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The transplant community is focused on prolonging the ex vivo preservation time of kidney grafts to allow for long-distance kidney graft transportation, assess the viability of marginal grafts, and optimize a platform for the translation of innovative therapeutics to clinical practice, especially those focused on cell and vector delivery to organ conditioning and reprogramming. We describe the first case of feasible preservation of a kidney from a donor after uncontrolled circulatory death over a 73-h period using normothermic perfusion and analyze hemodynamic, biochemical, histological, and transcriptomic parameters for inflammation and kidney injury. The mean pressure and flow values were 71.24 ± 9.62 mmHg and 99.65 ± 18.54 mL/min, respectively. The temperature range was 36.7°C-37.2°C. The renal resistance index was 0.75 ± 0.15 mmHg/mL/min. The mean pH was 7.29 ± 0.15. The lactate concentration peak increased until 213 mg/dL at 6 h, reaching normal values after 34 h of perfusion (8.92 mg/dL). The total urine output at the end of perfusion was 1.185 mL. Histological analysis revealed no significant increase in acute tubular necrosis (ATN) severity as perfusion progressed. The expression of KIM-1, VEGF, and TGFβ decreased after 6-18 h of perfusion until 60 h in which the expression of these genes increased again together with the expression of β -catenin, Ki67, and TIMP1. We show that normothermic perfusion can maintain a kidney graft viable ex vivo for 3 days, thus allowing a rapid translation of pre-clinical therapeutics to clinical practice., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Montagud-Marrahi, Luque, Ros, Ajami, Cuadrado-Payan, Estrella, Arancibia, Sánchez-Etayo, Bohils, Marrero, Fundora, Ramírez-Bajo, Banon-Maneus, Rovira, Larque, Campistol, Diekmann and Musquera.)

Background: The utilization of non-lung organs from deceased donors with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the time of donation can be lifesaving, although the safety of this policy must be assessed., Methods: This is a nationwide, prospective study, reporting the experience on the utilization of non-lung organs from SARS-CoV-2-positive donors between December 15, 2020 and May 31, 2022 in Spain., Results: A total of 69 patients received a solid organ transplant (41 kidney, 18 liver, 8 heart, and 2 combined liver-kidney) obtained from 32 donors with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR at the time of donation (four of them with a cycle threshold value <30). All recipients tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and were free of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms prior to transplantation. Nasopharyngeal swab turned positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR in 4 (5.8%) recipients at 3, 8, 11, and 20 days after transplantation, though evidence did not support a donor-derived COVID-19. Four kidney recipients lost their grafts and two patients died: one heart recipient due to cardiogenic shock and one combined liver-kidney recipient due to lung hypertension and right heart failure. Graft losses and patient deaths were deemed unrelated to the donor SARS-CoV-2 status by the treating teams. No other adverse reactions were reported., Conclusions: This preliminary experience supports the safety of the use of organs other than lungs from SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive donors, in alignment with previous series. However, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection upon organ quality should be established in future research., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Severe and morbid obesity (Class II -III) represents a challenge for successful knee surgery. There isn't consensus on what influence body mass index has on blood loss and on red blood cell (RBC) transfusion during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The objective was to determine blood loss and transfusion needs in severe and morbid obese patients undertaking TKA., Methods: We recorded retrospectively all patients undergoing TKA. Obesity was assessed according to WHO guidelines. Perioperative haemoglobin and treatments for its optimisation were recorded. Blood losses were estimated from specific formulae for lost red-cell mass and percentage of lost blood volume., Results: 922 patients were included: 35.90% were obese Class I and 18.76% obese Class II - III. Estimated blood volume was 4390  ±  470 ml, 4736  ±  423 ml and 5030 ± 464 ml among non-obese, obese Class I and obese Class II-III, respectively (P < 0.001). The global estimated blood volume (EBV) lost was 1502  ±  680 ml without differences between the three groups. However, the percentage of lost blood volume was lower in obese Class II -III (29.65%) than in non-obese (33.55%) and obese Class I (30.97%) (P < 0.005). Transfusion rates were 12.7%, 12.1% and 6.4% for non-obese, obese Class I and Class II -III, respectively (P = 0.062). A negative transfusion risk was predicted for Class II -III patients., Conclusions: Severely and morbidly obese patients did not show greater blood loss nor higher RBC transfusion needs after primary TKA than non-obese and obese Class I patients. This could be because obese Class II -III patients had higher EBV but similar RBC losses., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has a high transfusion rate. In our protocol, the use of postoperative cell salvage is indicated in patients with contraindications to tranexamic acid (TA). An analysis was performed on the effect of post-operative cell salvage (POCS) regarding transfusion rate and costs in patients undergoing TKA., Material and Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted on 518 patients, of whom 434 received TA, and 84 were contraindicated. The red cell mass, blood volume, and the percentage of lost blood volume were calculated. Incidents associated with the use of post-operative re-perfusion of drained blood and the rate of transfusion were recorded. An analysis was performed on the costs associated with allogeneic transfusion prevention methods., Results: A POCS drain was not inserted in 10 out of the 84 patients not candidates for TA. In the 74 in which it was placed, 158±72ml of red cell mass was reinfused. The allogeneic transfusion rate was 36%, and was 52% in those with no drain inserted. Relative risk of transfusion using POCS was 0.69 (0.41 to 1.16) with an absolute risk reduction of 16% (-8 to 40%). The number needed to treat to avoid allogeneic transfusion was 7. The direct costs to avoid allogeneic transfusion were €1,610. No complications associated with blood re-infusion were observed., Conclusions: The use of POCS would be required in 7 patients after TKA to avoid one allogeneic transfusion with a cost over 10 times that of a transfusion of red cell concentrates., (Copyright © 2015 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

