Orhan Deniz Kara

Percutaneous nephrostomy in children: diagnostic and therapeutic importance

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic approach in children with urological problems. PN was performed on 39 kidneys in 28 patients (12 girls, 16 boys) aged 4.5 months to 13 years (average 5.38±3.41 years) during the period from January 1996 to December 2003. Underlying abnormalities were ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in 14 patients (17 kidneys), ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO) in six patients (eight kidneys), supravesical obstruction due to tumour or hydatid cyst or ureteral stone in three patients (five kidneys), and severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) with/without neurogenic bladder associated with pyonephrotic kidneys in five patients (nine kidneys). The duration of catheter insertion was between 2 and 160 days (average 80±65.01 days). The complications were haematuria (six cases), infection (five cases) and displacement of catheter (four cases). Radical surgical management was performed in 25 patients (33 kidneys): pyeloplasty in eight cases (ten kidneys), UVJO correction in six cases (eight kidneys), nephrectomy in five cases (five kidneys), ureteroneocystostomy in four cases (seven kidneys), hydatid cyst operation in one case (two kidneys) and stone extraction in one case (one kidney). PN is an easy, safe and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic procedure with few complications in childhood.

Impact of peritoneal transport characteristics on cardiac function in Paediatric peritoneal dialysis patients: a Turkish Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Study Group (TUPEPD) report

BACKGROUND The peritoneal equilibration test (PET) is recommended in paediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to assist prescription management. Despite contradictory reports, high transporter status is associated with reduced survival rate in adults. Since cardiac disease is one of the main causes of mortality in paediatric PD patients, we aimed to evaluate whether transport features have any effect on biochemical data and cardiac function in this group. METHODS One hundred and ten PD patients (13 +/- 5 years, PD vintage: 31 +/- 27 months) were enrolled into the study. Four-hour dialysate/plasma creatinine ratio was used for differentiating PET groups. Thirty-eight patients were high transporters, 29 were high-average transporters and 43 were low-average/low transporters. Echocardiography was performed in all subjects. RESULTS Age, PD vintage, dialysate glucose concentration, ultrafiltration volume, urine volume and blood pressure levels were similar in all PET groups. No biochemical or echocardiographic data (ejection fraction, fractional shortening, left ventricular mass index, myocardial performance index, power Doppler E/tissue Doppler E ratio reflecting diastolic function) were different among PET groups except lower albumin (P = 0.025) levels in high transporters and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.026) levels in high and high-average transporters compared to other transport groups. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac structural and functional abnormalities are highly prevalent among paediatric PD patients. Transport rates did not have a significant effect on biochemical parameters or cardiac structural/functional parameters. It might be suggested that being a high transporter does not provide a disadvantage in terms of atherogenic tendency and cardiac disease in paediatric PD patients. Oligoanuria, anaemia and hypertension were independent predictors of cardiac disease.

Chronic peritoneal dialysis in children with special needs or social disadvantage or both: contraindications are not always contraindications.

♦ Objective: Our aim in the present study was to identify outcomes in children with special needs or social disadvantage, or both, receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) treatment in a pediatric dialysis unit. ♦ Methods: Among 110 children started on CPD in our unit during the period between November 1995 and November 2008, we identified 13 patients (8 girls, 5 boys) with major physical, mental, or psychosocial problems. Age at CPD initiation in the group with disability ranged from 4.0 years to 16.5 years (median: 7.5 years). Under lying diseases were vesicoureteral reflux (4 patients), neuropathic bladder and vesicoureteral reflux (3 patients), chronic pyelonephritis (3 patients), amyloidosis (2 patients), and Alport syndrome (1 patient). Challenges encountered were adverse family or social circumstances (4 patients), cerebral palsy (3 patients), Down syndrome (1 patient), rectovesical fistula in conjunction with ectopic anus and previous multiple abdominal surgery (1 patient), blindness and deafness (1 patient), ventriculoperitoneal shunt (1 patient), colostomy and malnutrition (1 patient), and mental retardation and blindness (1 patient). All catheters were implanted percutaneously. ♦ Results: Median duration of dialysis was 18 months (range: 6 - 124 months). The frequency of peritonitis was not different between children with and without disability (p > 0.05). In children with disability compared with children without disability, the frequencies of catheter-related infections (1 episode/79.3 patient-months vs 1 episode/32.4 patient-months) and of catheter-related non-infectious complications (1 episode/238 patient-months vs 1 episode/115.7 patient-months) were lower (p < 0.05). Chronic peritoneal dialysis was terminated in 5 children (for renal transplantation in 3, switch to hemodialysis in 1, death in 1). ♦ Conclusions: Our results suggest that, with appropriate family support and an experienced multidisciplinary team, CPD can be effectively performed in children with special needs or social disadvantage, or both.

