Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation : an official publication of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Saudi Arabia
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Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl · Mar 2007
Tunneled femoral vein catheterization for long term hemodialysis: a single center experience.
Femoral veins have been used for decades to position temporary hemodialysis catheters. Few reports, however, describe its use for permanent vascular access. This study describes the use of tunneled femoral vein catheters as permanent vascular accesses. ⋯ Other complications such as bleeding, kinking, migration of the catheter, arterial puncture, retroperitoneal or femoral hematomas were not observed. We conclude that tunneled femoral catheters are suitable alternatives for long-term hemodialysis access. Additional studies with a greater sample size are needed to confirm this conclusion.
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To evaluate factors affecting the knowledge and/or attitudes of the Saudi Arabian public with respect to organ donation and transplantation, a cross sectional study was conducted on a random sample of 948 Saudi citizens between 20-60 years of age during 2005. The collected data included: knowledge about organ donation campaigns, knowledge of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT), religious knowledge towards related issues, attitudes toward organ donation and self or close-relative experience of organ transplantation. The study revealed that 58.5% of participants heard about the existence of SCOT, 91.1% knew the need for organ donation, and 92.7 knew that organ donation could save lives. ⋯ Among the various reasons against organ donation, 27.5% feared that the act of organ donation contradicted their religious beliefs, while 3.5% believed that there was no benefit to organ donation. It is concluded that a need for proper information dissemination exists. A multidisciplinary approach is suggested including government support backed by strong recommendations from knowledgeable religious sources.
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Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl · Mar 2007
Comparative StudyOrgan donation after brain-death: experience over five-years in a tertiary hospital.
Organ transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage organ failure. The main challenge for organ transplantation continues to be organ shortage. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the success rate of organ donation after brain-death, as documented in a tertiary closed intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia. ⋯ Only 24 (17%) positive consents to organ donation were obtained and the majority of them [21 (87%)] were from non-Saudis. Positive consent was obtained from only three percent of Saudi potential organ donors in comparison to the 40% positive rate among non-Saudis (40%) (p<0.05). In conclusion, we believe that misconceptions about brain-death are the likely causes behind this unfavorable view towards organ donations among Saudis.
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Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl · Mar 2007
Monitoring iron status in end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis.
Body iron stores should be assessed regularly and accurately during erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) replacement therapy. To evaluate the accuracy of the current tests, transferrin saturation (TSAT) and serum ferritin levels, in assessing and monitoring body iron stores, we studied 24 regular hemodialysis patients (19 males, mean age 47+/-18 years, and mean duration on hemodialysis 15+/-13 months) on regular erythropoietin therapy over a 12 month period. Patients were classified as having normal, deficient, indeterminate, or overload status depending on the values of TSAT and serum ferritin. ⋯ When TSAT and serum ferritin values diverge, they become unreliable in guiding iron therapy, and this set of findings generally indicates functional iron deficiency. There is a clear need to use the newer indices, like reticulocyte hemoglobin concentration and percentage of hypochromic red cells, which are more sensitive. This is likely to make the diagnosis of iron status more accurate and may reduce the requirements and frequency of iron and r-HuEPO administration.