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Biomedical subjects

R J Stratta

Publications and source records attributed to R J Stratta.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Diagnosis, management, and outcome of late duodenal complications in portal-enteric pancreas transplantation: case reports.

BACKGROUND: Enteric drainage (ED) of pancreas allografts is an alternative to the bladder drainage (BD) technique and eliminates unique metabolic complications seen in the BD pancreas transplant recipients. Little longterm data has been reported in ED pancreas transplants. STUDY DESIGN: Of 53 patients who underwent pancreas transplantations performed with ED drainage of the exocrine secretion to a Roux-en-Y limb, who had more than 6 months graft function, four patients were identified with late duodenal segment complications (more than 6 months after transplantation) and are presented as case reports. RESULTS: The duodenal segment complications occurred between 8 and 48 months after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Three patients were diagnosed with leakage from the duodenal segment. All were managed operatively. The fourth patient developed a distal stricture of the transplant duodenum occluding the anastomosis between the duodenum and the Roux-en-Y limb and also had a pancreatic pseudocyst. Drainage via a cyst-jejunostomy resulted in graft salvage. The mean followup after operative management of the duodenal-related complications was 15 months (range, 3-24 months). The patient, pancreas and kidney graft survival are 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Late duodenal complications occurred in 8% of pancreas transplant recipients with ED. Operative intervention in all four patients resulted in excellent graft and patient outcome and is recommended for these complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Solitary pancreas transplantation. Experience with 62 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of solitary pancreas transplantation in the treatment of IDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective case series of 62 consecutive solitary pancreas transplants (20 sequential pancreas after kidney, 42 pancreas transplants alone) performed in 57 adult IDDM patients was studied. Indications for solitary pancreas transplantation were 1) the presence of two or more overt diabetic complications and/or 2) glucose hyperlability with hypoglycemic unawareness and impaired quality of life. The recipient group consisted of 31 men and 26 women with a mean age of 38 years (range 25-62) and a mean duration of diabetes of 26 years (range 14-52). Mean pretransplant glycohemoglobin level was 9.9 +/- 2.6%. Organ acceptance was restricted to ideal donors and man-dated a minimum of a two-antigen match (mean human leukocyte antigen ABDR match 2.7). The mean cold ischemia time was 16.6 h. Whole-organ pancreas transplantation was performed with bladder drainage by the duodenal segment technique. All patients were managed with either triple or quadruple immunosuppression. Monitoring included prospective urine cytology as well as cystoscopic transduodenal needle biopsies. RESULTS: The mean length of initial hospital stay was 18 days, and mean hospital charges were $106,341. The incidences of rejection, infection, and surgical complications were 70, 55, and 47%, respectively. Overall patient and graft survival rates were 86 and 52%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 28 months. All patients with functioning grafts had excellent metabolic control (mean glycohemoglobin level 5.1%) and achieved good rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite morbidity, solitary pancreas transplantation can be performed with improving success, can enhance quality of life, and can offer an opportunity to arrest secondary diabetic complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Design, development, and implementation of a critical pathway in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of implementation of a critical pathway after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation on length of stay and hospital charges. Two well-matched groups were compared: 10 patients who received transplants in 1991 (before implementation of the critical pathway) and 10 patients who received transplants in 1995 (after implementation). For the initial transplant hospitalization, the critical pathway was associated with significant reductions in length of stay, total number of laboratory tests, clinical laboratory charges, and total inpatient charges with organ acquisition charges excluded. Despite the rising costs of medical care, we have designed and implemented a critical pathway for simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation that has stabilized hospital charges by decreasing length of stay and the number of clinical laboratory tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Experience with enteric conversion after pancreatic transplantation with bladder drainage.

BACKGROUND: Bladder drainage by the duodenal segment technique is currently the preferred method of handling the exocrine secretions after vascularized pancreatic transplantation. Despite improving results, however, the management of metabolic and urologic complications associated with bladder drainage remains problematic. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective survey was performed of a consecutive case series of 196 pancreatic transplantations in 186 patients with diabetes over an 80-month period. All patients underwent whole organ pancreatic transplantation with bladder drainage by the duodenal segment technique. RESULTS: A total of 25 conversions (13 percent) from bladder drainage to enteric drainage were performed in 24 patients (24 side-to-side duodenoenterostomies, one Roux-en-Y limb duodenoenterostomy). The mean time of enteric conversion after pancreatic transplantation was 22 +/- 18 months (range, 1 to 72 months). All but two of the enteric conversions were performed at least 6 months after pancreatic transplantation. Indications for enteric conversion included dehydration with intractable metabolic acidosis (n = 18; 9 percent), urologic complications (n = 5; 3 percent), or problems with the duodenal segment (n = 2; 1 percent). The mean length of hospitalization for enteric conversion was 12 +/- 7 days (range, 6 to 30 days). All patients experienced improvement in their symptoms after enteric conversion. Anastomotic leaks developed postoperatively in five patients; two were managed operatively and three were managed nonoperatively. Oral bicarbonate supplementation was eliminated in all but one patient after enteric conversion. Patient survival is 100 percent and pancreatic graft survival (insulin independence) is 96 percent after a mean follow-up of 22 months after enteric conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Enteric conversion after pancreatic transplantation with bladder drainage is a safe and effective therapy for refractory problems related to the duodenal segment, altered physiologic function, or urologic complications and should be considered after 6 months for patients with persistent side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Bench reconstruction of pancreas for transplantation: experience with 192 cases.

