High-dose rate iridium192 afterloading therapy in combination with external beam irradiation for localized prostate cancer

The number of donors aged 60 years and over has increased. This study examined discard rates and transplant outcomes in organs recovered from older donors. Data were obtained using a standard tool for donors aged 60 years and older during 1993 and 1994 and included demographics, medical history, use of vasopressors, renal/liver function studies, organ disposition, biopsy findings, and recipient organ function. Of 58 kidneys recovered, 24 were transplanted, 26 were used for research, and 8 were discarded. Of 14 livers recovered, 11 were transplanted, 1 was used for research, and 2 were discarded. Sixty-three percent of kidney recipients had immediate function; 79% at 30 days. Nine liver recipients had immediate function; 6 at 30 days, with 1 graft lost. Results show that kidneys and livers can be transplanted from older donors with positive outcomes. Factors such as medical history, use of vasopressors, and organ function studies may help predict organ disposition and function.     

Properties of recombinant bacteriophage T4 tail sheath protein and its deletion fragments

We aimed to determine whether our results were any better or worse than other published reports and to examine the efficacy of the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) policy of applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and manual ventilation to all unwitnessed cardiac arrests in preference to immediate defibrillation. All cardiac arrests were studied from October 1994 to September 1996. In all unwitnessed arrests, crews undertook CPR and manually ventilated the lungs via a mask or an endotracheal tube with a bag and valve or a mechanical resuscitator using an FIO2 of 1 or 0.21 for at least 2 min before defibrillation was attempted. There were 3403 diagnosed cardiac arrests but, in these, the diagnosis was not certain. CPR and advanced life support (ALS) were applied in 3380 patients and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained in 554, giving a success rate of 16.4%. A total of 364 patients were accepted into hospital, 90 patients died in A&E but 274 patients were admitted to ICU/CCU. Seventy died within 24 h, 69 died after 24 h and 135 were discharged alive and well without cerebral damage. The final success to discharge rate was 49.27%. Of those discharged, 69 had a circulatory arrest period of more than 4 min but in only 10 was a bystander available to start CPR. The European Resuscitation Council Guidelines recommending immediate defibrillation for unwitnessed arrests are not supported by these results. The apparent lack of cerebral damage and the percentage success suggests that resuscitation considerations should be as brain orientated as they are heart orientated. The elapsed time periods reported challenge several shibboleths.     

Kidney transplantation: the use of living donors with renal artery lesions

PURPOSE: A shortage of organs for transplantation has forced surgeons to optimize the use of marginal organs, such as kidneys with arterial disease. We present a retrospective study of the outcome of donors with renal artery disease and recipients of kidneys from living related and unrelated donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kidneys with vascular abnormalities from healthy living donors were grafted into 11 recipients. These kidney transplants comprised 1.8% of those performed at our institution. The vascular abnormalities were aneurysms in 3 cases, atherosclerotic lesions in 4 and fibromuscular dysplasia in 4. After nephrectomy all abnormalities were corrected under hypothermic conditions during bench surgery except in 3 cases of ostial atherosclerotic plaque, which was left in the donors. The renal artery was anastomosed to the external iliac artery in 5 cases and to the internal iliac artery in 6. The ureter was reimplanted using an extravesical technique. RESULTS: All patients had immediate diuresis and no delayed post-transplant graft dysfunction was observed. One patient died of an unrelated cause and 3 had post-transplant graft function loss due to acute vasculopathy in 1, post-diarrhea with acute arterial thrombosis in 1 and recurrence of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome in 1. All remaining patients are well with median serum creatinine of 1.4 mg./dl. (normal 0.4 to 1.4). All donors are well and normotensive with normal renal function. CONCLUSIONS: The use of kidneys with arterial disease from living donors with unilateral disease is safe. Complete informed consent regarding the risks and benefits by donor and recipient is mandatory.     

Long-term outcome when major complications follow coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Recovery after complicated coronary artery bypass graft surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether information available 1 week after surgery correlates with long-term function in patients who suffer major complications after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN: An inception cohort study. SETTING: A 526-bed community teaching hospital. PATIENTS: All 67 patients who required at least 7 days of CT-ICU care following 2,751 consecutive CABG operations. MAIN OUTCOMES: Hospital survival, long-term survival, and functional ability at long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-three patients survived hospitalization (64%), while 24 died 37 +/- 45 days (range, 7 to 190 days) after surgery. When 42 patients were surveyed 22 +/- 9 months after surgery, 21 of the survivors enjoyed excellent, independent function, 7 were moderately impaired but living at home, 6 were institutionalized with severe limitations, and 8 had died. Patients with very severe cardiac or neurologic dysfunction 1 week after surgery had an extremely poor outcome. When mechanical ventilation was required for causes other than primary failure of the respiratory system, long-term function and hospital survival were poor. Twelve of 14 patients with pulmonary complications survived hospitalization, and all 12 were alive at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: More than half of patients requiring 7 days or more of ICU treatment after CABG surgery survive, and many enjoy excellent long-term function. However, those with very severe cardiac or neurologic dysfunction 1 week after surgery have little chance for independent recovery.     

