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Biomedical subjects

M Veroux

Publications and source records attributed to M Veroux.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Kidney transplantation from donors with viral B and C hepatitis.

INTRODUCTION: The success of renal transplantation as a treatment for end-stage renal disease has created a chronic shortage of donor organs. We present our experience in transplanting kidneys from donors with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) among matched serology-positive recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2002 to November 2005, 44 patients with end-stage renal disease and HCV seropositivity underwent kidney transplantation. In 28 transplants in HCV+ recipients, the donor was HCV+ (DC+/RC+) and in 16 of these cases the donor (one living donor) was HCV- (DC-/RC+). In the same period 14 patients with HBV infection and HbsAg seropositivity underwent kidney transplantation: eight received their graft from a cadaveric HbsAg-positive donor (DB+/RB+), while six patients received their graft from an HbsAg-negative donor. RESULTS: Viral reactivation was higher among DC+/RC+ (21.4%) than DC-/RC+ patients (6%). Graft survivals were 90% and 88% for DC+/RC+ and DC-/RC+, respectively; patient survivals were 100% for DC+/RC+ and 94% for DC-/RC+. Among the group of DB+/RB+, all the patients developed an HBV-DNA positivity in the early postoperative period. Patient and graft survivals were 100% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HBV- and HCV-positive donors can be considered as an alternative donor source, because their kidneys are allocated to the matched serology-positive recipients, shortening their time on the waiting list.

Adult↗

Caspofungin in the treatment of azole-refractory esophageal candidiasis in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Infection is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. The incidence of esophageal and urogenital candidiasis in kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients has not been well documented. Azoles are safe, effective agents to treat esophageal candidiasis. However, resistance to azoles is now becoming common. This study reports the use of caspofungin for the treatment of azole-resistant esophageal and urogenital candidiasis in kidney transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The incidence of esophageal and urogenital candidiasis was evaluated among 140 kidney transplantations and four combined kidney-pancreas transplants performed over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (15.7%) presented with esophageal candidiasis, while seven patients (5%) showed urogenital candidiasis. Thirteen patients with esophageal candidiasis (59%) and four patients (57%) with urogenital candidiasis did not improve after a week of azole treatment. A regimen of caspofungin was started in these patients, who tolerated the treatment. Urogenital candidiasis recurred in two patients 2 and 3 months after the treatment. One patient with esophageal candidiasis did not improve with caspofungin and was switched to amphotericin B therapy. There were no other recurrences of candidiasis among patients treated with caspofungin for a median follow-up of 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Renal transplant patients remain at high risk for fungal infections. Although the number of patients was limited, the results of this study indicated that caspofungin is an effective, well-tolerated alternative for difficult-to-treat, azole-resistant candida infections in kidney and pancreas transplant recipients. The high costs of the drug limit the use of caspofungin as first-line antifungal therapy, reserving its use to recipients who had undergone unsuccessful azole therapy.

Adult↗

Cystadenoma and laparoscopic surgery for hepatic cystic disease: a need for laparotomy?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of cystadenoma diagnosis in a series of laparoscopic treatments for nonparasitic liver cysts, as well as its management. METHODS: From 1996 to 2004, 26 patients with a nonparasitic cyst of the liver were selected for laparoscopic liver surgery. Solitary nonparasitic liver cysts were, whenever feasible, completely enucleated. RESULTS: In four patients, the histopathologic examination showed a cystadenoma. Three patients with 13, 9, and 12-cm cysts, respectively, had undergone complete enucleation of the lesion, with no evidence of recurrence in the follow-up visit. One patient with multicystic liver experienced a recurrence and required an open hepatic resection. CONCLUSIONS: When a complete laparoscopic enucleation of the cyst can be ensured, a strict follow-up assessment should be considered as the definitive treatment, with surgical intervention demanded only in the case of recurrence or high suspicion for malignancy.

Adult↗

Living kidney transplantation: a starting experience.