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in a child with Henoch-Schönlein Vasculitis and familial Mediterranean fever

Henoch-Schonlein Vasculitis (HSV) is systemic small vessel vasculitis involving the skin, kidney, joints, and gastrointestinal tract. The proportion of patients reported to have renal involvement varies between 20% and 80%. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)is rare syndrome in children, characterized by clinical features of glomerulonephritis (GN) and rapid loss of renal function. We present a severe kidney involvement in a 14 year old boy with HSV in who is carring MEFV mutation. A 14 year old boy had developed sudden onset of palpable purpuric rash on his extensor surfaces of lower extremities. He had elevated an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (45 mm/h), C-reactive protein (3.74 mg/dl), serum urea 66 mg/dl, serum creatinine 1.8 mg/dl. Also, he had hypocomplementemia. Antinuclear antibody, anti ds DNA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anticardiolipine antibodies were negative. Urinalysis revealed macroscopic hematuria and proteinuria with a 24-h urinary protein excretion of 55 mg/m2/h. The renal biopsy specimen showed crescentic and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. He had also M694V/E148Q compound heterozygote mutation. Clinical symptoms and renal failure resolved with intermittant hemodialysis and medical therapy.

Success of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration treatment in children monitored in the intensive care units

Abstract Introduction: As intensive care units (ICU) have improved, presence of multiple-organ dysfunctions in majority of patients with acute renal failure (ARF) has become clearer. To facilitate multi-organ support, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) techniques have been developed. This study is the one that reports the experience on children including newborns receiving CRRT monitored in ICU. Materials and Methods: The study was performed retrospectively in children who had Continuous Veno- Venous Hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) as a CRRT modality in ICU. Clinical data, primary cause, consultation time, duration and initiation time of CVVHDF were recorded. Patients were classified as cardiac and non-cardiac in respect to primary dysfunction. Stage of renal failure was evaluated according to pRIFLE criteria. Outcome was identified as primary and secondary. Primary outcome was accepted as the composite correction of uremia and metabolic parameters, and regression of fluid overload, while secondary outcomes were assessed as improvement of hemodynamic instability and survival. Results: A total of 36 patients’ files were scanned. There were 10 cases in cardiac group and 26 cases in non-cardiac group. There were statistically better differences between primary and secondary outcome rates of cardiac cases. Although there was no difference between cardiac and non-cardiac cases in terms of primary outcome, secondary outcome was statistically significant. Timing of consultation and CVVHDF was not found to have an effect on the outcome. Conclusion: Our results indicated that CVVHDF treatment was successful even in cardiac patients with high mortality and in patients at their later stage of ARF.

A retrospective analysis of long-term graft survival in 61 pediatric renal transplant recipients: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND Although short-term renal allograft survival in children has improved over the years, long-term graft outcomes remain unclear. In this study we report the characteristics and other variables that impact long-term kidney graft survival in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS Records of 61 pediatric kidney transplant recipients (mean age: 14±3 years) performed at our institution between 1995 and 2011 were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups (functional and non-functional grafts) to investigate the factors that impact graft survival. The groups were compared in terms of recipient characteristics, underlying disease, HLA status, immunosuppressive therapy, donor characteristics, acute rejection, and delayed graft function (DGF). Statistical significance was detected with the t and chi-squared tests (Pearson and Fishers exact tests). Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for graft survival. RESULTS Overall graft survival at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years were 93%, 66%, 46%, and 41%, respectively. The median graft survival was 128.4 months (range: 3-188 months). Donor age, acute rejection, and DGF strongly predicted the chance of graft survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It appears that several modifiable risk factors can partially account for poorer graft survival in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

A novel NPHS2 gene mutation in Turkish children with familial steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

SUMMARY:  We report in this paper two siblings aged 8 and 17 months who were clinically diagnosed with familial steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). By mutation screening of the NPHS2 gene, a homozygous missense mutation, P118L, was detected in both children. This study is the first systematic investigation of NPHS2 gene mutations in Turkish children with familial SRNS. If this mutation is a hot spot of mutation in the Turkish population, screening this novel mutation in Turkish children with SRNS may be of great clinical use to prevent unnecessary treatment modalities, provide accurate genetic counselling and predict the prognosis of the disease.

