Ponnusamy Mohan

Improved patient survival in recipients of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant compared with kidney transplant alone in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease

There are emerging data that simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplant (SPK) prolongs life compared with kidney transplant alone (KTA) in type 1 diabetics with end‐stage renal disease. This study was a retrospective comparison of SPK with KTA in patients with type 1 diabetes.

MDRD-Estimated GFR at One Year Post-Renal Transplant Is a Predictor of Long-Term Graft Function

Renal transplantation is the optimal mode of renal replacement. Improvements in graft survival and acute rejection rates have made these outcomes less useful for prognostication and as end-points in clinical trials; accurate surrogate markers of long-term graft outcome are therefore increasingly important. This study examines the relationship between both serum creatinine (SCr1yr) and MDRD estimated glomerular filtration rate measured at one year (eGFRMDRD1yr) as predictors of graft survival. Data on 1,110 patients who received a renal transplant between 1989 and 2005 were extracted from the Irish Renal Transplant Registry. The study group was divided into quartiles of patient numbers according to SCr1yr and eGFRMDRD1yr. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the primary end-point graft survival were constructed for each quartile. Additionally, a Cox Regression restricted cubic spline model was performed for both eGFRMDRD1yr and SCr1yr. Both overall graft outcome and outcome censored for death with a functioning graft (CDWFG) were used as endpoints. Cox regression analysis was performed along with tests for the proportionality assumption to compare the predictive value of eGFRMDRD1yrand SCr1yr. Both eGFRMDRD1yr and SCr1yr were independently associated with long-term renal transplant survival. eGFRMDRD1yr and SCr1yr had similarly strong associations with long-term outcome when the quartile variables were compared using the Bayesian Information Criterion method. The Cox regression restricted cubic spline modeling demonstrated that an eGFRMDRD1yr value < 27 mLs/min/1.73m2 and a SCr1yr value > 229 μmol/L were associated with poor graft survival.

THE ROLE OF INTRAOPERATIVE HEPARIN IN CYCLOSPORINE TREATED CADAVERIC RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

PURPOSE We analyze the effect of intraoperative heparin in cadaveric renal transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined the records of 100 consecutive cadaveric transplant recipients who received 5,000 units of heparin at the time of vascular clamping (group 1), and compared the incidence of graft thrombosis and postoperative hemorrhagic complications to 100 consecutive cadaveric transplant recipients who did not receive heparin (group 2). The groups were similar in terms of donor age, sex, number of transplant recipients, sensitization, multiple vessels, delayed graft function and human leukocyte antigen mismatch. All patients received cyclosporine based triple therapy immunosuppression. All explanted grafts were examined histologically to rule out hyperacute rejection. RESULTS There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups. The overall incidence of graft thrombosis was 5% (6% in group 1 and 4% in group 2). There was a greater need for blood transfusion in group 1, with 25 patients requiring transfusion postoperatively versus 14 in group 2. CONCLUSIONS Intraoperative heparin did not reduce the incidence of graft thrombosis in this retrospective study. It did increase the postoperative blood transfusion requirements. As a result of this analysis, we have abandoned its use.

A review of the anatomical variations of the posterior tributaries of the left renal vein.

BackgroundVariations of the posterior tributaries of the left renal vein (LRV) are frequently encountered during various urological and vascular procedures. This can be explained by the complex embryological and anatomical arrangements of these tributaries, as well as variations in their nomenclature.AimsTo increase awareness of the anatomical variations of the posterior tributaries of the LRV.MethodsTwenty-one kidneys were dissected. All anatomical variations of the posterior tributaries of the LRV were recorded.ResultsThis study highlights lumbar tributaries are common on the left side. A single left lumbar tributary was found entering the posterior surface of the LRV in 10 out of 11 specimens. However, their drainage patterns showed varied anatomical configurations.ConclusionThis cadaveric study was aimed to draw attention to surgically important variations of the posterior tributaries of the LRV. Increased awareness among surgeons can considerably reduce the potential risk of vascular injuries during renal surgery.

Dual kidney transplantation with organs from extended criteria cadaveric donors.