INTRODUCTION: We present our initial experience with living kidney transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2002, we performed 27 living kidney transplants using immunosuppression with induction basiliximab, cyclosporine (n = 10 patients), or tacrolimus (n = 17), mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. RESULTS: Nineteen (70.3%) donors were women and 8 (29.7%) were men of mean age 50.6 years. Four donors were over 65 years of age at the time of living donation. Donor morbidity was 5.5%: namely, one wound infection and one asymptomatic acute pancreatitis. There were no differences between the preoperative and the postoperative mean serum creatinines and systolic blood pressure values. All living donors are in good health with a mean serum creatinine of 0.80 mg/dL at a mean follow-up of 15.2 months. Nineteen (70.3%) recipients were men and 8 (29.7%) were women of mean age 36 years. Acute rejection occurred in 6 (22.2%) recipients. It was more common among spousal donors and among cyclosporine-treated recipients. Patient and graft survivals at a mean follow-up of 15.2 months was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Our early results showed that accurate selection and preoperative management of potential living donors lead to excellent results in kidney transplantation. The health of the living donors was not impaired by the donation. The rate of early postoperative complications was low. Living donor kidney transplantation, in our geographical area with a low-rate of cadaveric donor transplants, is an alternative to expand the donor pool, which offers better results in term of patient and graft survival.

Aged↗

Kidney transplantation from marginal donors.

AIM: The increasing demand for transplantation and the shortage of available organs limit the success of organ transplant programs. The use of marginal donors to expand the donor pool is receiving increased attention. We reviewed a 28-month experience of kidney transplants from marginal donors to assess the impact on patient and graft survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to May 2003, 78 kidney transplants were performed, including 50 grafts from cadaver donors and 28 from living donors with 3 patients receiving a double kidney transplant. The patients were divided into 4 groups: 31 patients received a kidney from an ideal cadaver donor (group 1a); 19 patients received a graft from a marginal cadaver donor (group 1b); 19 patients received an ideal living related kidney (group 2a); and 9 patients received a marginal living kidney graft (group 2b). RESULTS: Twenty-eight grafts from marginal donors were transplanted with an average follow-up of 16 months (range, 1-28 months). The graft survival rates for groups 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b were 93%, 79%, 100%, and 100% and patient survival rates were 96%, 89%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the observation that use of marginal donors has been associated with a worse outcome compared with ideal donors, we of such grafts resulted in improved quality of life and survival expectancy compared with maintenance dialysis. The marginal kidney donors represent a feasible way to improve the donor pool.

Cadaver↗

Early de novo malignancies after kidney transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosuppressed renal transplant patients display a higher incidence of carcinoma than the general population. The chronic use of immunosuppressive therapy to prevent acute rejection increases the long-term risk of cancer. We reviewed our experience to identify factors affecting the development of de novo neoplasms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and May 2003, 135 renal and three combined kidney-pancreas transplantations were performed. RESULTS: Sixteen (11.6%) cancers were diagnosed in nine renal transplant recipients (6.5%). Tumors presented at a mean time of 14 months. Three patients displayed in malignancies; three, Kaposi's sarcoma; one, papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid; one, bladder carcinoma; and one, breast carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Although de novo malignancies occur more frequently many years after kidney transplantation, our experience demonstrates that they can occur early during the posttransplant follow-up. Skin malignancies showed the best prognosis, probably because of early detection and treatment. Patients with Kaposi's sarcoma benefit from reduction or cessation of immunosuppression, but this entails a higher risk of graft loss. Solid organ de novo malignancies are often more aggressive than those in normal population; the life expectancy of these recipients is low.

Humans↗

Psoas abscess: a rare complication of Crohn's disease.

UNLABELLED: Psoas abscess is a rare complication of Crohn's disease. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We evaluated the incidence of psoas abscess on 312 patients with Crohn's disease, seen at our institution between 1992-2001. RESULTS: We encountered three cases of psoas abscess (0.9%). One patient was managed with ileocolic resection and immediate anastomosis, while in two patients a percutaneous drainage was first performed and then, after 12 days of total parenteral nutrition, a resection of the diseased bowel with immediate reconstruction was carried out. CONCLUSIONS: A correction of the nutritional deficiencies is mandatory. Percutaneous computed-tomography guided drainage of the abscess with intestinal resection with immediate anastomosis, performed after a parenteral hyperalimentation, should be the method of choice in the management of such patients.

Adolescent↗

The radical treatment of gastric carcinoma.

