Transplantation proceedings
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Brain death (BD) is defined as the total irreversible loss of brain stem function. According to the Greek legislation, BD diagnosis is based on clinical criteria that test brain stem function. Bispectral Index Scale (BIS), a parameter derived from a mathematical analysis of the electroengephalogram depicts brain activity. The aim of our study was to record BIS alterations in brain-dead patients. ⋯ BIS is a noninvasive, easily interpreted method to monitor cerebral activity. According to our results, BIS could be helpful in BD confirmation but cannot replace the valid clinical tests, which are consistent with Greek legislation for this diagnosis.
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death among kidney transplant recipients. Validated biomarkers are important to identify patients at high risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. Cardiac troponins are one of the best available prognostic markers in this clinical situation, especially in chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant (KT) patients. ⋯ Patients were classified according to their hsTnT levels: normal, below 14 ng/L (57.6%, n = 102 patients), and those with basally elevated levels. Upon univariate analysis, a significant association was found between higher hsTnT levels and several variables, including clinical features, such as age, sex or prior CVD; renal function indicators: creatinine, eGFR MDRD, and proteinuria; nutritional and inflammation markers: albumin, ferritin, and C-reactive protein; and several cardiac enzymes: creatine kinase myocardial band (CKMB), B-type natriuretic peptide, and its N-terminal fragment. A logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, and variables significantly associated with higher hsTnT levels, showed that male gender, age, CKMB, and lower glomerular filtration rate to show independent relation to basally elevated levels of hsTnT among asymptomatic kidney transplant recipients.
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The postoperative period following lung transplantation remains critical because of several complications. Infection, primary graft failure, acute rejection, and surgical complications are risk factors for mortality and morbidity. The recognition and early treatment of these complications is important to optimize outcomes. ⋯ CB data were biased because we selected the worst case patients. Donor age and high inotrope requirements in the ICU have been reported previously to be prognostic factors for poor graft function. We believe that control of these variables may improve outcomes.
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Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) (LTx) using donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors is increasingly performed, but still considered to risk of poorer outcomes compared with standard donations after brain death (DBD)-OLT. Therefore we reviewed our results of DCD-OLT. ⋯ Despite substantial ischemic injury (high peak AST and biliary strictures) short- and long-term survival after DCD-OLT was comparable to DBD-OLT. Rapid donor surgery, careful donor and recipient selection, as well as short warm and cold ischemia times are key factors to optimize outcomes after DCD-OLT. However, strategies to reduce biliary complications remain warranted.
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Living donor liver transplantation has evolved to an indispensable surgical strategy to minimize the mortality of adult and pediatric patients awaiting transplantation. The crucial prerequisite to performing this procedure is a minimal risk of donor morbidity and mortality. A 46-year-old woman underwent right hepatectomy for living donor liver transplantation. ⋯ After emergency laparotomy and evaluation of the right hemithorax, a partial jejunal resection was performed due to ischemic findings. The diaphragmatic hernia was repaired. Diaphragmatic hernia is a rarely reported complication of right donor hepatectomy for transplantation and should be considered to be a potential late complication.