UNLABELLED: Whole organ pancreaticoduodenal transplantation with bladder drainage by the duodenal segment technique is currently the preferred method of vascularized pancreas transplantation but is associated with a finite risk of surgical complications. Meticulous bench reconstruction of the pancreaticoduodenal allograft may minimize complications following transplantation. Over a 6.5-yr period, 192 pancreas transplants were performed in 181 diabetic patients by the same transplant team. A retrospective review was performed in order to describe a stepwise approach to bench preparation of the pancreaticoduodenal allograft that has developed from this experience. In this series of 192 consecutive pancreaticoduodenal reconstructions, no procured pancreas was deemed non-usable solely from an anatomic standpoint. The mean backtable pancreas preparation time was 2 h. The operative complication rate 19%, the incidence of technical graft loss was 6.8%, and there was no mortality related to technical problems. CONCLUSIONS: Using a standardized approach, meticulous bench reconstruction of the pancreaticoduodenal allograft: 1) can be performed in virtually any anatomic setting; 2) decrease complications following transplantation; 3) improves initial allograft function; and 4) minimizes organ wastage.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1996

Humoral graft-versus-host disease after pancreas transplantation with an ABO-compatible and Rh-nonidentical donor. Case report and a rationale for preoperative screening.

Severe hemolysis and graft ischemia complicating solitary pancreas transplantation with an ABO-compatible, Rh-negative, anti-D-positive donor to Rh-positive recipient is described in this article. A brief review of the literature is presented. A rationale for preoperative screening for red cell antibodies during solid organ transplantation in this special setting is discussed.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1996

Morbidity in patients with posttransplant diabetes mellitus following orthotopic liver transplantation.

It is not well understood whether posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) alters postoperative morbidity. This study was designed to evaluate this question. All adult patients who received an OLTx between July 1985 and March 1993 (n = 497) were evaluated by retrospective chart review for evidence of PTDM after OLTx. The patients identified with PTDM (n = 26) were case matched with nondiabetic OLTx recipients based on primary liver disease diagnosis, age, gender, date of first OLTx, and survival. Liver synthetic function, number and severity of rejection episodes, graft survival, total number of hospital days within the first year post-OLTx, renal function, and number and type of infection episodes were analyzed to assess differences in morbidity between the PTDM and control patients after OLTx. Of the 497 adult patients who underwent OLTx, 26 (5.2%) were identified as having PTDM within 1 month of discharge. Factors which identified individuals at higher risk for DM after OLTx included higher pre-OLTx fasting blood glucose (P = .04); lower body mass index after OLTx (P = .02); and cyclosporine rather than OKT3 induction (P = .009). Graft survival, synthetic function, and the total number of rejection episodes during the first year were not different between the two groups. The morbidity variables of total number of days in the hospital during the first 12 months, renal function, and type and number of infections were also similar between the two groups. In summary, 5.2% of adult patients developed DM within 1 month of OLTx. Pre-existing insulin resistance, postoperative stress, and immunosuppression medications all likely contribute to the development of overt hyperglycemia after OLTx. Although PTDM can be a consequence of OLTx, it does not have a significant impact on patient outcome in the first year after OLTx.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pancreas transplantation for diabetes mellitus.

