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Biomedical subjects

R L Madden

Publications and source records attributed to R L Madden.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Early small bowel obstruction complicating hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: an uncommon etiology.

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is gaining widespread acceptance as a minimally invasive technique for kidney donation. Although it has been associated with decreased patient morbidity and more rapid recovery, it exposes patients to possible complications inherent in its transperitoneal route. We report a case of a small bowel obstruction secondary to midjejunal intussusception occurring on the third postoperative day after a hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. The intussusception proved to be idiopathic since no lead point was identified. The patient recovered without significant sequela after reduction of the intussusceptum. Postoperative ideopathic intussusception is an uncommon cause of bowel obstruction in adults. Surgeons that perform laparoscopic donor nephrectomy will need to remain vigilant for complications that can be associated with the intraperitoneal route of this technique.

Female↗

Transplantation and 2-year follow-up of kidneys procured from a cadaver donor with a history of lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Two patients underwent cadaver transplantation with kidneys from a donor with a history of World Health Organization Class IV/V lupus nephritis, and we report their clinical and pathological outcome. METHODS: The donor had a diagnosis of lupus nephritis made by renal biopsy 5 years before donation. At the time of donation, a biopsy was performed on the donor and on one of the recipients at 2 months and 1 year after the transplant. RESULTS: Both recipients underwent uneventful renal transplantation. On the first postoperative day, the donor's final pathological results became available. Although the frozen section seemed to be quite benign, the permanent sections revealed World Health Organization Class II/V lupus nephritis, with full house immunofluorescence and multiple electron dense deposits. Biopsies were performed on recipient #2 at 8 weeks and 1 year after the transplant. These revealed marked diminution followed by complete resolution of all tubular reticular structures and deposits as well as immunofluorescent activity. Both recipients remain with normal renal function and urinalysis at 3 years after the transplant. CONCLUSION: Although a history of clinically significant renal disease has been considered an absolute contraindication to kidney donation, with appropriate workup and caution, select patients may still be considered, which would increase the potential donor pool.

Adult↗

Completely reversed acute rejection is not a significant risk factor for the development of chronic rejection in renal allograft recipients.

Although acute rejection (AR) has been shown to correlate with decreased long-term renal allograft survival, we have noted AR in recipients who subsequently had stable function for more than 5 years. We reviewed 109 renal graft recipients with a minimum of 1 year graft survival and follow-up of 5-8 years. Post-transplant sodium iothalamate clearances (IoCI) measured at 3 months and yearly thereafter were used to separate recipients into 2 groups. In 61 patients (stable group), there was no significant decrease ( > 20 % reduction in IoCl over 2 consecutive years) in IoCl. Forty-eight patients had significant declines in IoCl (decline group). Groups were compared for incidence, severity, timing, and completeness of reversal of AR. Rejection was considered completely reversed if the post-AR serum creatinine (Scr) returned to or below the pre-AR nadir Scr after anti-rejection therapy. The incidence of AR was not significantly different between groups (47% vs 52%). A trend toward a lower mean number of AR episodes per patient was noted in the stable group (0.69 vs 1.04, P = 0.096), but the timing of AR was not different. Steroid-resistant AR occurred in approximately 25 % of both groups. A striking difference was seen in complete reversal of AR, with the stable group having 100% (42/42 episodes of AR in 29 patients) complete reversal whereas only 32 % (8/25) of the patients in the decline group had complete reversal (P < < 0.001). Of 8 declining patients with complete reversal, graft loss was due to chronic rejection (CR) in only 3. Seventeen declining patients had incomplete reversal of AR, and 82 % (14/17) lost their grafts to CR. Overall, only 8% (3/37) of the recipients with complete reversal of AR developed CR. No patients with incompletely reversed AR had stable long-term function as measured by IoCl. AR is not invariably deleterious to long-term renal graft function if each episode of AR can be completely reversed.

Acute Disease↗

Long-term maintenance of therapeutic cyclosporine levels leads to optimal graft survival without evidence of chronic nephrotoxicity.

Since the introduction of cyclosporine into clinical use, a major area of concern within the transplant community has been the fear of chronic nephrotoxicity. Although progressive renal damage does appear to occur in native kidneys of heart and liver transplant patients receiving cyclosporine, it has been our contention that its use is not a major cause of deterioration in renal allografts. We therefore undertook a study of 91 consecutive renal transplants performed over a three-year period with a minimum graft survival of 1 year and a follow-up of 7-9 years. Serial serum creatinine values, iothalamate clearances and cyclosporine levels were obtained at 3 months after transplantation and yearly thereafter. Biopsies were performed on all grafts that had failed as well as on the majority of patients with deteriorating renal function, and were interpreted by two nephropathologists. As measured by iothalamate clearances, 65% of the patients in this series exhibited absolutely stable renal function despite the maintenance of cyclosporine levels of more than 200 ng/ml for 7-9 years. Since these stable patients did not reveal any decline in renal function, it therefore follows that they did not experience chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, none of the patients with declining renal function or with failed grafts showed any evidence of nephrotoxicity on biopsy. Chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity may be a cause of declining function or graft loss with renal transplant recipients, but if so, it is exceedingly rare.

