Clinical Features of Kidney Transplant Recipients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

Evaluation of pediatric renal transplant recipients admitted to the intensive care unit: A retrospective cohort study

Background/Aim: The best course of treatment for children with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is renal transplantation (RT), but some pediatric RT recipients are admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) post-transplant. In the early and late post-operative phases, clinical data about pediatric RT recipients who are admitted to ICU are available. In this study, we aimed to evaluate demographic features, main reasons, and outcomes of pediatric RT patients admitted to the ICU during the early and late post-operative phases. Methods: This study was a cohort study. We analyzed the medical records of pediatric RT recipients (<18 years of age) who were admitted to the ICU between May 30, 2011, and October 16, 2021, at our center, retrospectively. Patients ≥18 years of age and those without available data were excluded. We obtained the following data from ICU follow-up records and hospital medical records. The median (minimum-maximum) for continuous variables, frequencies, and percentages for categorical variables were used. The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. We created graphs using percentages and frequencies to summarize the results. Results: Nineteen (16.5%) of the 115 pediatric patients who underwent RT were admitted to the ICU during the study period. Thirteen patients (68.4%) were male, and the mean age was 10.2 (4.9) years. Hypertension (21.2%) was the most common comorbidity. Eighteen (94.7%) received transplants from living donors. Cystic-hereditary-congenital disorders (42.1%, n=8) and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (26.3%, n=5) were among the etiologies of ESKD. Ten patients (52.6%) were admitted to the ICU >6 months after transplantation. Epileptic seizure (n=6, 31.6%), respiratory failure (n=4, 21.1%), and cardiac diseases (n=2, 10.5%) were among the main reasons for ICU admission. During ICU follow-up, invasive mechanical ventilation was needed for five patients (26.3%), and renal replacement treatment was needed for four patients (21.1%). The mean length of ICU was 12.4 (28.5), and the mean hospital stay was 25.8 (29.4) days. The ICU and hospital survival rates were 78.9% and 97%, respectively, while 3.5% was the hospital mortality rate. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, acute hepatic failure, and cardiogenic shock secondary to pericardiocentesis were the causes of death in the ICU. Conclusion: Patients mostly had ICU admissions because of epileptic seizures and acute respiratory failure. A multidisciplinary approach involving pediatric nephrologists, transplant surgeons, and an intensive care team successfully manages pediatric RT recipients admitted to the intensive care unit.

Association between the Predicted Value of APACHE IV Scores and Intensive Care Unit Mortality: A Secondary Analysis Based on EICU Dataset

Objective

The evidence regarding the relationship between Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Assessment (APACHE) IV scores and emergency intensive care unit (EICU) mortality in patients following organ transplantation remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between APACHE IV score and EICU mortality.

Methods

Data from 391 American men and women admitted to the EICU after undergoing organ transplants including heart, bone marrow, liver, kidney, lung, and pancreas in the United States. We used this data to analyze the relationship between APACHE IV scores and in-hospital mortality in the postoperative EICU. The primary endpoint was ICU hospitalization mortality after organ transplantation. The entire study data was extracted from the EICU database and uploaded to the DataDryad website.

Results

Interaction tests indicate age, respiratory failure, and hormone use can modify the association between APACHE IV and EICU mortality. A stronger association of APACHE and mortality can be observed at <60 years old, no respiratory failure, and no use of hormones. In contrast, there was no association between respiratory failure, hormone use, APACHE, and ICU mortality in patients over 60 years of age.

Conclusion

When using the APACHE score for risk stratification of critically ill patients after transplantation, the patient's age, respiratory failure, and use of hormones should be taken into account.

A Descriptive Study of Late Intensive Care Unit Admissions After Adult Solitary Kidney Transplantation

OBJECTIVE

Kidney transplant recipients are at lifetime risk of requiring high acuity care. In the current study, we aimed to assess the reasons for delayed (> 30 days) intensive care unit (ICU) admissions post-transplant and causes of ICU-related mortality.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of a cohort of adult kidney transplant patients from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2016, who required ICU admission after 30 days of transplantation. The admissions were divided into 3 groups based on their timeline between transplantation and ICU admission: 1. group 1 from 30 days to 6 months, 2. group 2 between 6-24 months, and 3. group 3 after 2 years. All admissions were categorized according to the primary organ system involved.

RESULTS

A total of 285 (group 1: 50, group 2: 89, group 3: 146) patients required 404 ICU admissions (group 1: 57, group 2: 108, group 3: 239). Overall, cardiovascular system-related admissions (29.9%, 18.5%, 15.9%), infections (19.3%, 25.9%, 27.2%), and respiratory-related admissions (12.3%, 8.3%, 8.8%) were main causes in all 3 groups. A total of 24 (8.4%) patients died in the ICU. Most of the deaths occurred in men (79.2%), infection-related admissions (45.8%), and individuals with a functioning allograft (66.7%). Infections (45.8%) were the main causes of ICU-related mortality. Median time from transplantation to death was 2.3 years (interquartile range: 1.2-4.6).

CONCLUSION

Kidney transplant patients continue to be at risk of requiring high acuity care long after transplantation. Most of these admissions are related to cardiopulmonary system involvement or infections. Overall, infections were the leading cause of ICU-related mortality.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Kidney Transplant Recipients Requiring High-Acuity Care After Transplant Surgery: A 10-Year Single-Center Study

Objective

To study the characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of kidney transplant recipients who required high-acuity care after transplant surgery.

Patients and Methods

All adult (aged ≥18 years) solitary kidney transplant recipients from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2016, were screened and those who required high-acuity care within the same hospitalization were enrolled. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected from the departmental database and electronic DataMart.