Double renal allografts successfully increase utilization of kidneys from older donors within a single organ procurement organization

BACKGROUND: In 1994, a policy of double renal allografting (DUAL) was used at two centers within our local organ procurement organization to increase utilization of kidneys from older donors that would otherwise be discarded. Both kidneys from an older donor (age > 60 years) were selectively transplanted into a single adult recipient. METHODS: The relative impact of a DUAL policy on the utilization of older donor kidneys is examined for the period of April 1994 to April 1996. Actual utilization is compared with the hypothetical case in which a DUAL policy is not present. RESULTS: In the actual setting, a total of 75 kidneys from older donors (> 60 years) were accepted for transplantation. Thirty-six kidneys were transplanted as singlets, and 16 additional kidneys were transplanted as DUAL renal allografts. Thus, a 44% increase in transplantable kidneys, and a 22% increase in patients transplanted with kidneys from older donors, was realized. In the actual setting, 23 older kidneys were discarded; without the DUAL policy, 39 kidneys would have been deemed untransplantable. When compared with the actual (n = 52) and hypothetical number of kidneys transplanted without a policy of DUAL transplantation (n = 36), the DUAL policy significantly increased the utilization of older donor kidneys (P = 0.01). The actuarial 1-year graft survival rate of the dual kidneys was 100%, with a mean follow-up of 11.1 +/- 2.9 months. Mean 6-month and 1-year serum creatinine level were 1.76 +/- 0.4 and 1.63 +/- 0.6 mg/dl, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A DUAL policy significantly increased the number of older donor kidneys transplanted in a single organ procurement organization and reduced the rate of discard of older donor kidneys over a 2-year period. Long-term follow-up is necessary to substantiate satisfactory graft function in DUAL from older donors.     

Multiorgan donation in The Netherlands: limited by consent and policy

The percentage of multiorgan donors (MOD) versus single organ donors of kidneys only (SOD-K) has remained markedly low in the Netherlands compared to the other countries in the Eurotransplant region. This suggests a possible loss of donor organs. We investigated the causes of this persisting low percentage of MOD by studying the reasons for kidney donation only. All kidney donors in the Eurotransplant region in 1992 were studied retrospectively. In order to be able to make a comparison between all countries investigated, non heart-beating donors and donors older than 55 years were excluded. Medical reasons were the most frequent cause for kidney donation only in the Netherlands, but this was not significantly different from the other countries in the Eurotransplant region. Multiorgan donation in the Netherlands was restricted by upper age limits for heart and liver transplantation and by the consent system.     

Bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of alpha-mannosidosis

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, elderly donor kidneys have not been widely accepted for transplantation on the assumption of inferior performance. However, the United Network for Organ Sharing reports an increase in the number of elderly donors from less than 2% in 1982 to 24% in 1995. This trend is commensurate with the increase of older dialysis patients and an overall increase in the elderly population in the United States (1). Optimal utilization of these kidneys is essential to overcome the acute organ shortage. METHODS: In this study, we transplanted 25 kidneys from elderly donors (ages 56-72 years) into young adult recipients (ages 20-50 years) (group 1) over a 4-year period. We compared the results with matched recipients of young adult donor kidneys (group 2) with regard to long-term kidney function and graft survival. A pretransplant biopsy of elderly donor kidneys was carried out and a frozen section report was obtained. Only those kidneys showing glomerulosclerosis of less than 20% were accepted for transplantation. All cadaveric kidneys were preserved in University of Wisconsin solution. RESULTS: Pretransplant biopsies of elderly donor kidneys showed structural deficits, which included glomerulosclerosis in 85%, arteriolar and/or mesangial thickening in 75%, and interstitial lymphocyte infiltration in 30%. The mean serum creatinine was 2.4+/-0.74, 2.2+/-0.56, and 2.9+/-0.76 mg/100 ml in group 1 and 1.5+/-0.55, 2.3+/-2.24, and 1.7+/-0.62 in group 2 at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The patient survival was 92%, 92%, and 88% in group 1, and 100%, 100%, and 100% in group 2 at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The graft survival was 80%, 64%, and 56% in group 1 and 100%, 96%, and 88% in group 2 at similar time intervals. The differences in the serum creatinine and graft survival between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the elderly donor kidneys with structural deficits transplanted into young adults provided suboptimal function and inferior long-term graft survival. To maximize the utilization and optimize the survival of elderly donor kidneys, we propose transplantation of these kidneys into age-matched recipients with similar physiological requirements as those of donors, with regard to kidney function.     

