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E Mor

Publications and source records attributed to E Mor.

124 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The use of marginal donors for liver transplantation. A retrospective study of 365 liver donors.

A total of 365 donor hepatectomies performed between May 1985 and March 1990 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively to identify risk factors associated with poor graft function and to study the outcome of grafts retrieved from "marginal" donors. The donor mean age was 27.1 years (8-69 years). Mean ICU donor stay was 2.7 days (range 0 to 18 days), and the mean ischemic time was 8.6 hr (range 3 to 22 hr). The pancreas was retrieved in 39 donors. Donor's weight above 100 kg was the only variable found to be associated with both significantly increased 3-month graft loss (P less than 0.01) and early hepatocellular damage--AST or ALT greater than 2000 U/ml, 1st day posttransplant (P less than 0.02). Prolonged stay in the ICU (greater than 3 days), although associated with a significantly increased rate of hepatocellular damage (P less than 0.05), did not affect early graft survival. A systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg despite the use of high-dose dopamine (greater than 15 micrograms/mg/min), but not each of these variables itself, was also associated with a significantly increase rate of hepatocellular damage (P less than 0.001). All other variables, including age greater than 50, ischemic time greater than 12 hr, combined liver-pancreas procurement, and liver function test abnormalities, did not affect the outcome. We conclude that extending our limits to accept donors of the higher age group and those who have moderately abnormal liver function tests or a prolonged ischemic time will not jeopardize our results. It is suggested to perform liver biopsy in overweight donors during the retrieval to prevent using grafts with severe fatty infiltration. It is hypothesized that hormonal changes, starvation, and increased risk to develop infection might jeopardize the outcome of grafts from donors with a prolonged ICU stay. Although 70% of the early hepatocellular injuries are reversible, the remaining 30% result in graft failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Late-onset acute rejection in orthotopic liver transplantation--associated risk factors and outcome.

A retrospective review of 375 consecutive orthotopic liver transplants was performed to determine the incidence and outcome of late rejection episodes ([LR] rejection occurring more than 6 months following transplant). A total of 31 episodes in 26 patients were identified. Eighteen of these episodes were associated with subtherapeutic levels of cyclosporine. Of these, 7 were due to noncompliance, 2 were due to biliary strictures, and 1 was due to malabsorption in a cystic fibrosis patient. All 31 episodes were treated initially with steroids, and 22 had a complete response, although one progressed to chronic rejection over a year later. Of the remaining 9, 1 received FK506 with a complete response, and 8 received OKT3. Of the 8 patients who received OKT3, 5 had a complete response, 1 received RS61443 following OKT3 and progressed to chronic rejection, and the remaining 2 received further steroids. Of these 2, 1 had a complete response following the steroids while the second was converted to FK506 with a complete response. Compared with 315 acute rejection episodes ([AR] occurring less than 6 months posttransplant), patients with late rejection episodes had an equivalent response to steroids (63.2% AR reversed vs. 71% LR reversed) but a lower response rate to OKT3 (91.5% AR reversed vs. 62.5% LR reversed). There was, therefore, a higher rate of persistent rejection (61% AR episodes vs. 15.4% LR episodes) but no increase in the incidence of chronic rejection (7% AR episodes vs. 7.7% LR episodes). We conclude that LR is a relatively common occurrence following liver transplant, which is most often associated with low cyclosporine levels. Many of these episodes are due to noncompliance, but biliary problems must also be investigated. The incidence of resistant rejection is higher in this group of patients but is not associated with a concurrent increase in chronic rejection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Delayed operation for acute pancreatitis.

A retrospective study of 72 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis admitted to our department between 1982 and 1988 was carried out to evaluate our policy of delaying surgery in such cases. Of the 57 patients who underwent surgery, 17 were operated upon within 1 to 14 days of admission ("early operation"), and 40 patients were managed conservatively and readmitted for elective surgery about 6 weeks after resolution of the acute attack. Higher mortality and morbidity rates were observed in the "early operation" group (18% and 18% compared to 0% and 10%, respectively, P < 0.05). However, all deaths occurred in septic patients over the age of 70 who were operated on due to failure of maximal intensive medical therapy. Advanced age and early operation were found to be significant predictors of hospital mortality (P < 0.01). The two groups had similar mean hospital stay; 12 patients (30%) suffered an attack while waiting for elective surgery, however in only 3 (8%) the second attack occurred within 4 weeks of discharge from hospital. We conclude that a "delayed" operation for biliary pancreatitis is an acceptable option, and that recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis in the time interval before the operation are avoidable if the operation is performed within 6 weeks of the initial acute attack.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Impaired water homeostasis following mixed carbamazepine and phenobarbital overdose.

