Surgical complications of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: a 16-year-experience at one center

Fifty-one simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants (SPKT) were performed between 1988 and 2004 in patients of mean age 34 years and 23 years duration of diabetes treatment. All kidney and pancreas recipients were on maintenance hemodialysis therapy prior to SPKT. The pancreas with duodenal segment and the kidneys were harvested from cadaveric heart-beating donors. Cold ischemia time in UW solution varied from 4 to 14 hours (mean, 9 hours 35 minutes). Twenty patients had the duodenal segment sutured to the urinary bladder, and the remaining 31 grafts were drained to an isolated ileal loop. Quadruple immunosuppression was administered as well as an anticoagulant and antibiotic prophylaxis. Forty-nine patients (49/51, 96%) regained insulin independence in the immediate postoperative period; 44 (86%) displayed immediate graft function. The remaining patients experienced postoperative ATN, the longest duration was 18 days. Of 51 patients, 38 (14.5%) are alive (follow-up, 6 to 180 months), 26 (68.5%) have good pancreatic function, and 34 (89%), good kidney function. Nineteen (50%) patients regard their quality of life as improved compared to their pretransplant status, which is mainly attributed to being dialysis and insulin free. Of 19 patients, 14 (74%) reported measuring glycemia regularly due to fear of losing the pancreas graft. Of 19 persons, seven (37%) returned to work after transplantation. Four (8.3%) lost their kidney graft secondary to vascular complications (n = 2) or rejection (n = 2). Four pancreas grafts with bladder drainage required conversion to enteric drainage owing to persistent urinary infections or urinary fistulae. Fifteen (29%) patients lost their pancreatic grafts within 1 year of transplantation due to the following: vascular complications (n = 12), septic complications (n = 1), or rejection (n = 2). Thirteen patients died within 1 year after transplantation, 5 of septic complications, 5 of neuroinfection, 1 of pulmonary embolism, and 2 of myocardial infarction. In conclusion, SPKT is a successful treatment for diabetic nephropathy, burdened by the possibility of serious complications.

Chlamydia Pneumoniae Infection: An Additional Factor for Chronic Allograft Rejection

INTRODUCTION

Chronic rejection (CHR) of organ allografts, one of the most significant problems in modern transplantation, is not fully understood. This study sought to evaluate the influence of selected parameters on late kidney transplant function.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

The studied group consisted of eighty-six patients who received allogeneic transplants between 1988 and 1999 for leukocyte Chlamydia pneumoniae-DNA, immunoglobulin (Ig)A/IgG anti-C pneumoniae, blood lipids, ischemic damage in the donor and during organ preservation, HLA mismatch, and acute rejection episodes.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients were segregated as 26 patients (30%) with histologically proven chronic graft rejection (CHR[+]) and 59 patients (70%) without (CHR[-]). The presence of C pneumoniae-DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes was significantly more frequent in CHR(+) than CHR(-) group (46% vs 20%). Patients with leukocytes positive for C pneumoniae-DNA more frequently (50%) had CHR than patients negative for C pneumoniae-DNA (22%). CHR(+) patients showed significantly lower HDL levels (47 mg/dL vs 58 mg/dL) and higher triglyceride levels (193 mg/dL vs 148 mg/dL). To study the cumulative effect of differences between the CHR(+) and CHR(-) groups, we applied a multiple binary logistic regression analysis. An econometric model enabled us to calculate the probability of CHR for a given patient taking into account covariates chosen by means of stepwise selection: the presence of C pneumoniae-DNA in blood leukocytes, the use of continuous pulsatile perfusion in hypothermia, myocardial infarction occurrence, and triglyceride concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The presence of C pneumoniae-DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes increased the risk of CHR, which may be predicted by a multifactor analysis of chosen parameters.

Infectious Complications After Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplantation

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) improves long-term survival of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic nephropathy. The increasing success of SPKT is a result of improved surgical technique, better organ preservation, potent antirejection therapy, and effective use of antibiotics to prevent and treat infectious complications. However, morbidity and mortality following SPKT remain high mainly owing to infection. From 1988 to 2004, the 51 patients who underwent SPKT were 32 women and 19 men of mean age 34 +/- 4 years old with diabetes and end-stage renal disease. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 23 +/- 4 years. The incidence of HCV and HBV infections were 19.6% and 13.7%, respectively. Preoperative work-up included identification and elimination prior to surgery of potential sources of infection. All patients prior to SPKTx had been treated by dialysis (26 +/- 20 months). The kidneys were always placed into the left retroperitoneal space first; at the same time the pancreatic grafts were prepared on the back table. The reconstruction of the superior mesenteric and the splenic arteries was performed using a Y graft of donor iliac artery to the common or external donor's iliac artery. The pancreas was transplanted intraperitoneally to the right iliac vessels. The portal vein was sutured to the common or external iliac vein and the arterial conduit of donor iliac artery. In 20 of the patients, bladder drainage and in 31, enteric drainage was used for the pancreatic juice exterioration. Patients received immunosuppression with a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus or cyclosporin), mycophenolic acid or azathioprine, and steroids. Antibody induction (alternatively anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody or ATG) was used in last 38 patients. Antibacterial (tazobactam) and antifungal (fluconazole) as well as antiviral (gancyclovir) prophylactic treatment was given to all patients for 7 to 10 days after transplantation. Thirty-eight recipients are alive, 26 with function of both grafts; 8 with functioning kidney grafts; and 4 with nonfunctioning grafts on dialysis treatment from 1 to 14 years after transplantation. Thirteen patients (24.5%) died during the first year after transplantation. Infectious complications were the main cause of death. Systemic infections accounted for the death of five patients and CNS infection for death of another five patients. Three patients died with functioning grafts due to cardiopulmonary disorders (myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus) early in the postoperative period. A total of 102 infections were diagnosed in 51 patients during the posttransplant course. Twenty-one episodes of CMV infection (systemic 20, duodenal site 1), 73 bacterial infections (systemic 13, pulmonary 13, urinary tract 15, intestinal 8, wound 23), and 8 fungal infections (central nervous system 5, gastrointestinal tract 3). Some patients had more than one type of infection. Overall mortality in the investigated group was 24.5%. Infectious complications were the main cause of death (77%), including systemic infection (38.5%) and CNS infection (38.5%). The predominant etiology of the systemic infections was bacterial. The etiology of CNS infections was fungal. In conclusion, infectious complications are the main cause of morbidity and mortality following SPKT. The early diagnosis of infection, particularly fungal complications, is necessary. The administration of broad-spectrum prophylactic antibiotics, antifungal, and antiviral agents is recommended.

Quality of Life After Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplantation

Even recipients with satisfactory function of transplanted pancreas and kidney may show physical and/or social disability due to diabetic complications. Our aims were to evaluate diabetic complications influencing recipient quality of life and to assess patients' psychosociological status. Nineteen patients with functioning grafts who consented to take part in the study, underwent clinical evaluation and answered questions regarding their quality of life. Results showed excellent endocrine pancreatic function in 17 patients. In most recipients, insulin activity and C-peptide levels were elevated owing to systemic venous drainage. Opthalmological examination revealed blindness in 7 patients (in 4 cases with onset following SPKTx) and retinopathy in 13 patients (in 5 cases it appeared after SPKTx). Assessment of the cardiovascular system revealed satisfactory cardiac function in 16 of 19 patients; 4 patients underwent amputation of a lower limb following SPKTx. All 19 recipients admitted to a great benefit of transplantation; most patients declared ability to organize their life activity and social functions and 4 had regular employment. Conversely, most patients were afraid of graft loss, and half were often sad and even depressed.

Polyomavirus BK infection

Because it is an important factor affecting renal transplant function, BK infections are significant problem in posttransplant. BK nephropathy develops in 5% of renal allograft recipients, in most cases within the first year after the procedure. The gold standard for BK nephropathy diagnosis is still immunohistochemical staining for large T antigen in graft biopsy specimens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of and factors influencing BK nephropathy in our renal allograft population. Among 89 renal or pancreas/kidney allograft recipients, BKV DNA was detected in 1 or more serum samples in 17 patients but BK nephropathy was diagnosed in only 1 case. Plasmacytic tubulitis was an exclusive feature in PCR-positive patients with 2 (20%) cases but no such findings in the PCR-negative group. In 40% of patients in the PCR-positive group at least 1 rejection episode was diagnosed versus 22% in the PCR-negative group. There were no significant differences in both groups according to total ischemia time, immunosuppressive treatments, or mean serum creatinine at 1 year after transplantation.

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: analysis of donor factors

There are no urgent indications for simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. So our policy is to harvest only a pancreas in good biologic condition. The criteria for acceptance of a pancreas donor are: age 15 to 40 years, ICU stay < 7 days, no clinical signs of infection, negative virologic status, no history of hypotension or cardiac arrest, serum amylase elevation below three times normal values, controllable hyperglycemia, no history of pancreatic disease, no history of abdominal trauma damaging the organ, no history of alcohol addiction, BMI < 25, no functional or anatomical lesions of the kidneys, and expected ischemia time less than 12 hours. The proper selection of a pancreas donor allows one to achieve good insulin secretion immediately after transplantation. In 2000 to 2002 all 20 pancreases transplanted at transplant center displayed immediate secretory function after transplantation.

