Anesthetic and perioperative management of adult transplant recipients in nontransplant surgery

Anesthetic Considerations for Cesarean Delivery After Uterine Transplant

Infertility has many etiologies and can have devastating consequences for young couples attempting to bring children into the world. Uterine factor for infertility is related to either uterine agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser [MRKH] syndrome), unexpected hysterectomy, or presence of a nonfunctioning uterus. In this review, a patient with MRKH syndrome underwent donor uterus transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic, conceived, and delivered the first healthy baby in the United States and the second worldwide. Additionally, we review the pertinent literature on anesthesia problems. Donor-related uterine transplant is a recent medical innovation requiring multidisciplinary expertise. In patients who deliver successfully, according to the current literature, the transplanted uterus can be used for one more pregnancy only if the mother so desires, otherwise cesarean hysterectomy (C-Hyst) should be performed. In the observed case, C-Hyst was performed because the patient developed placenta accreta and the couple desired no further pregnancy. In summary, with our limited data, careful management of these patients is required to ensure the best outcome for the mother and the newborn fetus.

Retrospective evaluation of anesthetic techniques in pregnant women with renal transplantation

Background/aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate anesthesia management in cesarean operation of pregnant women who underwent renal transplantation and the effects on postoperative renal function, retrospectively.

Materials and methods

After obtaining the approval of the ethics committee of our hospital, the records of pregnant women who underwent kidney transplantation and cesarean section between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ demographic data, concomitant disease history, the treatment received, and type of anesthesia were retrospectively evaluated and recorded in the follow-up form.

Results

It was found that a total of 47 women who underwent renal transplantation had 47 live births by cesarean section. The mean age of the pregnant women was 30 ± 5.34 years. The mean time between renal transplantation and conception was 95.34 ± 55.02 months. It was found that 14 (29%) of a total of 47 patients had their first pregnancy. The number of patients with a gravidity of 4 and above was 9 (19%). A total of 21 (44.7%) pregnant women had spontaneous miscarriage. Five (10.6%) patients were treated with curettage for therapeutic purposes. Twenty-two (46%) of the patients whose immunosuppressive therapy was continuing were treated with azathioprine, tacrolimus, and prednisolone. The mean gestational age of delivery was 36.5 ± 1.59 weeks. The rate of prepregnancy hypertension diagnosis was 25.5% (n = 12), while the rate of developing gestational hypertension was 21.3% (n = 10). Spinal anesthesia was administered to 42 (91%) of 47 patients who underwent cesarean section. In the preoperative period, the mean value of serum blood urea nitrogen was 62.88 ± 41.97 mg/dL and the mean serum creatinine level was 3.21 ± 6.17 mg/dL. In the postoperative period, these values were 44.4 ± 29.9 mg/dL and 1.91 ± 1.63 mg/dL, respectively. When the pre- and postoperative serum urea and creatinine levels were compared, they were found to be lower in the postoperative period. However, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The mean weight of the newborns was determined as 2707.3 ± 501.5 g. While the number of newborns with a low birth weight (<2500 g) was 18 (38%), among them 3 (0.6%) were below 2000 g. It was found that 36.2% (n = 17) of the newborns required intensive care. None of the patients developed graft rejection.

Conclusion

If there is no contraindication, regional anesthesia may be preferred in the first place for pregnant women with renal transplantation. We suggest that this method of anesthesia has some advantages in terms of maintaining postoperative renal function and higher Apgar scores in newborns with low birth weight.

[Anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery in a heart-transplanted patient: a clinical case and review of the literature]

Le nombre et la durée de survie des patients transplantés cardiaque sont en augmentation. Une partie de ces patients se présentent régulièrement pour une chirurgie générale en dehors de la transplantation cardiaque. L’anesthésie chez ces patients peut être difficile en raison des particularités physiologiques du cœur dénervé et de la gestion du traitement immunosuppresseur avec le risque de rejet et d’infection. Nous discutons la prise en charge anesthésique à travers un cas d’un patient âgé de 60 ans transplanté cardiaque devant subir une chirurgie de cure d’éventration abdominale et une revue de la littérature.

Thoracic aorta aneurysm open repair in heart transplant recipient; the anesthesiologist's perspective

Many years following transplantation, heart transplant recipients may require noncardiac major surgeries. Anesthesia in such patients may be challenging due to physiological and pharmacological problems regarding allograft denervation and difficult immunosuppressive management. Massive hemorrhage, hypoperfusion, renal, respiratory failure, and infections are some of the most frequent complications related to thoracic aorta aneurysm repair. Understanding how to optimize hemodynamic and infectious risks may have a substantial impact on the outcome. This case report aims at discussing risk stratification and anesthetic management of a 54-year-old heart transplant female recipient, affected by Marfan syndrome, undergoing thoracic aorta aneurysm repair.

General Anaesthesia and Emergency Surgery in Heart Transplant Recipient

The number of patients who undergo heart transplant is increasing. Due to surgical emergencies, many of those may require general anesthesia in hospitals where subspecialized anesthetists may not be available. We present a case of a male patient who had heart transplant and required general anesthesia for emergency appendicectomy. Physiology of the heart after transplant, preoperative considerations, and postoperative monitoring has been discussed in our report.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a cardiac transplant recipient

An increasing number of cardiac transplants are being carried out around the world. With increasing longevity, these patients present a unique challenge to non-transplant anesthesiologists for a variety of transplant related or incidental surgeries. The general considerations related to a cardiac transplant recipient are the physiological and pharmacological problems of allograft denervation, the side-effects of immunosuppression, the risk of infection and the potential for rejection. A thorough understanding of the physiology of a denervated heart, need for direct vasoactive agents and post-transplant morbidities is essential in anesthetic management of such a patient. Here, we describe a case of a heart transplant recipient who presented for a cholecystectomy at our center.

Anaesthesia for non-cardiac surgery in a cardiac transplant recipient

Cardiac transplantation has become the standard therapy for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and end-stage ischaemic heart disease. With the introduction of newer immunosuppressants, together with better patient selection, improved perioperative monitoring and care, the overall survival of recipients has improved. An increasing number of patients who received a transplant present for either elective or emergency non-cardiac surgery. We hereby discuss the perioperative management of such a patient who came to our set-up for bipolar haemiarthroplasty.

Anaesthesia for patients with a transplanted organ

Increasing numbers of individuals leading normal lives have transplanted organs. They may appear in any hospital for treatment of trauma or general diseases. Common anaesthesia methods can be used for these patients, but safe conduct of anaesthesia requires knowledge of the immunosuppression, risk factors, and altered physiology or drug actions. This article reviews the anaesthesia-related literature on patients with transplanted organs.