Both carbamazepine and phenobarbital are known to have antidiuretic properties when administered chronically. We describe a case of acute impairment of body water homeostasis following mixed drug overdose with carbamazepine and phenobarbital. Serum carbamazepine concentrations correlated with alternating states of diuresis and antidiuresis. We recommend close monitoring of fluid and electrolyte status in carbamazepine overdose.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Nissen fundoplication for reflux esophagitis].

Nissen fundoplication was performed in 20 patients suffering from esophageal reflux. Failure of medical therapy was the indication in 60% of the patients, and complications of reflux (bleeding, stricture, Barrett's esophagus) in the others. There was no operative mortality; wound infection was the most common postoperative complication (4 patients). Follow-up after 1-8 years showed good results in 85%. The results of Nissen fundoplication in the world literature, as well as in this series, prove it to be effective for esophageal reflux. Those not responding to appropriate medical therapy should be referred earlier for surgery, prior to development of the complications of reflux.

Esophagitis, Peptic↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of the mixed lymphocyte reaction by T cell vaccination.

Immunization with attenuated activated autoreactive T cell lines and clones induces a response in syngeneic animals which can induce protection or recovery from autoimmune disease. This process has been termed T cell vaccination. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of immunization with MHC-reactive T cells on the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). By injecting attenuated activated T cells primed for an alloantigen, we markedly reduced the MLR in both rats and mice. This depression appeared to be mediated by active suppression; lymphoid cells from T cell-vaccinated animals suppressed the MLR responsiveness of T cells from naive animals. Suppression of the MLR was not restricted to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles used to prime the animals from which the T cell vaccines were prepared; the MLR to other MHC allelic stimulator cells was also suppressed. This MHC-unrestricted suppression could not be attributed to an anti-ergotypic response to non-MHC-linked activation markers on T cells; an anti-ergotypic response augmented rather than suppressed the MLR. We herein propose that T cell vaccination might influence the MLR by suppressing the responses of diverse T cells which bear shared T cell receptor idiotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Liver transplantation, 1990: a Dallas perspective.

A retrospective analysis was undertaken on patients undergoing liver transplantation between April 1985 and May 1980 at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. A total of 358 patients were evaluated, 416 of whom received liver transplants, including 15 simultaneous liver/kidney transplants. The overall patient survival in this group was 82% at 1 year and 75% at 3 years, using Kaplan-Meier life tables.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early enteral nutrition support in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of early postoperative tube feeding on outcomes of liver transplant recipients. METHODS: Fifty transplant patients were randomized prospectively to receive enteral formula via nasointestinal feeding tubes (tube-feeding [TF] group) or maintenance i.v. fluid until oral diets were initiated (control group). Thirty-one patients completed the study. Resting energy expenditure, nitrogen balance, and grip strength were measured on days 2, 4, 7, and 12 after liver transplantation. Calorie and protein intakes were calculated for 12 days posttransplant. RESULTS: Tube feeding was tolerated in the TF group (n = 14). The TF patients had greater cumulative 12-day nutrient intakes (22,464 +/- 3554 kcal, 927 +/- 122 g protein) than did the control patients (15,474 +/- 5265 kcal, 637 +/- 248 g protein) (p < .002). Nitrogen balance was better in the TF group on posttransplant day 4 than in the control group (p < .03). There was a rise in the overall mean resting energy expenditure in the first two posttransplant weeks from 1487 +/- 338 to 1990 +/- 367 kcal (p = .0002). Viral infections occurred in 17.7% of control patients compared with 0% of TF patients (p = .05). Although other infections tended to occur more frequently in the control group vs the TF group (bacterial, 29.4% vs 14.3%; overall infections, 47.1% vs 21.4%), these differences were not statistically significant. Early posttransplant tube feeding did not influence hospitalization costs, hours on the ventilator, lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, rehospitalizations, or rejection during the first 21 posttransplant days. CONCLUSIONS: Early posttransplant tube feeding was tolerated and promoted improvements in some outcomes and should be considered for all liver transplant patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pancreas transplantation.