Pancreas transplantation has become a viable option for the patient wi th insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with progressive renal failure. The most common type of pancreas transplantation is a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation performed from a single cadaver donor (SPK). The next most common is pancreas transplantation after successful kidney transplantation (PAK). A few centers are performing pancreas transplantation alone (PTA) in diabetic recipients without renal disease but who have significant complications from their diabetes. Pancreas transplantation is associated with a higher morbidity than kidney transplantation alone. Most pancreas transplantation centers report a significant increase in acute rejection, which can lead to increased hospitalization and risk of opportunistic infection. In addition, the early era of pancreas transplantation was associated with significant surgical complications. However, with bladder drainage of the pancreas exocrine secretions, the surgical complication rate has decreased significantly. Despite medical and surgical complications, the overall results for pancreas transplantation are excellent, with 1 -year graft survival of 75% for SPK transplantations and 48% for PAK and PTA transplant recipients. The effects of a pancreas transplantation on the secondary complications of diabetes have been studied extensively. Most studies have shown a modest improvement in secondary complications with the exception of diabetic retinopathy. The major benefit of pancreas transplantation appears to be enhanced quality of life for patients successfully transplanted. For these reasons, the Kidney-Pancreas Committee of the American Society of Transplant Physicians believes the current results of pancreas-kidney transplantation justify its use as a valid option for insulin-dependent diabetic transplant recipients.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1996

Analysis of early readmissions after combined pancreas-kidney transplantation.

Combined pancreas-kidney transplantation (PKT) has become generally accepted as an effective treatment option, but controversy exists regarding the early morbidity rate of the procedure. To address this issue, we retrospectively analyzed all readmissions occurring in the first 3 months after PKT. Over a 5-year period, we performed 98 PKTs with bladder drainage. The mean recipient age was 36.6 years, with a mean pretransplant duration of diabetes of 23.5 years. All patients received quadruple immunosuppression with antilymphocyte induction therapy. The mean length of initial hospital stay was 20 days. One hundred forty-five readmissions occurred in 73 patients (74.5%), with the initial readmission occurring at a mean of 8.5 days after hospital dismissal and 28 days after PKT. Twenty-five patients (25.5%) had no readmissions, 35 (36%) had one readmission, 17 (17%) had two readmissions, and the remaining 21 patients (21.5%) had three or more readmissions in the first 3 months. The mean number of readmissions was 1.5 per patient. Forty-seven patients (48%) were readmitted within 1 week, and all but one initial readmission occurred within 1 month of hospital dismissal. Causes of readmission included rejection (51), infection (32), pancreas-specific morbidity (such as dehydration, hematuria, or pancreatitis; 50), and miscellaneous causes (12). Thirteen patients (13%) underwent reoperation during readmission. The mean length of hospital stay during readmission was 7.6 days. The mean total length of hospitalization in the first 3 months after PKT was 31 days. Over the span of 5 years, no changes have occurred either in the incidence, timing, causes, or duration of readmissions. The patient survival rate is 96%, the kidney graft survival rate is 90%, and the pancreas graft survival rate is 88% after a mean follow-up of 2.6 years. Mean rehabilitation time (return to work or normal activity) after PKT was 4.0 months. In conclusion, PKT is associated with a fixed morbidity characterized by early readmission (within 1 week) in nearly half of patients and pancreas-specific morbidity as the cause in 35% of readmissions. During evaluation, prospective candidates should be counseled regarding the unique morbidity of PKT. Successful management strategies must emphasize the intensity of early follow-up and recognize the propensity toward immunologic, metabolic, exocrine, and urologic side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pancreas allograft rejection: correlation of transduodenal core biopsy with Doppler resistive index.

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of sonographically obtained resistive indexes (RIs) in the diagnosis of pancreas allograft rejection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Findings were studied from 78 transduodenal pancreas allograft biopsies that were ultrasound-guided and cystoscopically directed. The 78 biopsies included 40 that were compared directly with baseline RI data. Biopsies were categorized by result and correlated with concurrent RIs (including 26 RIs obtained within 24 hours of biopsy) with the chi2 test for categoric variables and the Student t test for continuous variables. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated with standardized formulas. RESULTS: The mean RIs between the no rejection, mild acute rejection, and moderate acute rejection groups were not statistically significantly different; however, the mean RI associated with chronic rejection was statistically significantly higher (P < .05) than that in the other groups. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of either an elevated RI (> 0.70) or greater than 10% increase in the RI above the baseline value in the diagnosis of acute rejection were approximately 50%. CONCLUSION: Neither the absolute level of the RI nor the relative increase was correlated with acute rejection proved at biopsy. Changes in RIs after pancreas transplantation were a poor indicator of acute rejection, but the absolute value of the RI was elevated in cases of chronic rejection.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Diet after pancreas transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether discontinuation of insulin therapy and glucose monitoring and instructions to increase dietary salt and water intake after pancreas transplantation (PTX) resulted in changes in food choices. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: All PTX recipients who had completed a preoperative diet record, had received their PTX > 6 months before, had stable pancreas and kidney function, and were on a stable diet were invited to submit a 3-day post-PTX diet record. Of the 14 eligible, 11 agreed to participate and completed the study (2 women and 9 men). Their pre- and post-PTX diet records were analyzed by computer program. Weight, glycohemoglobin, blood pressure, medications, and fasting lipids both before and after PTX were also analyzed. RESULTS: The recipients were studied 576 +/- 60 days post-PTX, on average. Total calories and BMI were unchanged after PTX. Before PTX, 34% of calories were in fats, 49% in carbohydrate, and 17% in protein with no change in distribution of calories after PTX, although there was a trend toward greater saturated fat intake. Total salt intake was increased after PTX (P < 0.01) because of sodium bicarbonate administration, although dietary salt intake did not change. The HDL cholesterol concentration increased and cholesterol-to-HDL ratio decreased after PTX (P < 0.05), while the remaining lipids were unchanged. CONCLUSION: Weight, total calories and distribution of calories, and dietary salt were unchanged after PTX, and diet did not explain the changes in HDL cholesterol or cholesterol-to-HDL ratio. These preliminary diet results suggest that greater emphasis on dietary instruction may be needed after PTX.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1996