AIM: The aim of this paper is to review and assess the selective principles for a radical treatment of gastric carcinoma with respect to resection type as well as the role of lymphadenectomy. METHODS: From 1994 to 1999, we operated 222 patients affected by gastric adenocarcinoma at the 1st Surgical Clinic Institute in Padua. Out of the whole group, 138 patients (62.1%) underwent radical surgical treatment (75 patients with total gastrectomy, extended in 30 cases, and 63 patients by means of gastric resection). RESULTS: The overall survival rate at a median follow-up of 4 years was 58% for the patients treated with total gastrectomy, and 77% in case of distal gastric resection; 97% of patients with early gastric cancer are alive at a median follow-up of 3 years. CONCLUSION: Whenever it is feasible, subtotal gastrectomy could ensure a radical treatment of gastric carcinoma with low morbidity and mortality rate. The survival rate of such patients was 77%. Prognosis of early gastric cancer is excellent. Patients with IV stage tumors surgically treated had a poor outcome, and they should be susceptible of a multidisciplinary palliative approach.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Laparoscopic treatment of simple hepatic cysts and polycystic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The authors present their experience in the laparoscopic management of hepatic cysts and polycystic liver disease (PLD). METHODS: Between January 1996 and January 2002, 16 patients underwent laparoscopic liver surgery. Indications were solitary giant cysts (n = 10) and PLD (n = 6). Data were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: Laparoscopic fenestration was completed in 15 patients. Median operative time was 80 min. There was no deaths. Complications occurred in four patients: one patient with a solitary liver cyst experienced diarrhea, while a pleural effusion, a bleeding from the trocar-insertion site, and ascites occurred in three patients with PLD. Median follow-up was 34 months. There was one asymptomatic recurrence (11%) in one patient with a solitary cyst. Two patients with PLD had a symptomatic recurrence of a liver cyst. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic fenestration could be the preferred treatment of solitary liver cysts and PLD. Adequate selection of patients and type of cystic liver together with a meticulous surgical technique are recommended.

Adult↗

Blunt liver injury: from non-operative management to liver transplantation.

Therapeutic options for blunt hepatic trauma include both non-operative and operative management. We have reviewed our experience of the management of blunt hepatic trauma, from non-operative to liver transplantation. A total of 72 patients with blunt hepatic injury observed at the first surgical unit of Padua in a 3-year period (1998-2000) were analysed; we also included a patient who had a liver transplant in 1993 for severe liver trauma. Twenty-nine patients (39.7%) were treated conservatively, with a 93% success rate; 60.3% were treated surgically. Suture hepatorraphy was the most common procedure performed (52.3%). Advantages of non-operative management in our experience were the reduced need for transfusion (1.1U versus 4.3U) with 92% of patients not needing transfusion, and a reduced stay in the intensive care unit; there was no liver-related mortality. The overall morbidity in surgical patients was 30%, with 16% liver-related complications. Twelve surgical patients (27.2%) died, with a liver-related mortality of 18.2%. A large number of patients may present with an associated endo-abdominal injury, even in low-grade liver trauma, requiring rapid laparotomy. In high-grade hepatic trauma, the evolution toward liver failure is an indication for liver transplantation.

Adolescent↗

A rare surgical complication of Crohn's diseases: free peritoneal perforation.

BACKGROUND: Free peritoneal perforation is a rare complication of Crohn's disease. METHODS: We evaluated the incidence of free peritoneal perforation among 208 patients with Crohn's disease surgically treated in the period 1992-2000. RESULTS: Five patients (2.4%) suffered from free peritoneal perforation. In 1 patient free peritoneal perforation was the first symptom of Crohn's disease. In 3 cases the perforation was in the small bowel and in 2 in the large bowel. All patients underwent surgery: all cases had a resection of the involved bowel and in two cases an ileostomy was performed in order to prevent severe peritonitis. We did not observed mortality or major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Free peritoneal perforation is rare with about 100 cases reported in literature. No correlation seems to exist with previous corticosteroid treatment. The surgical treatment is mandatory. Simple suture should be avoided. The most appropriate treatment, whenever it is feasible, is resection of the involved bowel with immediate or, in case of severe sepsis, delayed anastomosis.