We present the case of a patient who was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, and large Reinke laryngeal oedemas that were removed by transoral laser microsurgery. In the immediate post-operative period acute respiratory insufficiency occurred due to pharyngeal collapse that required emergency re-intubation, after which the patient was transferred to the ICU where mechanical ventilation was given for 18h. Subsequent progress was normal. We describe the combination of various risk-factors related to anaesthetic management and the importance of considering each one of them, especially the preoperative detection of the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of endothelin receptor A (ET(A)) and endothelin receptor B (ET(B)) blockade on liver microcirculation and oxygenation during intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) increase., Methods: Fifteen anesthetized pigs were randomized to receive either nonselective endothelin-1 (ET-1) blocker tezosentan (TG, n = 7) or saline (CG, n = 8). Helium was insufflated to increase IAP from 0 to 25 mmHg. Stroke volume variability was maintained ≤ 12% with colloid infusion. Total liver blood flow (TLBF), hepatic microcirculatory blood flow (MBF), hepatic tissue oxygenation (HpO(2)), hyaluronic acid and plasma disappearance rate (PDR) of indocyanine green (ICG) were recorded., Results: TLBF remained mostly unaltered in both groups at low IAP and decreased only in CG at the IAP of 25 mmHg. As IAP increased, a significant decline in MBF was observed without correlation with cardiac output or TLBF. In CG, HpO(2) decreased as early as IAP of 10 mmHg to high levels of pressure. However, in TG the decrease was significant only at the IAP of 25 mmHg. PDR of ICG decreased in both groups at IAP of 25 mmHg (P = 0.046 and P = 0.009 in TG and CG, respectively). These changes correlated with MBF (r = 0.793)., Conclusion: Blocking ET(A) and ET(B) receptors partially protects sinusoidal circulation and tissue oxygenation against stress induced by high IAP., (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Digestive Diseases © 2012 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Background: There is no evidence on the best method for teaching Basic Life Support (BLS)., Aims: To compare two methods for teaching BLS, assessing the level of cognitive skills., Methods: Randomized, prospective study including 68 medical students. BLS algorithms were taught for 60 minutes using either a multimedia presentation (Group I, n=34) or case based discussion (Group II, n=34). Assessments included a scenario-based quiz test and an error-pinpointing video, which the students completed before (T1) and after (T2) teaching. Comparisons between both groups were made on scores of the assessments, actual increases in scores (final value - initial value) and score gains (actual increase/potential increase)., Results: No significant differences were found between the groups in any of the recorded scores. Both groups improved their T2 scores (p values <0.001). The actual increases in scores and the score gains were similar in both groups. Test scores improved in 55.9% of students in Group I and 58.8% in Group II; video scores improved in 85.3% of Group I and in 82.3% of Group II., Conclusions: BLS teaching by either multimedia presentations or case based discussion equally improves the level of cognitive skills among medical students.

Unlabelled: Airway management in patients with penetrating neck trauma must guarantee cervical spine stability. Moreover, the prone position increases the risk of difficult ventilation and cervical spine injury. A 19-yr-old patient was brought to the emergency room in prone position with a drill bit protruding from the posterolateral aspect of his neck. The bit had entered the spinal canal below the first cervical vertebra, and placed near the odontoid peg. He was referred for surgical removal of the drill. The use of an inhaled induction of anesthesia, avoiding muscle relaxants, and ventilation through a laryngeal mask airway inserted in the prone position seemed to offer a satisfactory approach., Implications: Management of patients with penetrating neck trauma must guarantee cervical spine stability. Moreover, the prone position increases the risk of difficult ventilation and cervical spine injury. Anesthesia may be induced and the airway can be managed with the patient already in the prone position for surgery.

Objectives: To describe perioperative complications in different approaches to surgery for epilepsy., Patients and Methods: All patients undergoing surgery related to epilepsy between January 1997 and December 2001 were studied. We gathered information on patient characteristics, diagnosis, anticonvulsant treatment, surgical procedure, type of anesthesia and perioperative complications., Results: Ninety-eighty patients underwent 90 procedures under general anesthesia and 12 procedures with local anesthesia and sedation. Surgery was for anteromedial temporal resection in 74 patients, electrode implantation through the foramen ovale in 10 patients, extratemporal excisions in 7 patients, callosotomy in 3 patients, functional hemispherectomy in 3 patients, implantation of electrode grids in 2 patients, and craniotomy with an awake patient in 3 cases. Complications related to the surgical procedure were intraoperative bradycardia (5 cases), dural tension at the start of surgery (3), bleeding (2) and seizure (1). Complications related to anesthesia were bronchospasm (2 cases), histamine-releasing reaction upon administration of the muscle relaxant (1), and difficult intubation (1). During recovery we saw 1 case of postoperative aphasia, 1 of polyuria, 1 of pulmonary condensation, and 1 of factor VII deficit requiring plasma transfusion., Conclusions: The rate of perioperative complications in surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy is low, the most common complication being self-limiting bradycardia related to surgical maneuvers.