Polylactide screws in the fixation of olecranon osteotomies. A mechanical study in sheep

We studied absorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screws in the fixation of osteotomies in sheep. A left olecranon osteotomy in 10 sheep was fixed with polylactide screws and in an additional 10 sheep with metallic AO cortical screws. Follow-up times were 6 and 12 weeks. 8 polylactide fixations healed and 2 failed. All metal fixations united; one of them had a fracture of the proximal fragment resulting in malposition. After killing the sheep the olecranons were radiographed and the shear strengths of the osteotomies were compared with those of the non-operated contralateral bones. After 6 weeks the mean comparative strength was 74 percent in the polylactide group and 83 percent in the metallic control group. After 12 weeks the corresponding values were 112 and 47 percent (P less than 0.05). Our study demonstrated that the mechanical weakening of fixed bone can be avoided by using absorbable polylactide screws instead of metallic screws. However, polylactide screws are not recommended for use without external support in places of high mechanical strain.

Early failure of kidney transplants in the current era-a national cohort study

Although short-term outcome after kidney transplantation has improved, a small proportion of grafts are lost during the first year. We characterize in detail all early graft losses in the current era in a nationwide cohort of kidney transplant recipients. Altogether 2447 kidney transplantations, performed between June 2004 and October 2016, were included. All graft losses (return to dialysis or patient death) occurring during the first post-transplant year were characterized. During the first post-tranplant year, altogether 109 grafts were lost, 67 grafts failed, and 42 patients died. Fifty-five per cent of the deaths were due to cardiovascular causes, and 29% due to infectious causes. Twenty-one per cent of the failed grafts were primary nonfunction of unknown reason, 34% were lost due to venous thrombosis and 9% due to arterial thrombosis, but only 10 (15%) patients lost a graft due to acute cellular or humoral rejection. Independent risk factors for death included diabetes, and longer duration of pretransplant dialysis treatment, whereas risk factors for graft failure included increased level of panel-reactive antibodies and increased cold ischaemia time. Kidney allografts are rarely lost due to immunological reasons during the first post-transplant year. The most common causes of early death after transplantation are cardiovascular and infectious causes.

First-day plasma amylase detects patients at risk of complications after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) carries a high risk of major postoperative complications, but knowledge on early warning signs and surrogate markers for postoperative complications is scarce.

AIMS

Our aim was to analyze the complication-predictive value of different laboratory tests in pancreas transplantation.

MATERIALS & METHODS

All SPKs in Finland between January 2010 and February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Levels of first three-day plasma amylase, drain fluid amylase, C-reactive protein, C-peptide, plasma trypsinogen, and white blood cell count were assessed for their performance predicting cumulative postoperative complications (assessed using the Comprehensive Complication Index) within 90 days from transplantation by using ROC analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 164 SPK patients included, 39 suffered at least one complication requiring laparotomy. First-day plasma amylase had the best value in predicting complications based on its high AUC value and easy clinical applicability, with an optimum cutoff of six times the upper normal limit. Negative predictive values (NPVs) and positive predictive values of this cutoff were 0.81 and 0.71 for any relaparotomy, and 0.91 and 0.71 for the Comprehensive Complication Index >47.7 (which equals the morbidity of two relaparotomies), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, first-day plasma amylase could be able to detect patients at risk of complications after SPK.

Effect of Pretransplant Dialysis Modality on Outcomes After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation

Background

Pretransplant dialysis modality may affect outcome after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT), and it has been suspected that peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with more postoperative complications compared to hemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pretransplant dialysis modality affects the risk for postoperative complications in SPKT recipients.

Material/Methods

This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of all patients undergoing SPKT from 2010 to 2017, during which 99 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations were performed. Three pre-emptive transplantations were excluded. Patient groups receiving PD (n=59) or HD (n=37) were similar regarding baseline characteristics. All complications occurring during the first 3 months after transplantation, as well as patient and graft survival, were analyzed.