PURPOSE The critical shortage of kidneys available for transplantation has led to alternate strategies to expand the pool. Transplantation of the 2 kidneys into a single recipient using organs suboptimal for single kidney transplantation was suggested. We assessed results in 24 grafts allocated for dual kidney transplantation vs those in a control group of 44 designated for single kidney transplantation. Each group underwent pretransplant biopsy and recipients were age matched. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dual kidney transplantation was done in 24 of 1,091 transplants (2.1%) from 2001 to 2008. In patients with dual kidney transplant vs single kidney transplant mean recipient age was 60.6 vs 60.8 years, mean HLA-A, B and DR mismatches were 3.3 vs 2.9, and average patient waiting time was 15.6 vs 13.9 months. All grafts were perfused with University of Wisconsin solution with a mean cold ischemia time of 17.9 hours. On donor dual kidney biopsy in the dual kidney transplant vs single kidney transplant group the average fibrosis rate was 30% (range 25% to 45%) vs 25% (range 3% to 40%) and the glomerulosclerosis rate was 17.9% (range 3.2% to 40.7%) vs 7.1% (range 0% to 50%). RESULTS Good postoperative renal function was noted in 14 dual kidney transplantation cases. Acute tubular necrosis requiring dialysis developed in 5 patients as well as acute rejection in 1. Two dual kidney recipients (8%) died in the postoperative period with no single kidney deaths. One patient underwent bilateral transplantectomy. Mean anesthesia time was longer in the dual group (371 vs 212 minutes). Patient and graft survival was equivalent to that in the control group at 36 months. CONCLUSIONS Careful selection of marginal kidneys based on clinical and histological criteria allows the use of organs that would not ordinarily be sufficient for transplantation with acceptable outcomes. This is a valid strategy to address the organ shortage.

Tricorporal priapism postradical cystoprostatectomy: First sign of recurrent urogenital malignancy

Abstract  Priapism usually involves the whole length of a corpus or two corpora. Rarely is priapism segmental, especially proximally, and seldomly does it involve all three corpora. The causes of priapism are varied, but priapism due to solid malignancy is an extremely uncommon entity. The usual malignancy is urogenital. The disorder is frequently a manifestation of extensive pelvic extension of the primary disease; less commonly, it is associated with pelvic recurrence after seemingly curative surgery. In cases of malignant recurrence, priapism is rarely the first sign of such recurrence. We report a case of proximal tricorporal priapism, secondary to penile metastasis of a bladder malignancy postradical cystoprostatectomy. In this case, priapism was the first sign of disease recurrence and occurred in the absence of pelvic recurrence. This is the first such report of which we are aware.

The impact of pancreas and kidney transplant on cardiovascular risk factors (analyzed by mode of immunosuppression and exocrine drainage).

Abstract:  Introduction:  The aim of this study was to determine the cardiovascular (CV) risk factor response in Irish patients with type 1 diabetes following simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK), analyzing response based on mode of immunosuppression and surgical drainage in a uniquely homogenous population.

Long-term outcome of intensive initial immunosuppression protocol in pediatric deceased donor renal transplantation

Olaitan OK, Zimmermann JA, Shields WP, Rodriguez‐Navas G, Awan A, Mohan P, Little DM, Hickey DP. Long‐term outcome of intensive initial immunosuppression protocol in pediatric deceased donor renal transplantation. 
Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14: 87–92.

Ex vivo reconstruction of the donor renal artery in renal transplantation: a case-control study.

Transplantation of renal allografts with anatomic variability or injured vasculature poses a challenge to the transplanting surgeon but can be salvaged for transplantation with ex vivo bench reconstruction of the vasculature. We investigated whether renal allograft function is impaired in these reconstructed allografts; compared to the donor‐matched, un‐reconstructed allograft. Reconstructed allografts were transplanted into 60 patients at our institution between 1986 and 2012. A control group was selected from the matched pair of the recipient in deceased donor transplantation. We found no significant difference in the overall graft and patient survival rates (P = 1.0, P = 0.178). Serum creatinine levels were not significantly higher in the study group at 1, 3 and 12 months postoperatively. There were two cases of vascular thrombosis in the study group that were not related to the ex vivo reconstruction. A significantly greater proportion of reconstructed patients were investigated with a colour duplex ultrasound postoperatively (0.007). Although we have demonstrated a higher index of suspicion of transplant failure in patients with a reconstructed allograft, this practice has proven to be a safe and useful technique with equivocal outcome when compared to normal grafts; increasing the organ pool available for transplantation.

Colonisation with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prior to renal transplantation is associated with long-term renal allograft failure

Renal transplant recipients are at an increased risk of developing Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to their immunosuppressed status. Herein, we investigate the incidence of MRSA infection in patients undergoing renal transplantation and determine the effect of MRSA colonisation on renal allograft function and overall mortality. Between January 1st 2007 and December 31st 2012, 1499 consecutive kidney transplants performed in our transplant unit and a retrospective 1:2 matched case‐control study was performed on this patient cohort. The 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year overall graft survival rates were 100%, 86% and 78%, respectively, in MRSA positive recipients compared with 100%, 100% and 93%, respectively, in the control group (P < 0.05). The 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year overall patient survival rates were 100%, 97% and 79%, respectively, in MRSA positive recipients compared with 100%, 100% and 95%, respectively, in the control group (P = 0.1). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, colonisation with MRSA pre‐operatively was an independent predictor for renal allograft failure at 5 years (hazard ratio: 4.6, 95% confidence interval: 1–30.7, P = 0.048). These findings demonstrate that the incidence of long‐term renal allograft failure is significantly greater in this patient cohort compared with a matched control population.