In situ perfusion and UW solution used for storage did not decrease the incidence of ATN in kidneys harvested from hemodynamically unstable donors

The incidence of acute tubular necrosis ATN after cadaveric kidney transplantation in our centre has been in the range of 50%. A prospective study was carried out in 1991 and 1992 to assess the effect of in situ perfusion and hypothermic storage of kidneys harvested from brain-dead haemodynamically stable and unstable donors. Three litres of Ringer's solution were used for in situ perfusion. In 40 cases, the kidneys were stored in Euro-Collins (EC) solution and in the other 78 cases, in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Among the factors that could contribute to ATN, we analysed warm ischaemia time, anastomosis time and cold storage time. Function was considered to be delayed if the patient required posttransplantation dialysis. The donors were considered haemodynamically unstable when hypotension before harvesting was present (BP < 70 mm Hg over 2 h) despite high doses (> 15 microg/kg per minute) of dopamine or when cardiac arrest occurred at the time of harvesting and oliguria had been present for at least 2 h. Haemodynamically stable donors with a BP greater than 80 mm Hg had a normal diuresis. In all donors in this group the dose of dopamine was lower than 10 microg/kg per minute. The study showed that storage in UW solution did not influence the incidence of ATN in kidneys harvested from haemodynamically unstable donors. Differences observed in our study were due to haemodynamic status preceding donor nephrectomy and length of cold storage time.

Activity of glutathione S-transferases in the urine of kidney transplant recipients during the first week after transplantation

Glutathione S-Tranferases (GST) are the enzymes which are strictly specific for epithelial cells of the proximal and distal tubules in the kidney. These enzymes are detected in the urine when some tubular damage process is found. In healthy people urine GST is hardly detected. The goal of this study was to evaluate the release of two isoenzymes -- alpha and pi GST in the urine of kidney graft recipients during the first week after kidney transplantation, aiming to differentiate the cause of the delayed function (DF) of transplanted kidney.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

50 cadaveric kidneys were procured using standard technique with "in situ" cooling using UW solution. All kidneys were machine perfused. After preservation kidneys were transplanted to 50 ERSD patients. Standard triple drug immunosuppression was applied (steroids, CsA, Cell-Cept or Aza.). Graft function and the release of alpha and pi GST in the urine were measured 1, 3 and 7 days after transplantation.

RESULTS

immediate function (IF) was found in 72% (36pts), DF in 28% (14pts). 5 of DF patients had ATN, 4 had acute rejection (REJ) and the remaining 5 had ATN and acute rejection (see table below).

CONCLUSIONS

High alpha and pi GST concentrations were found in pts with DF graft function during the first 7 days after Tx. Elevated pi GST and low alpha GST in the urine indicates acute rejection. High alpha and pi GST in pts with DF should raise suspicion of graft rejection.

Factors limiting renal transplantation program in Poland

The shortage of donor organs has been the main obstacle to the expansion of transplantation programs. Recent public opinion survey documented acceptance of the cadaveric kidney procurement in our country but some reluctance to brain death and presumed consent concepts. Recently, the survey was carried out within the medical community to find out whether the level of knowledge and the attitude toward donation has an influence on the slow development of the transplantation program. A questionnaire was addressed to: 1010 general practitioners, neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists; 926 ICU and neurosurgical nurses and 1760 students of 12 medical schools of the country. Vast majority of doctors, nurses and last year medical students accept retrieval and transplantation of kidneys and the heart, but not of the liver. Acceptance of this procedure among junior medical students and university students was lower (78% vs 98%). Most of the respondents would agree to donate their kidneys and other organs, but 20% would protest against harvesting of the organs from their relatives. 100% of the physicians and 80% of medical students and nurses accept the brain death concept(which is accepted only by 60% of non medical university students) but only 44% of the doctors are prepared to switch off the respirator after diagnosis of brain death if harvesting is not taking place. Only half of the physicians would notify the transplantation unit about the possibility of organ retrieval. The reasons mentioned for such decision included fear of negative judgment of the local community and problems with deceased relatives. 60% of physicians talking to the family about retrieval would ask for the relatives' consent despite the fact, that the transplantation law in Poland is based on the presumed consent of each individual. The results of the knowledge survey among medical students documented inadequate medical education concerning problems of transplantation. Educational campaign is needed to promote and extend the cadaveric organ transplantation in our country.