Results

There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between groups, with similar rates of intra-abdominal infections (8% in HD vs. 10% in PD), pancreatitis (16% in HD vs. 17% in PD), gastrointestinal bleedings (22% in HD vs. 10% in PD), and relaparotomies (27% in HD vs. 24% in PD). None of the patients had venous graft thrombosis. Past peritonitis was not associated with increased risk for postoperative complications in PD patients. Patient and graft survival were similar between PD and HD groups.

Conclusions

Peritoneal dialysis is not a risk factor for postoperative complications after SPKT.

The burden of cytomegalovirus infection remains high in high-risk kidney transplant recipients despite six-month valganciclovir prophylaxis

Cytomegalovirus continues to be a concern after transplantation despite prophylaxis regimens. Our aim was to analyse post-prophylaxis primary cytomegalovirus infections among kidney transplant recipients after 6-month valganciclovir prophylaxis and to determine the usefulness of surveillance after prophylaxis. Data from all cytomegalovirus D+/R- kidney transplant recipients from January 2004 to October 2018 at our center who received 6-month prophylaxis with valganciclovir were retrospectively analysed (N = 481). Detailed analyses were performed for 136 patients who were monitored every 2-4 weeks for DNAemia after the discontinuation of prophylaxis. Post-prophylaxis primary cytomegalovirus infection occurred in 182/481 (38%) patients median 264 days after transplantation (IQR: 226-367) and median 84 days after the end of prophylaxis (IQR: 46-187). In 49% patients, cytomegalovirus infection occurred over 3 months after the end of prophylaxis. Cytomegalovirus infection was not associated with lower patient or graft survival and no independent risk factors for infection were found. From patients monitored closely, 71/136 (52%) patients developed post-prophylaxis primary cytomegalovirus infection. Altogether, 52/136 (38%) patients were diagnosed with probable post-prophylaxis cytomegalovirus disease and 19/136 (14%) patients had asymptomatic CMV infection. Recurrent infection occurred in 38/71 (39%) patients. The incidence of post-prophylaxis primary cytomegalovirus infection among D+/R- kidney transplant recipients remains high despite 6-month prophylaxis. Surveillance after prophylaxis was challenging as a considerable portion of the infections occurred late and already symptomatic.

Atrial Fibrillation and Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation

BACKGROUND

There are no published data on atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients receiving simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT). We explored the epidemiology and adverse outcomes of AF in SPKT recipients in this retrospective observational cohort study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All 200 SPKT recipients in Finland to date between March 2010 and April 2021 were included in the present study. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, and transplantation data were collected from the electronic patient records. Outcome measures included new-onset AF (NOAF), ischemic stroke, and death.

RESULTS

Median age was 42 years (interquartile range [IQR] 35-49), 69 (35%) were female, and median dialysis vintage was 13 months (IQR 9-19). Altogether 7 patients (4%) had a previous diagnosis of AF at baseline, and heart failure was independently associated with prior AF in the age-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis. After a median follow-up of 3 years (IQR 1-5), 2 patients (1%) were observed with incident NOAF, 4 (2%) with ischemic stroke, and 7 patients (4%) died. Prior AF or NOAF were not associated with cardiovascular adverse outcomes, mortality or graft outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate a low prevalence and incidence of AF for the first time in this large observational study comprising all SPKT recipients in Finland to date.

The use of biodegradable implants in the fixation of small animal cancellous bone fractures

In this study the cancellous bone fractures of 10 dogs and 2 cats were surgically treated with biodegradable implants to fixate the fractures. The implants were made of selfreinforced PGA homopolymers. The patients were allowed to walk on their operated limbs immediately after the fixation and they started to use them within one week. All patients except one used their operated limbs without lameness in 6 weeks and the twelfth case in 8 weeks, due to a postoperative periosteal infection. Radiographically, the fractures of 10 patients healed in 6 weeks and in 12 weeks in 2 cases. No other pathological reactions in the bone could be seen in the radiographs than the periosteal infection. Because the implants resolved spontaneously there was no need for a second operation to remove them.