Transcranial Doppler for early identification of potential organ transplant donors

BACKGROUND: Encouraging results in transplant medicine create a growing demand for organ transplant donors. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) has been used by several investigators to assess arrest of the cerebral circulation in brain dead patients. We report on TCD as a monitoring tool for early identification of potential organ transplant donors. DESIGN: A prospective clinical study. SETTING: Intensive care unit (ICU) of a 900-bed community hospital (primary and tertiary care center) in Vienna, Austria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients with acute intracranial lesions admitted to our intensive care unit underwent TCD examination at least once daily. In patients with Glasgow Coma Scores < 7, TCD waveforms with high resistance profiles unchanged by therapeutic attempts to lower intracranial pressure indicated the need for repeated TCD up to four times a day. TCD waveform abnormality consisting of absent or reversed diastolic flow or small early systolic spikes in at least two intracranial arteries was considered to constitute intracranial circulatory arrest. Brain death was confirmed by clinical criteria, an isoelectric electroencephalography (EEG) or non filling of the intracerebral arteries on arteriography. RESULTS: From January 1994 to July 1996 we identified 11 comatose patients as potential organ transplant donors with typical TCD findings indicating intracranial circulatory arrest. Diagnosis was subarachnoid hemorrhage in 7 and intracerebral hemorrhage in 4 patients. Brain death diagnosis according to the criteria of Austrian law was initiated immediately after the TCD findings suggested intracranial circulatory arrest. Confirmation of brain death was obtained by clinical criteria and either EEG (6 patients) or cerebral angiography (5 patients). CONCLUSION: TCD examinations on a daily routine basis offer a noninvasive monitoring method for early assessment of intracranial circulatory arrest. TCD enables quick identification and further diagnosis of candidates for organ transplant donation.     

Improved survival of en bloc renal allografts from pediatric donors

PURPOSE: We developed a technical and immunological protocol to increase survival of renal transplants from pediatric donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: En bloc kidneys (22) were procured from donors weighing 2 to 14 kg. (1 to 60 months old) and transplanted into adult recipients. In group 1 (12 patients) sequential therapy was used for kidneys with more than 35 hours of cold storage and immediate triple therapy (cyclosporine, azathioprine and prednisone) was used for those with less than 35 hours of cold storage. In group 2 (10 patients) OKT3 induction therapy was used. Mean followup was 4.7 years. RESULTS: Mean blood pressure at 1 and 4 years was not significantly different between the groups. Mean serum creatinine was not significantly different between the groups at 1 year but it was significantly less in group 2 at 4 years (1.9 +/- 1.0 versus 1.2 +/- 0.24 mg./dl., p <0.05). At 1 year of followup the complication rate was 75% in 9 of 12 patients in group 1, including 4 infections or leaks (2 lost), 6 rejections (3 lost) and 3 cases of thrombosis or hemorrhage, and 20% (p <0.01) in group 2 (1 patient had the hemolytic uremic syndrome leading to graft loss). Graft survival was significantly greater in group 2 at all 4 years of followup (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The success of pediatric en bloc renal transplantation can be enhanced by induction therapy in healthy recipients.     

Outcome of en bloc and single kidney transplantation from very young cadaveric donors

