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B Begliomini

Publications and source records attributed to B Begliomini.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Piggy-back versus conventional technique in liver transplantation: report of a randomized trial.

Liver transplantation with preservation of the recipient vena cava (the "piggy-back" technique) has been proposed as an alternative to the traditional method. We performed a randomized study on 39 cirrhotic patients, 20 who underwent the piggy-back technique (group 1) and 19 the traditional method using venovenous bypass (group 2) to evaluate the feasibility and true advantages of the piggy-back technique compared to the traditional method. Two patients were switched to the conventional technique due to the presence of a caudate lobe embracing the vena cava in one patient and a caval lesion in the other. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were only found for the warm ischemia time (48.5 +/- 13 min for piggy-back vs 60 +/- 12 min for the conventional method) and for renal failure (zero cases in group 1 vs four cases in group 2). We therefore believe that liver transplantation with the piggy-back technique can easily be performed in almost all cases, and that only a few, specific situations, such as a very enlarged caudate lobe, do not justify its routine use.

Adult↗

Patient position for a synchronous cervicothoracoabdominal two-team esophagectomy.

Cervicothoracoabdominal and cervicoabdominal approach are routinely adopted for total or subtotal esophagectomy. We propose a modification of the Nanson's patient position to optimize sequential or simultaneous left cervicotomy, laparotomy, and eventual right thoracotomy with one or two surgical teams. This technique permits better control of the operative field for each phase of the procedure with coordinated operating of two surgical teams on the neck, abdomen, and chest.

Esophagectomy↗

Right ventricular function during orthotopic liver transplantation.

Right ventricular (RV) function was assessed in 20 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation to determine its role in the hemodynamic instability frequently seen during this procedure. A modified pulmonary artery catheter equipped with a fast response thermistor was used to determine RV ejection fraction (EFrv), allowing for calculation of RV end-diastolic volume index (EDVIrv, as the ratio of stroke index [SI] to EFrv) and RV end-systolic volume index (ESVIrv, as the difference between EDVIrv and SI). The above hemodynamic measures were taken during dissection for hepatectomy (stage I), during the anhepatic stage (stage II), and after reperfusion of the grafted liver, the neohepatic stage (stage III). No patient had pulmonary hypertension during the study interval. No correlation was observed between right atrial pressure (Pra) and EDVIrv, indicating that Pra is a less reliable clinical indicator of RV preload. RV function appeared to be well preserved throughout the procedure, as indicated by a relatively constant and supranormal EFrv, although a small and probably clinically unimportant decrease in EFrv was observed during the anhepatic stage (0.52, 0.50, and 0.55 during stages I, II, and III, respectively). There was a strong correlation between SI and EDVIrv for pooled data over a wide range of EDVIrv (60-185 mL.m-2). Although unstable central blood temperature precluded the determination of EFrv within the first 5 min after reperfusion, RV function was unaltered otherwise during uncomplicated orthotopic liver transplantation using venovenous bypass, indicating that orthotopic liver transplantation per se is not associated with significant RV dysfunction.

Adult↗

[Myasthenia and muscle relaxants].

Eighteen myasthenic patients have been operated on under general anaesthesia; 14 subjected to thymectomy and 2 to emergency procedures (caesarean section and laparotomy because of intestinal obstruction). Atracurium (0.3 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.06 mg/kg) exhibited a long duration of action only in the two cases affected by the more severe signs and symptoms of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Twenty-seven consecutive intestinal and multivisceral transplants in adult patients: a 4-year clinical experience.

Adult isolated intestinal and multivisceral transplantation is gaining acceptance as the standard treatment for patients with intestinal failure with life-threatening parenteral nutrition-related complications. We report our 4-year experience with intestinal and multivisceral transplantation. We performed 20 isolated small bowel and seven multivisceral ones, including three with liver. The underlying diseases were mainly short bowel syndrome due to intestinal infarction, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and Gardner syndrome. Indications for transplant were loss of central venous access in 14 patients, recurrent sepsis in eight patients, and major electrolyte and fluid imbalance in five patients. One-year patient actuarial survival rate was 94% for isolated intestinal transplants and 42% for multivisceral recipients (P = .003), while 1-year graft actuarial survival rate was 88.4% for isolated small bowel patients and 42.8% for multivisceral ones (P = .01). The death rate was 18.5%. Our graftectomy rate was 14.8%. Our immunosuppressive protocols were based on induction agents such as alemtuzumab, daclizumab, and antithymocyte globulins. The majority of our complications were bacterial infections, followed by rejections and relaparotomies; most rejection episodes were treated with steroid boluses and tapering. We believe that our results were due to optimal candidate and donor selection, short ischemia time, and use of induction therapy. Multivisceral transplantation is a more complex procedure with less frequent clinical indications than isolated small bowel transplant, but our data concerning multivisceral transplants include only a small number of patients and require further evaluation.

Adult↗

Results of intestinal and multivisceral transplantation in adult patients: Italian experience.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with intestinal and multivisceral transplantation in Italy. METHODS: We performed 23 adult isolated intestinal transplants and seven multivisceral ones, three with liver, between December 2000 and June 2005. Indications for transplantation were loss of venous access (n = 14), recurrent sepsis (n = 10), and electrolyte-fluid imbalance (n = 6), 14 of whom also presented with total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-related liver dysfunction. Immunosuppression was based on induction agents like daclizumab (followed by tacrolimus and steroids) in the first period; alemtuzumab or thymoglobulin (with tacrolimus) in a second period after 2002. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 742 +/- 550 days. Three-year patient actuarial survival rate was 88% for intestinal transplants and 42% for multivisceral (P = .015). Three-year graft actuarial survival rate was 73% for intestinal patients and 42.8% for multivisceral (P = .1). Graft loss was mainly due to rejection (57%). Complications were mainly represented by bacterial infections (92% of patients), relaparotomies (82%), and rejections (72%). Full bowel function without any parenteral nutrition or intravenous fluid support was achieved in 60% of recipients with functioning bowel including 95% on a regular diet. One patient underwent abdominal wall transplantation as well. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Intestinal transplantation has achieved high rates of patient and graft survival with even longer follow-up. Early referral of patients, especially in cases of TPN-liver disease, is mandatory to obtain good outcomes and avoid high mortality rates on the transplant waiting list. Immunosuppressive management remains the key factor to increase the success rate.

Adult↗