David Hull

Noncompliance in organ transplant recipients.

The frequency of noncompliance with postoperative medical therapy ranges from 2% to 43% in organ transplant recipients and causes more graft loss than uncontrolled rejection in compliant patients. Retrospective and prospective studies undertaken at our center showed no difference in the rate of noncompliance between males and females or between recipients of cadaveric kidneys and those from living, related donors. Patients less than 20 years of age were statistically the most noncompliant (p = 0.0001) compared with those over 40 years. A significant difference in compliance was seen among blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites, with the greatest frequency in blacks. This was not due to race, but to socioeconomic status, with those in the low socioeconomic group the most noncompliant. Problems of noncompliance may be reduced if they are identified early in the treatment course.

Deficits in lower extremity muscle and gait performance among renal transplant candidates

This study was performed to determine the reliability and convergent validity of two lower extremity muscle performance (LEMP) measurements and to describe deficits in and determinants of LEMP and gait performance. Cross-sectional case series and criterion standard designs were used. The study took place at a tertiary care center. The subjects were referred from a volunteer sample of 110 renal transplant candidates. There were no interventions. The main outcome measures were knee extension strength measured by hand-held dynamometry and a sit-to-stand-to-sit (STSTS) test; gait independence on level surfaces and stairs; comfortable and maximum gait speed. Dynamometer measurements were reliable within (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > or = .976) and between (ICC > or = .953) testers. Repeated STSTS measurements were also reliable (ICC > or = .843). The LEMP measures correlated significantly (p < .001) with one another (r > or = .406, R > or = .445). Compared with values predicted by regression equations derived from healthy individuals, transplant candidates showed significant deficits in knee extension force (33.2% to 34.6%) and gait speed (20.5% to 22.7%). Consistent as determinants of LEMP were sex, weight, and diabetic status. STSTS performance was the most consistent determinant of gait performance. The results of this study support the use of the STSTS test to characterize LEMP in kidney transplant candidates, particularly those who are diabetic or have deficits in gait performance.

Donor postextubation hypotension and age correlate with outcome after donation after cardiac death transplantation.

Background. Compared with standard donors, kidneys recovered from donors after cardiac death (DCD) exhibit higher rates of delayed graft function (DGF), and DCD livers demonstrate higher rates of biliary ischemia, graft loss, and worse patient survival. Current practice limits the use of these organs based on time from donor extubation to asystole, but data to support this is incomplete. We hypothesized that donor postextubation parameters, including duration and severity of hemodynamic instability or hypoxia might be a better predictor of subsequent graft function. Methods. We performed a retrospective examination of the New England Organ Bank DCD database, concentrating on donor factors including vital signs after withdrawal of support. Results. Prolonged, severe hypotension in the postextubation period was a better predictor of subsequent organ function that time from extubation to asystole. For DCD kidneys, this manifested as a trend toward increased DGF. For DCD livers, this manifested as increased rates of poor outcomes. Maximizing the predictive value of this test in the liver cohort suggested that greater than 15 min between the time when the donor systolic blood pressure drops below 50 mm Hg and flush correlates with increased rates of diffuse biliary ischemia, graft loss, or death. Donor age also correlated with worse outcome. Conclusions. Time between profound instability and cold perfusion is a better predictor of outcome than time from extubation to asystole. If validated, this information could be used to predict DGF after DCD renal transplant and improve outcomes after DCD liver transplant.

Muscle Strength Impairments and Gait Performance Deficits in Kidney Transplantation Candidates

The purposes of this study of patients referred for renal transplant were to describe muscle strength impairments and deficits in gait performance and to establish the relationship between them. Twenty-six patients were tested. Muscle strength measurements included grip, elbow flexion, and shoulder abduction in the upper extremities, and ankle dorsiflexion, knee extension, hip abduction, and timed sit-to-stands in the lower extremities. Gait performance (level ground and stair) was quantified using ordinal scales and speed. Compared with healthy control subjects, patients demonstrated impairments in muscle strength and deficits in gait performance. Patients with diabetes demonstrated greater impairments and deficits than patients without diabetes. Patients with an active fistula demonstrated better grip strength in their upper extremity without the fistula. Gait performance was correlated significantly with lower extremity strength, with knee extension strength and weight providing the best prediction of gait speed (R2 = 0.478 to 0.617). The results of this study suggest that patients referred for renal transplantation possess both strength impairments and deficits in gait performance, the latter being related to the former. The clinician wishing to efficiently monitor strength impairments among patients referred for transplantation can obtain a reasonable indication of them from dynamometric grip and knee extension strength measurements.