Adolescent↗

[Treatment of post kidney transplantation erythrocytosis (PTE) with ACE inhibitors].

BACKGROUND: Post kidney transplantation erythrocytosis is a frequent complication in male subjects. In our experience, it occurs in approximately 20% of transplant patients receiving cyclosporine immunosuppression therapy. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with post kidney transplantation erythrocytosis were treated using ACE-inhibitors (lisinopril) at a dose of 2-5-5 mg/day for a mean period of 15 months. Owing to the onset of collateral effects, 27% of these patients requested the conversion of ACE into angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AII). Twenty out of 22 patients were male (90%). RESULTS: Treatment resulted in a 15% reduction of hematocrit values compared to basal levels, which remained stable over time. No collateral effects were recorded, either for the kidneys or in terms of hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: ACE-inhibitors (lisinopril) or alternatively the use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists, like Losartan, at low doses, is an effective and safe treatment for patients developing post-transplantation erythrocytosis (PTE).

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

[Treatment of post kidney transplantation erythrocytosis (PTE) with ACE inhibitors].

BACKGROUND: Post kidney transplantation erythrocytosis is a frequent complication in male subjects. in our experience, it occurs in approximately 20% of transplant patients recciving cyclosporine inununosuppression therapy. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with post kidney transplantation erythrocytosis were treated using ACE-inhibitors (lisinopril) at a dose of 2-5-5 mg/day for a mean period of 15 months. Owing to tbe onset of collateral effects, 27% of these patients requested the conversion of ACE into angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AII). Twenty out of 22 patients were male (90%). RESULTS: Treatment resulted in a 15% reduction of hematocrit values compared to basal levels, which remained stable over time. No collateral effects were recorded, either for the kidneys or in terms of hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: ACE-inhibitors (lisinopril) or alternatively the use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists, like Iosartan at low doses, is an effective and safe treatment for patients developing post-transplantation erythrocytosis (PTE).

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Thrombectomy of the inferior vena cava from recurrent low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma: case report and review of the literature.

We report a rare case in which a patient successfully underwent surgical removal from the inferior vena cava of a neoplastic thrombus induced by a recurrent low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. The patient was admitted with severe acute renal failure and a large edema on the right lower extremity. One year previously she had undergone hysterectomy and adnexectomy due to an endometrial stromal sarcoma with involvement of the tuba. Because of complete thrombosis of the right internal and common iliac veins and the inferior vena cava, she underwent thrombectomy of the inferior vena cava. The postoperative course was complicated by hydruric renal failure induced by a acute tubular necrosis. At 6-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with normal renal function. The ileocaval axis was patent on magnetic resonance imaging. Only 5 cases of intracaval extension of endometrial stromal sarcoma have been reported. Surgical treatment is viable due to excellent prognosis of the low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (80-100% 5-year survival) and likely fatal heart failure in untreated cases.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗

[Primary cancer of the thyroid: natural history and therapy principles].

Thyroid primary cancer involves 1.5% of malignant tumors and it causes yearly 0.5% cancer mortality. It is usually related to eu- or hypothyroidism, whereas it is rarely associated with hyperthyroidism. The Authors deal with controversial issues concerning thyroid oncogenesis and surgical strategies. However, they have not ignored epidemiological data and clinical features most peculiar to various neoplastic histotypes. They also report on their own experience with 156 cases of thyroid CA, out of 2.510 surgically treated thyroid diseases, which were being investigated from 1969 to 1998. The Authors recognize that an appropriate approach to thyroid neoplastic diseases arises from a careful evaluation of all parameters (T, N, M, histotype, patient's, age, intraoperative assessment etc.) characterizing their polymorphism.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

[Differentiated cancer of the thyroid: prognostic aspects].

Ten-year span survival from differentiated thyroid cancer has been reported as ranging around 90%. Prognostic factors to be regarded as positive elements are young age, lack of lymph node and hematogenous metastasis, size < 4 cm, and low grading. The Authors investigate those features that have seemed to affect morbidity rate and long-term survival from differentiated thyroid cancer (T, N, M, age, sex, ploidy, benign thyroid lesions, etc.). The Authors deem the appreciation of such prognostic factors as being conducive to a better selection of treatments for any patient in terms of survival span and quality of life.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