A single-center experience on percutaneously performed partial omentectomy in pediatric peritoneal dialysis patients

Abstract Objective: This study describes a single-center experience on percutaneously performed partial omentectomy procedure in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients who showed early catheter dysfunction and required catheter replacement due to catheter flow obstruction. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective review of clinical outcomes from pediatric PD patients who underwent percutaneous catheter replacement by pediatric nephrologists between November 1995 and December 2012. Partial omentectomy was performed in those patients in whom omental or adhesion trapping to the catheter tip was seen. Results: During the study period, catheter dysfunction that eventually required percutaneous catheter replacement occurred in 32 (23.7%) children. Of these, 9 patients were performed partial omentectomy. Mean age at initiation of PD and time of omentectomy was 97.48 ± 46.06 and 98.53 ± 45.55 months, respectively. Catheter dysfunction appeared after a mean 1.20 ± 1.0 months. The causes of catheter dysfunction were omental wrapping and malposition. No peritonitis occurred before omentectomy. Mean total operation time was 60 ± 8.83 min. No complications were encountered during the procedure. After omentectomy, mean catheter survival period was 5.92 ± 6.88 months. A total of five peritonitis episodes occurred. Three patients were transferred to hemodialysis. Six patients were on PD treatment without any problem at the end of the first year of their follow-up. Two patients underwent kidney transplantation. Four patients were still on chronic PD treatment at the end of the study period. Conclusion: When performed by an experienced nephrologist, the performance of partial omentectomy by percutaneous route, when required, is an easy, safe and efficient therapeutic procedure in children on chronic PD treatment.

Acute cyanosis in a child after percutaneous placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter: question

A 6-year-old girl with end-stage renal disease due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was admitted for percutaneous placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter. The physical examination before the procedure revealed a child with a pale appearance and a weight of 16 kg (25th–50th percentile) and a height of 95 cm (<3rd percentile). Her vital signs were in normal range. Baseline laboratory test values were as follows: white blood cells (WBCs) 14,700/μl (55% neutrophils); hemoglobin (Hb) 7.4 g/dl; hematocrit (Htc) 21.1%; platelets (PLTs) 242,000/μl; glucose 95 mg/dl; urea 256 mg/dl; creatinine 3.8 mg/dl; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 38 U/l; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 27 U/l; sodium (Na) 138 mEq/l; potassium (K) 4.4 mEq/l. The results of clotting tests were normal. Arterial blood gas analysis in room air showed a pH of 7.34, carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) 40.5 mmHg, oxygen partial pressure (pO2) 96 mmHg, and bicarbonate (HCO − 3) 20.8 mEq/l. Just prior to the procedure, local anesthesia with 10 ml prilocaine (20 mg/ml) was induced at the linea alba, 2 cm below the umbilicus. During the procedure, the patient’s oxygen saturation was above 94%, shown by pulse oximetry. The peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter was inserted successfully. Two hours later the patient developed central and peripheral cyanosis, without significant respiratory distress. Her body temperature was 37°C; heart rate 98 beats/min; respiratory rate 24 breaths/min; blood pressure 90/60 mmHg; oxygen saturation 76% (measured by peripheral transcutaneous pulse oximetry) in room air. Findings from cardiac and pulmonary examination were unremarkable. Although a non-rebreather mask was immediately placed, no improvement of the child’s color and oxygen saturation was observed. Echocardiography and chest X-ray findings were normal. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed that pH, pO2 and pCO2 were 7.35, 97 mmHg and 27 mmHg, respectively. Her hemoglobin level was 7.6 g/dl. Central cyanosis and low oxygen saturation in conjunction with normal arterial pO2 level persisted. Her glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) level was normal (4.2 U/g Hb).

Kronik diyaliz tedavisi alan çocuklarda eritropoetin kullanımının ortalama trombosit hacmine etkisi

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between erythropoietin (EPO) use and mean platelet volume (MPV) in the children undergoing dialysis. Methods: MPV values before and after EPO use in 36 patients (16 hemodialysis - HD, 20 peritoneal dialysis PD) were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to weekly EPO need as; given less than 150 U/kg defined as low EPO and more than 150 U/kg as high EPO groups. The age, weight, primary cause of chronic renal failure, dialysis methods and EPO dosages of patients were recorded. Blood samples were taken before and 4 weeks after EPO usage and MPV values were noted from complete blood counts. Results: While significant increase was seen in the MPV values after EPO in comparison to MPV values before EPO in the HD group (8.18±1.52 fL vs. 9.20±1.46 fL; p=0.046); near significant difference was found in the MPV levels after EPO (8.28±1.80 fL vs. 9.39±1.50 fL; p=0,051) in PD group. In HD patients when high dose of EPO was given, MPV levels were found to be significantly elevated (7.81 ± 1.04 vs 9.61 ± 1.05; p=0.06) after EPO. However, no difference was seen with the lowe dose EPO subgroup (8.64 ± 1.97 ve 8.67 ± 1.81; p>0,05). No effect of EPO dose was found on MPV values in PD patients (9.57 ± 1.58 ve 9.1 ± 1.42; p>0.05). Conclusion: It was observed that EPO influenced MPV values in children undergoing HD, while no effect of erythropoietin was found on MPV values of PD patients. Physicians should be careful while using high dose erythropoietin in children with high thrombosis risk. J Clin Exp Invest 2014; 5 (3): 415-419