Results

Of 1525 patients, 266 (17.4%) required high-acuity care after the kidney transplant operation: 166 (62.4%) directly from the operating room and 100 (37.6%) after an interval during the same hospitalization. Overall, 2 main indications were hypotension (n=87; 32.7%) and cardiac rhythm disturbances (n=83; 31.2%). Recipients in the direct admission group had higher medium body mass index (31.0 [interquartile range, 26.6-36.0] vs 28.0 [interquartile range, 24.3-32.4] kg/m²; P<.001) and were more likely to have undergone a concomitant procedure with the transplant surgery. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 1.9% (n=5).

Conclusion

In contemporary practice, patients with higher body mass index are more likely to require high-acuity care immediately after kidney transplant surgery. The most common reasons are hypotension and cardiac rhythm disorders. The overall intensive care unit mortality rate of these patients is low. However, these patients are at risk for graft loss and death in the long term compared with patients who do not require intensive care unit care after transplant surgery.

Where do urologists stand in the era of novel coronavirus-2019 disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The novel coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had devastating consequences on healthcare systems globally. The effect this has on urologists and the patients they care for is not fully understood and presents the challenge of prioritizing the most urgent cases. We aim to review the impact on urology services and evaluate strategies to minimize disruption.

RECENT FINDINGS

Various healthcare systems have been forced to postpone treatment for many urological conditions as resources are dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19. Training has been postponed as staff are reallocated to areas of need. Face-to-face contact is largely minimized and innovative, virtual communication methods are used in the outpatient setting and multidisciplinary team meetings. Surgical practice is changing because of the risks posed by COVID-19 and procedures can be prioritized in a nonurgent, low priority, high priority or emergency category.

SUMMARY

Although the COVID-19 pandemic will inevitably affect urological services, steps can be taken to mitigate the impact and prioritize the patients most in need of urgent care. Similarly, in future; simulation, e-learning and webinars will allow interaction to share, discuss and debate focused training and education.

Should We Perform Old-for-Old Kidney Transplantation during the COVID-19 Pandemic? The Risk for Post-Operative Intensive Stay

Health care systems worldwide have been facing major challenges since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Kidney transplantation (KT) has been tremendously affected due to limited personal protective equipment (PPE) and intensive care unit (ICU) capacities. To provide valid information on risk factors for ICU admission in a high-risk cohort of old kidney recipients from old donors in the Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP), we retrospectively conducted a bi-centric analysis. Overall, 17 (16.2%) patients out of 105 KTs were admitted to the ICU. They had a lower BMI, and both coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertensive nephropathy were more frequent. A risk model combining BMI, CAD and hypertensive nephropathy gained a sensitivity of 94.1% and a negative predictive value of 97.8%, rendering it a valuable search test, but with low specificity (51.1%). ICU admission also proved to be an excellent parameter identifying patients at risk for short patient and graft survivals. Patients admitted to the ICU had shorter patient (1-year 57% vs. 90%) and graft (5-year 49% vs. 77%) survival. To conclude, potential kidney recipients with a low BMI, CAD and hypertensive nephropathy should only be transplanted in the ESP in times of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic if the local health situation can provide sufficient ICU capacities.

Preoperative Factors Predicting Admission to the Intensive Care Unit After Kidney Transplantation

OBJECTIVE

To identify preoperative factors predicting early admission (within 30 days) of adult kidney transplant recipients to the intensive care unit (ICU).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study of consecutive kidney transplant recipients between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2016. Children (aged <18 years) and patients who underwent simultaneous multiorgan transplantation were excluded from the analysis. Associations between demographic, transplant-related, and comorbidity variables with ICU admission within 30 days of transplantation were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Of the 1527 eligible patients, 305 (20%) required early ICU admission. In univariate analysis, older age, higher body mass index (BMI), previous transplantation, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, obstructive pulmonary disease, longer ischemia time, pretransplant dialysis, and transplantation from a deceased donor were associated with increased odds of ICU admission. After multivariate adjustment, every 10-year increase in recipient age (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-1.42; P<.001), 5-unit increase in BMI (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.00-1.22; P=.049), pretransplant dialysis (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.19-2.08; P=.002), and deceased donor transplantation (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.29-2.55; P<.001) were associated with the increased risk of ICU admission. Preemptive transplantation (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.48-0.84; P=.002) and living donor kidney transplantation (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.39-0.77; P<.001) were associated with lower odds of ICU admission after transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Recipient age, BMI, and the need for pretransplant dialysis are associated with a higher risk of early ICU admission after kidney transplantation, whereas living donor kidney transplantation and preemptive transplantation decrease these odds. Early referral of patients with end-stage renal disease for preemptive transplantation and living donor kidney transplantation can significantly reduce transplant-related ICU admissions.

Prise en charge du transplanté rénal en réanimation

La transplantation rénale est la thérapeutique de choix de l’insuffisance rénale chronique au stade ultime, son usage est de plus en plus large. Les progrès réalisés dans les traitements immunosuppresseurs ont permis une amélioration de la durée de vie du greffon, mais au prix d’une augmentation des complications cardiovasculaires et infectieuses. Environ 5 % des transplantés rénaux présentent des complications sévères qui nécessitent une prise en charge intensive. Elles sont principalement de cause infectieuse et dominées par la défaillance respiratoire aiguë. L’insuffisance rénale aiguë est commune, elle affecte la fonction du greffon à court et long termes. La prise en charge en réanimation de ces complications doit prendre en compte le terrain particulier du transplanté rénal et les effets délétères de l’immunosuppression, condition nécessaire à une amélioration de la mortalité qui reste à plus de 30 %.