Transplantation proceedings
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Renal transplantation represents the main treatment for end-stage renal disease. The goal of this study was to evaluate the course and outcome of renal transplant recipients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to analyze factors determining prognosis and mortality. ⋯ The mortality rate was higher than that of the general ICU population (42.6% vs 30%). The main reason for ICU admission of renal transplant recipients was sepsis.
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Advanced liver disease is characterized by prolonged global coagulation tests such as prothrombin time (PT). Using Model of End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score-based allocation, many current transplant recipients show advanced end-stage liver disease with an elevated international normalized ratio (INR). The relationship between abnormalities in coagulation tests and the risk of bleeding has been recently challenged among liver disease patients. In this study we reassessed risk factors for bleeding and the clinical implications for patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). ⋯ Bleeding during OLT affects the outcome. The risk is independently influenced by the presence of ascites (probably reflecting the degree portal hypertension) and an INR ≥ 1.6. To improve survival after OLT therapeutic interventions should be further explored to reduce the need for blood transfusions.
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Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) can be estimated from transmitral or color M-mode Doppler flow propagation velocities. However, it has been recommended to not use these indices in heart transplant recipients. Our aim was to compare the accuracy of color M-mode, Doppler, and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI)-derived indices to predict PCWP in heart transplant recipients. ⋯ Compared with other indirect Doppler indices, E/Vp showed the best correlation to predict PCWP in heart transplant recipients. Despite previous recommendations, PCWP can be accurately estimated from color M-mode indices, giving useful information and avoiding the risks of invasive measurements.
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Various equations have been used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in renal patients, including kidney transplant recipients. Controversy exists concerning which equation is more precise to determine kidney failure. ⋯ In our population the CKD-EPI method most approached the CG values, particularly when the GFR was >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2).
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Despite the high rate of kidney transplantation in Spain, a disparity still exists between the numbers of donors and waiting-list patients. Donors after circulatory death (DCD) have been propagated as a promising approach to reduce the donor kidney shortage. In Europe most of the countries use controlled DCD, but in Spain, mainly uncontrolled DCD are harvested and until 2010 at only four institutions. ⋯ There were no cases of primary nonfunction, but delayed graft function was present in 85% of recipients. Despite this impairment, about 75% of patients reached a serum creatinine below 2 mg/dL in the second month, with 1-year graft and patient survivals of 85% and 100%. Although, our preliminary results with a not very long follow-up and small number of patients suggested that utilization of DCD should be expanded because this type of donor increases the number of cases and opportunities of end-stage renal disease patients to reduce the waiting times for transplantation.