Creatine↗

Failure to cure Mycobacterium gordonae peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are increasingly recognized as important pathogens in peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Mycobacterium gordonae rarely causes human infection and is the least likely mycobacterium to produce clinical infection in CAPD patients. We describe a patient with persistent M. gordonae peritonitis acquired while undergoing CAPD. During 18 months of treatment, clinical improvement occurred but a microbiological cure could not be achieved. Principles of therapy for mycobacterial peritonitis developing during CAPD are reviewed, and potential explanations for our patient's failure to respond to therapy are discussed.

Adult↗

Trough serum vancomycin levels predict the relapse of gram-positive peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

We reviewed 31 episodes of gram-positive peritonitis that occurred in our peritoneal dialysis population between 1990 and 1993 in an attempt to identify the risk factor(s) for peritonitis relapse. All patients were treated with 4 weekly doses of intravenous vancomycin. Vancomycin doses no. 1 and 2 were based on body weight (15 mg/kg with a 1-g minimum); vancomycin doses no. 3 and 4 were adjusted in an attempt to maintain the trough serum vancomycin level at greater than 12 mg/L. Nine peritonitis episodes complicated by a relapse were identified. Peritonitis episodes preceding a relapse were similar to relapse-free episodes with respect to patient age, diabetes, peritoneal dialysis modality, duration of peritoneal dialysis treatment, residual urea clearance, peritoneal fluid cell count, causative organism, and weekly vancomycin dose. However, cumulative 4-week mean trough vancomycin levels were consistently lower during peritonitis episodes preceding a relapse (7.8 +/- 0.6 mg/L during relapse-prone episodes v 13.7 +/- 0.9 mg/L during relapse-free episodes; P = 0.0004). Furthermore, relapses developed during nine of 14 peritonitis episodes demonstrating a 4-week mean trough vancomycin level less than 12 mg/L compared with zero of 17 episodes with a 4-week trough level greater than 12 mg/L (P < 0.05). The detection of a low initial 7-day trough vancomycin level also was a useful marker for subsequent peritonitis relapse. In 13 peritonitis episodes associated with an initial trough level less than 9 mg/L, nine were complicated by a relapse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections↗

Association of post-renal transplant erythrocytosis and microalbuminuria: response to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy has recently been shown to be effective in the treatment of post-renal transplant erythrocytosis (PTE). In an attempt to assess the effect of drug treatment on serum erythropoietin level, glomerular filtration rate, and urinary protein excretion, we prospectively evaluated 8 consecutive cadaveric renal transplant recipients with PTE treated with ACE inhibitor therapy for 3 months. In response to ACE inhibition, the mean hematocrit (HCT) value decreased from 53.7 +/- 0.6% before treatment to 42.7 +/- 2.2% at the conclusion of the study (p = 0.03). However, 1 patient failed to respond to ACE inhibition (HCT > 50%), and 2 patients with PTE developed anemia (HCT < 35%) while maintained on drug treatment. Although the mean serum erythropoietin level decreased during ACE inhibition (from 22.8 +/- 8.4 to 9.4 +/- 5.3 mU/ml; p = 0.06), a consistent change in individual erythropoietin levels was not identified. At the conclusion of the study, the serum erythropoietin levels were undetectable in 4 patients, decreased in 1, unchanged in 2, and increased in the only patient with PTE who failed to respond to drug treatment. All patients tolerated the ACE inhibitor therapy without developing cough or hyperkalemia. In addition, serum creatinine levels, 125I-iothalamate clearances, and mean arterial blood pressures were unchanged throughout the study. Microalbuminuria (spot urinary albumin/creatinine ratio between 30 and 200 mg/g) developed in 5 patients with PTE and coincided with the onset of erythrocytosis (25.2 +/- 7 mg/g before PTE and 76.3 +/- 36.7 mg/g at the time of PTE detection).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effect of a short course of rapamycin, cyclosporin A, and donor-specific transfusion on rat cardiac allograft survival.