Pancreas transplantation: a treatment option for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The success with which pancreas transplantation normalizes glucose concentration in patients with Type I diabetes mellitus has made it an important treatment option. Most pancreas transplant operations are performed in combination with a kidney transplant, and neither overall patient survival nor renal graft survival is compromised by the addition of a pancreas graft. Pancreas after kidney transplantation and isolated pancreas transplantation are performed less frequently since the pancreas graft success rate remains lower in these operations compared to combined pancreas-kidney transplantation. Pancreas transplantation improves the quality of life and stabilizes or reverses some diabetic microvascular complications, but its impact on the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease is still unknown. The relative risks and benefits of pancreas transplantation need to be carefully assessed for each candidate through a thorough screening process, regardless of which type of graft is being considered. However, patient counseling and selection will be greatly aided by further research assessing the long-term risks and benefits of all types of pancreas transplantation. Pancreas transplantation will probably remain an important treatment option for some patients with Type I diabetes mellitus until this disease can either be successfully prevented or alternative treatment strategies are developed that provide equal glycaemic control with less or no associated immunosuppression.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1996

Mesenteric arteriovenous fistula after vascularized pancreas transplantation resulting in graft dysfunction.

Mesenteric arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an unusual complication after vascularized pancreas transplantation. We report the case of a patient who developed a mesenteric AVF in the transplanted mesenteric bundle which resulted in severe and protracted endocrine insufficiency necessitating reinstitution of insulin therapy. This was reversible with surgical correction of the AVF. This complication should be included in the differential diagnosis of pancreas allograft dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Experience with protocol biopsies after solitary pancreas transplantation.

The early detection of allograft rejection remains elusive after solitary pancreas transplantation (PTX). We have previously described a modified technique of cystoscopic transduodenal PTX biopsy using the Biopty gun under ultrasound guidance. During the last 2 years, we performed 24 solitary PTXs with prospective protocol biopsy monitoring as well as biopsies performed whenever clinically indicated. The study group included 17 pancreas transplants alone, 6 sequential pancreas after kidney transplants, and 1 sequential pancreas after liver transplant. Five patients received pancreas retransplants. A total of 92 cystoscopically directed core PTX biopsies were performed, including 50 protocol biopsies (mean 2.1 per patient). Protocol biopsies were performed at 1 month (19), 2 months (3), 3 months (20), 6 months (7), and 12 months (1) after PTX. Adequate PTX tissue for histopathologic examination was obtained in 49 cases (98%). Biopsy findings included no rejection (34), mild rejection (13), pancreatitis (1), and cytomegalovirus infection (1). Overall, 15 of the 49 evaluable biopsies (31%) had significant histopathologic findings. All but 1 of the cases of mild rejection were treated with bolus steroids. Eight of these patients subsequently developed recurrent biopsy-proven rejection within 2 months; 5 grafts were subsequently lost to rejection between 3 and 13 months after PTX. Three biopsy complications occurred: 1 hematoma, 1 pancreatitis, and 1 ileus. Patient survival is 96% and PTX graft survival (complete insulin independence) is 75% after a mean follow-up of 15 months. In the remaining 42 clinically indicated biopsies, 3 were insufficient, 8 showed no rejection, and 31 (79%) had rejection. In half of these cases, the rejection was graded as moderate to severe. In conclusion, prospective monitoring with protocol PTX biopsies may result in the earlier detection of allograft rejection and have a direct effect on improving results after solitary PTX.

Adolescent↗