is often restricted by body mass index (BMI) thresholds. Bariatric surgery (BS) has been established as a superior treatment for obesity compared to conservative measures, but it is unclear whether it is beneficial for patients on the waiting list.

Methods

A national survey consisting of 16 questions was sent to all heads of German KT centers. Current situation of KT candidates with obesity and the status of BS were queried.

Results

Center response rate was 100%. Obesity in KT candidates was considered an important issue (96.1%; n?=?49/51) and 68.6% (n?=?35/51) of departments responded to use absolute BMI thresholds for KT waiting list access with?≥?35 kg/m² (45.1%; n?=?23/51) as the most common threshold. BS was considered an appropriate weight loss therapy (92.2%; n?=?47/51), in particular before KT (88.2%; n?=?45/51). Sleeve gastrectomy was the most favored procedure (77.1%; n?=?37/51). Twenty-one (41.2%) departments responded to evaluate KT candidates with obesity by default but only 11 (21.6%) had experience with?≥?n?=?5 transplants after BS. Concerns against BS were malabsorption of immunosuppressive therapy (39.2%; n?=?20/51), perioperative morbidity (17.6%; n?=?9/51), and malnutrition (13.7%; n?=?7/51).

Conclusions

Obesity is potentially limiting access for KT. Despite commonly used BMI limits, only few German centers consider BS for obesity treatment in KT candidates by default. A national multicenter study is desired by nearly all heads of German transplant centers to prospectively assess the potentials, risks, and safety of BS in KT waitlisted patients.

Graphical abstract

     

Computed tomography-guided pulmonary nodule localization before thoracoscopic resection

Purpose: To assess the success rate and complication rate of a CT-guided pulmonary nodule-marker system before thoracoscopic resection.

Material and Methods: In 24 patients (15 M, 9 F; age range, 18-71 years) a total of 25 pulmonary nodules (in 1 patient 2 lesions simultaneously) were marked with a special wire under CT-guidance and then thoracoscopically resected. We evaluated lesion size, lesion distance to the pleura, the time of intervention, complications, and thoracoscopic success rate.

Results: Mean lesion size was 7 mm (range 4-15 mm) and mean lesional distance to the pleura was 13 mm (range 2-31 mm). The pulmonary nodule-marker system was positioned successfully in all 25 pulmonary nodules within 5-11 min (mean 7.5 min). Minimal pneumothoraces were observed in five patients with no requirements of chest drains. In addition, no bleeding complications or hematothorax were observed. All 25 pulmonary nodules could be resected thoracoscopically. However, in one patient (4%), the guide-wire dislocated during thoracoscopy, but the lesion could be successfully resected during thoracoscopy.

Conclusion: The CT-guided placement of the pulmonary nodule-marker system used here offers a safe and accurate guide for the localization of small pulmonary nodules during thoracoscopic resection.