BACKGROUND: The optimal use of very young cadaveric kidneys (from donors less than 4 years old) remains controversial. High rates of technical complications and poor functional results compared with adult donor kidneys have been reported. The use of en bloc transplantation to overcome these problems has been advocated, although en bloc transplantation halves the number of potential transplants from very young donors. METHODS: We studied the technical and functional results of 91 transplants from very young donors performed at our institution between 1984 and 1995. This included 59 single and 22 en bloc procedures involving first transplants and 7 single and 3 en bloc procedures involving retransplantation. Individual surgeon preference dictated the use of either the single or en bloc technique. Kidneys smaller than 6 cm tended to be transplanted en bloc, and lighter patients were generally given preference for receiving pediatric kidneys. Patients received sequential cyclosporine-based quadruple immunosuppression. RESULTS: En bloc kidneys had a 1-year and 5-year graft survival of 82% and 70%, respectively. Single kidneys had a 1-year and 5-year graft survival of 64% and 40%. Kidneys that avoided acute rejection episodes and that were transplanted into heavier or male recipients had better long-term survival. Kidneys from donors less than 2 years old did poorly whether transplanted en bloc or singly. Better HLA matching improved short-term, but not long-term, graft survival, whereas cold ischemic time did not have statistically significant association with differences in graft survival. Eleven percent of the transplants had ureteral leaks, but only one kidney was lost. Ten transplants had vascular complications leading to graft loss, whereas two episodes of arterial stenosis were successfully treated with percutaneous angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: En bloc transplantation optimizes the outcome of transplantation with very young kidneys. We recommend induction therapy and cyclosporine immunosuppression with cyclosporine levels similar to adult target levels to minimize rejection episodes and, thus, improve outcome. These kidneys should be distributed nationally, because better HLA matching is associated with improved short-term graft survival. Our high ureteral leak rate indicates that alternatives to unstented ureteroneocystostomy should be considered.     

Radioisotopic evaluation of renal function in cyclosporine-treated pediatric and adult renal transplant recipients and their living donors. A study of 152 donor-recipient pairs

Renal function was studied in 2 groups of renal transplant recipients and their donors by technetium-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid and a gamma camera. The pediatric group (group A) comprised 40 children and their adult kidney donors. The adult group (group B) consisted of 112 consecutive adult renal transplant recipients and their adult donors. All patients received kidneys from living donors and were given the same immunosuppression protocol (PRED plus CSA). Donor glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined before nephrectomy and at a mean period of 30 (range 10-50) months after nephrectomy. The graft GFR was measured at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and at the most recent follow-up visit. Moreover, the functional reserve of the graft was assessed by infusion of dopamine and an amino acid. The postnephrectomy GFR of donors in groups A and B were 74 +/- 18 and 72 +/- 20 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The GFR of pediatric recipients was significantly lower than that of adult recipients at corresponding time points along the course of follow-up. The mean values of graft GFR were 47.6 +/- 20 and 63.8 +/- 29.6 ml/min/1.73 m2 for pediatric and adult recipients, respectively (P < 0.001). Moreover, the graft functional reserve was significantly lower in pediatric recipients. These data demonstrate that adult kidneys transplanted into pediatric recipients have lower GFR than those transplanted into adults, despite corrections for body surface area. Although the reason for this phenomenon is unknown, the observation may have important implications for management of pediatric recipients.     

Patients with Turner's syndrome may have an inherent endometrial abnormality affecting receptivity in oocyte donation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether endometrial receptivity is compromised in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) due to Turner's syndrome who undergo oocyte donation. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: In vitro fertilization-ET units, anonymous oocyte donation program. PATIENTS: The study included 53 patients with POF who underwent oocyte donation. These included 7 patients with Turner's syndrome (45,X) who underwent 22 ET cycles, 15 women with Turner variants (mosaics, deletions, or isochromosomes) who underwent 36 ET cycles, and 31 other patients with POF and a normal karyotype who underwent 69 oocyte donation cycles. INTERVENTION: All patients on standby for donation were treated with E2 valerate 6 mg/d until oocytes became available; then P 100 mg/d was added. Oocyte donors were healthy women < 34 years who underwent IVF themselves. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical pregnancy rates (PRs), biochemical pregnancies, early abortions, and delivery rates were evaluated. RESULTS: Turner's syndrome patients had a significantly higher rate of biochemical pregnancies (22.7% versus 4.3%), a lower clinical PR (22.7% versus 33.3%), a significantly higher rate of early abortions (60% versus 8.7%), and a significantly lower rate of deliveries per pregnancy (20.0% versus 73.1%) compared with non-Turner patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a complete or partial deficiency of an X chromosome have reduced PRs and an increase in early implantation failure after oocyte donation. This may indicate an inherent endometrial abnormality, possibly associated with a deficiency of X-linked genes regulating endometrial receptivity.     