The interactions of rapamycin (Rapa), CsA, and donor-specific transfusion (DST) were examined in an ACI to Lewis rat heterotopic cardiac allograft model. Survival data were truncated at 175 days for the purpose of statistical comparisons. Vehicle (Veh)-treated animals rejected at a mean of 7.3 +/- 0.2 days. Treatment with a DST on the day before transplantation (d-1) resulted in a decreased survival of 5.5 +/- 0.3 days (P < 0.05). An 8-day course of low-dose CsA (d-1 to d6) in Veh-treated animals prolonged allograft survival to 10.3 +/- 0.5 days (P < 0.05). The addition of a DST d-1 to the Veh/CsA-treated animals resulted in a synergistic prolongation of survival to 45.7 +/- 12.5 days (P < 0.05). Rapa proved to be a potent immunosuppressive agent in this model, with an 8-day course of Rapa (d-1 to d6) at 0.5 mg/kg/day (R1) or 1.5 mg/kg/day (R2), resulting in mean allograft survivals of 24.2 +/- 5.0 and 67.3 +/- 20.9 days, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. Veh or Veh/CsA). Rapa demonstrated synergy with CsA by further prolonging allograft survival to 115.9 +/- 27.9 days (R1/CsA, P < 0.05 vs. Veh/CsA, R1) and 164.6 +/- 10.4 days (R2/CsA, P < 0.05 vs. Veh/CsA). The extended graft survival using a combination of Rapa and DST, compared to Rapa alone, did not prove to be statistically significant. When all three treatments were combined (Rapa/DST/CsA), no significant benefit to survival was seen over Veh/DST/CsA (45.7 +/- 12.5 days vs. R1/DST/CsA, 81.9 +/- 18.4 days; R2/DST/CsA, 98.5 +/- 21.3 days; P > 0.05). If Rapa was withheld until postoperative day 1 (Rapa, 1.5 mg/kg/day on d1 to d6/DST/CsA), enhancement of the DST/CsA effect was seen with a mean survival of 170.2 +/- 4.8 days (P < 0.05). This suggests that the timing of Rapa administration may significantly impact its interaction with DST/CsA treatment and merits further investigation.

Animals↗

The induction of immunologic hyporesponsiveness by preoperative donor-specific transfusions and cyclosporine in human cadaveric transplants. A preliminary trial.

A prospective randomized preliminary trial was performed in patients undergoing cadaveric renal transplantation to determine the potential benefits, disadvantages, and logistic problems associated with the administration of donor-specific transfusions and cyclosporine initiated 24 hr before transplantation. Ten patients received DST followed by continuous intravenous CsA approximately 24 hr before cadaveric renal transplantation from the same donor. Twelve patients receiving sequential therapy with Minnesota antilymphoblast globulin, azathioprine, and steroids with subsequent conversion to CsA served as controls. Patient demographics and the donor characteristics were evenly matched in the two groups. While the study group had longer cold ischemia time and more evidence of renal dysfunction within the first two weeks, subsequent renal function was identical in the groups and there were fewer episodes of severe rejection requiring treatment with OKT3 within the first six months in the DST group (5 vs. 0, P less than 0.05), which also had less reactivity in mixed lymphocyte cultures against preserved donor-specific lymphocytes than did the control group (stimulation index 9.0 +/- 3.0 vs. 25.3 +/- 6.0, respectively, P less than 0.05). The need for dialysis, incidence of infections and other complications, and subsequent immunosuppressive therapy were not different in the two groups. It is concluded that DSTs and intravenous CsA initiated 24 hr prior to transplantation are capable of inducing reduced immunologic responsiveness against the specific donor. Patients treated with this therapy should receive organs from "ideal" donors without risk factors and cold ischemia time should not exceed 30 hr. Further clinical studies of this approach are warranted.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Hormonal changes in brain dead patients.

Thirty neurologically impaired (Glasgow Coma Score less than 7) patients were evaluated to determine if changes in serum levels of thyroid hormone, cortisol, insulin, or lactate suggest that replacement therapy is needed before removal of organs for donation. Serum levels of free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), reverse T3 (rT3), cortisol, insulin, and lactate were monitored in 16 patients before and after brain death and in 14 additional patients who were similarly compromised but did not become brain dead. Low fT3, normal fT4, and normal or high rT3 as found in most patients were consistent with a variant of the euthyroid sick syndrome although TSH was elevated in some patients. Cortisol, insulin, and lactate levels were also normal or high. No correlation was found between low thyroid hormones and elevated lactate or the amount of vasopressor needed to sustain BP. No significant changes occurred in hormone or lactate levels after brain death. The explanation for an elevated lactate remains unclear but we do not believe this single finding justifies the diagnosis of a hypothyroid state in these patients or the administration of thyroid hormone to brain dead organ donors.

Adult↗

Respiratory distress associated with stereotactic irrigation of a brain cyst.

Stereotactic neurosurgery is a procedure that usually requires monitored sedation or general anesthesia. The authors report a case in which stereotactic irrigation of a brain cyst was temporally associated with respiratory distress. Additionally, the stereotactic apparatus limits the anesthesiologist's access to the airway.

Brain Neoplasms↗