Liver transplant for metastatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Generally, the results of liver transplantation for metastic liver disease have not been favorable. One exception has been the unique group of neuroendocrine tumors, the slow growth of which allows liver transplantation to effectively palliate and control symptoms. We report two cases: (a) A 51-year-old man who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation and resection of the pancreatic primary tumor for a nonfunctioning malignant neuroendocrine tumor with features of both carcinoid and islet-cell glucagonoma remains symptom-free and without evidence of tumor recurrence at 13 months follow-up. (b) A 47-year-old man who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation and Whipple resection fo a metastatic isletcell tumor in the head of the pancreas is fully recovered at 5 months follow-up.

Noncompliance in Organ Transplant Recipients

The frequency of noncompliance with postoperative medical therapy ranges from 2% to 43% in organ transplant recipients and causes more graft loss than uncontrolled rejection in compliant patients. Retrospective and prospective studies undertaken at our center showed no difference in the rate of noncompliance between males and females or between recipients of cadaveric kidneys and those from living, related donors. Patients less than 20 years of age were statistically the most noncompliant (p=0.0001) compared with those over 40 years. A significant difference in compliance was seen among blacks, Hispanics, and non‐Hispanic whites, with the greatest frequency in blacks. This was not due to race, but to socioeconomic status, with those in the low socioeconomic group the most noncompliant. Problems of noncompliance may be reduced if they are identified early in the treatment course.

A regional experience with emergency liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation for patients requiring life-support results in the lowest survival and highest costs. A ten year (1983-1993) regional experience with liver transplantation for critically ill patients was undertaken to ascertain the fate of several subgroups of patients. Of the 828 liver transplants performed at six transplant centers within the region over this period, 168 (20%) were done in patients who met todays criteria for a United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) status 1 (emergency) liver transplant candidate. Recipients were classified according to chronicity of disease and transplant number (primary-acute, primary-chronic, reTx-acute, reTx-chronic). Overall one-year survival was 50% for all status 1 recipients. The primary-acute subgroup (n = 63) experienced a 57% one-year survival compared with 50% for the primary-chronic (n = 51) subgroup (P = 0.07). Of the reTx-acute recipients (n = 43), 44% were alive at one year in comparison with 20% for the reTx-chronic (n = 11) group (P = 0.18). There was no significant difference in survival for the following: transplant center, blood group compatibility with donors, age, preservation solution, or graft size. For patients retransplanted for acute reasons (primary graft nonfunction (PGNF) or hepatic artery thrombosis [HAT]), survival was significantly better if a second donor was found within 3 days of relisting (52% vs. 20%; P = 0.012). Over the study period progressively fewer donor organs came from outside the region. No strong survival-based argument can be made for separating, in allocation priority, acute and chronic disease patients facing the first transplant as a status 1 recipient. Clearly patients suffering from PGNF or HAT do far better if retransplanted within 3 days. Establishing an even higher status for recipients with PGNF, perhaps drawing from a supraregional donor pool, would allow surgeons to accept more marginal donors, thus potentially expanding the pool, without significantly compromising patient survival. Retransplantation of the recipient with a chronically failing graft who deteriorates to the point of needing life-support is nearly futile, and in todays health care climate, not an optimal use of scarce donor livers.

Gastroplasty for Morbid Obesity after Cardiac and Renal Transplantation

The success of vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) in the obese transplanted population is measured by a low operative morbidity and mortality in the context of a good record of permanent weight loss and an enhanced quality of life. Selection of transplanted patients for gastroplasty should be guided by the prevailing standards for the general population. VBG is the procedure of choice because of proven efficacy and has the benefit over gastric bypass of not producing malabsorption. The operation causes early satiety while allowing consistent absorption of immunosuppressive medication from the upper gastrointestinal tract, essential in these patients. The risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and immunosuppressive medication toxicity may be decreased by substantial long-term weight loss afforded morbidly obese transplant patients by gastric restrictive surgery. Cardiac risk factors associated with morbid obesity and immunosuppressive therapy are lessened with sustained weight reduction.