Although intensified insulin therapy regimens enable normalization of blood glucose levels and related metabolic parameters, these regimens are associated with an increased incidence of hypoglycemic episodes. Pancreas transplantation has achieved the goal of providing insulin independence with stable and continuous normoglycemia. But because of the associated morbidity and mortality and the need for life-long immunosuppression after transplant, it is difficult to justify pancreas transplantation in diabetic patients at a pre-uremic stage. Pancreas transplantation is therefore performed in conjugation with renal transplantation. The majority of renal transplant centers, however, have been reluctant to perform simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation in insulin-dependent uremic patients because of the additional risks associated with pancreas transplantation. More recently, refinements in surgical technique, introduction of new immunosuppressive agents, and better selection of transplant candidates have contributed to improved survival. Today, combined pancreas-kidney transplantation is an accepted treatment for carefully selected patients with insulin dependent diabetes and end-stage renal disease and in a small group of patients with uncontrolled severe metabolic problems. The effect of a euglycemic state after pancreas transplantation on the progression of micro- and macroangiopathy remains to be proved, although recently there is evidence to suggest that some end-organ lesions may be halted or even ameliorated. Further improvement in anti-rejection strategies may achieve better long-term graft survival and provide the incentive to perform pancreas transplantation at an earlier stage, before severe secondary complications of diabetes develop.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract helps prevent bacterial infections in the early postoperative period after liver transplant.

UNLABELLED: In liver transplant (LTx) recipients, gut-associated bacterial and fungal organisms produce significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess the role of selective digestive decontamination (SDD) in preventing postoperative infections in a large single-center cohort of liver recipients transplanted under two non-simultaneous protocols. In 212 consecutive patients transplanted between 1/1/91 and 7/31/92, SDD (gentamicin 80 mg, polymyxin B 100 mg, nystatin suspension 10 mL) was employed, starting after induction of anesthesia and continued until POD 21 (SDD Group). In 157 consecutive patients transplanted between 1/1/93 and 12/31/93, SDD was not used (non-SDD Group). Both groups received IV vancomycin and cefotaxime prophylaxis. All culture-positive infections within the first 30 days post-LTx were recorded and classified as bacterial or fungal. Infection-related mortality (patients who died of infectious complications without any technical complication) was recorded. Groups did not differ in patient demographics, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status, use of veno-venous bypass, total/warm ischemia, or length of ICU stay. Infections developed in fewer SDD patients (56/212; 26%) than non-SDD patients (69/157; 44%) (p<0.001). The incidence of gram-negative infection was less in the SDD group (11% vs. 26%, p<0. 001) as was gram-positive infection (16% vs. 26%, p<0.001). Among patients who developed infection, there was no difference between groups in infections per patient. Primary graft non-function (PNF) developed in 20 SDD patients (7/20 had infections) and 8 non-SDD patients (6/8 had infections) (p=0.06). There were no differences in incidence of fungal infections or of infection-related mortality between groups. In the SDD group, there were fewer abdominal (p<0. 001), lung (p<0.001), wound (p<0.01), and urinary tract infections (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of SDD in liver recipients early after transplant was associated with significantly fewer infections in the early postoperative period.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Parkinson syndrome. A significant risk factor in the patient with acute surgical disorder.

Ten Parkinsonic patients presenting with acute surgical disease were studied to determine the effects of both conditions on each other and the patient's outcome. Severe motion and communication disturbances led, invariably, to a delay in seeking medical assistance, with most of the patients' presenting symptoms and signs being non-specific and misleading. As a result half the patients presented already in a state of septic shock, and a correct preoperative diagnosis could be achieved in three patients only. The functional status significantly deteriorated in six patients, in four of whom a prolonged rehabilitation course was necessary. Although there was no immediate perioperative mortality, morbidity was significant as 50% and 100% major "surgery-related" and "Parkinson-related" complications accordingly. It is concluded that the coexistence of acute surgical disease with Parkinson syndrome has a profound adverse effect on the patient's outcome. High index of suspicion, early mobilisation, intense physiotherapy and early resumption of the anti-Parkinson drugs are the key points in the management of these patients.

Aged↗