Orthotopic heart transplantation in a transgenic pig-to-primate model

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated that hearts from transgenic pigs expressing human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF) were not hyperacutely rejected when transplanted heterotopically into the abdomen of cynomolgus monkeys. This study examines orthotopic transplantation of hDAF transgenic pig hearts into baboon recipients. METHODS: Orthotopic xenogeneic heart transplantation was performed using piglets, transgenic for hDAF, as donors. Ten baboons were used as recipients and were immunosuppressed with a combination of cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and steroids. RESULTS: Five grafts failed within 18 hr without any histological signs of hyperacute rejection. Pulmonary artery thrombosis induced by a size mismatch was observed in two of these animals. The other three recipients died because of failure to produce even a low cardiac output and/or dysrhythmia. The remaining five animals survived between four and nine days. One animal died of bronchopneumonia on day 4. Three xenografts stopped beating on day 5 due to acute vascular rejection. The longest survivor was killed on day 9 with a beating, histologically normal xenograft, because of pancytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The results reported here demonstrate that hDAF transgenic pig hearts are not hyperacutely rejected when transplanted into baboon recipients. Orthotopically transplanted transgenic pig hearts are capable of maintaining cardiac output in baboons. An optimum immunosuppressive regimen is the subject of ongoing research.     

Clinical hepatitis after transplantation of hepatitis C virus-positive kidneys: HLA-DR3 as a risk factor for the development of posttransplant hepatitis

BACKGROUND: Exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and subsequent infection after renal transplantation lead to significant clinical hepatitis in approximately 50% of graft recipients. METHODS: One hundred thirty-two consecutive renal allotransplant patients, who underwent transplantation of kidneys from HCV-positive cadaveric donors, were studied to investigate the relationship between donor and recipient HLA type and the risk of developing clinical hepatitis. Specific attention was directed toward the DR3 and DR4 alleles, as these had previously been associated with worse prognoses in autoimmune and viral hepatitis. RESULTS: Overall, 42% of patients receiving kidneys from donors seropositive for HCV developed clinical hepatitis. This was unrelated to preoperative recipient HCV serum reactivity (P=0.65). Patients receiving kidneys from seropositive donors with HCV RNA as detected by PCR were more likely to develop hepatitis than those receiving kidneys from PCR-negative donors (56% vs. 11%; P=0.005). The presence of the DR3 allele was associated with a significant risk of clinical hepatitis (P=0.025); 80% of DR3-positive recipients (n=34) progressed to hepatitis compared with 42% of DR3-negative patients. No other recipient HLA type was significantly related to prognosis. All patients receiving a donated kidney that expressed the B41 allele developed hepatitis, compared with 55% of recipients of non-B41 grafts (P=0.039). No association between the development of clinical hepatitis and HLA compatibility was found. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that both HLA type and viral presence as assayed by polymerase chain reaction, influence the risk of disease progression after transplantation of HCV-positive kidneys. Application of these associations may decrease the relative risk of a recipient contracting HCV hepatitis after cadaveric renal transplantation.     

When should expanded criteria donor kidneys be used for single versus dual kidney transplants?

BACKGROUND: To increase the utilization of cadaveric donor kidneys, we have recently expanded our acceptable criteria to include aged donors (frequently with a history of hypertension), by selectively using both donor kidneys (dual transplant) into a single recipient. METHODS: To define when these expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys should be used as a single versus a dual kidney transplant, we retrospectively reviewed 52 recipients of ECD kidneys that had been turned down by all other local centers between 1/1/95 and 11/15/96. Fifteen patients received dual transplants, whereas the remaining 37 received single kidneys. Of the dual kidney recipients, 14 of 15 ECD were > or = 59 years of age, 10 of 15 were hypertensive, and 9 of 15 were both. Of the single recipients, 11 of 37 ECD were > or = 59 years of age, 11 of 37 were hypertensive, and 7 of 37 were both. All patients received cyclosporine-based triple-drug therapy. We compared seven donor (D) and sixteen recipient outcome variables in single versus dual kidney transplants as subgrouped by: (1) donor admission creatinine clearance (D-AdC(Cr)) < 90 ml/min; (2) D-age > or = 59 years; and (3) cold storage (Cld Stg) < or > 24 hr. RESULTS: In the group with D-AdC(Cr) < 90, there was a significantly higher incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) in single versus dual recipients (9 of 20 [45%] vs. 1 of 11 [9%]; P=0.04) and worse early graft function based upon mean serum creatinine at 1 and 4 weeks (5.3+/-3.3 and 2.8+/-2.0 vs. 1.7+/-0.6 and 1.4+/-0.5 mg] dl; P<0.05). In the group with D-age > or = 59, recipients of single kidneys had significantly higher mean serum creatinine at 1, 4, and 12 weeks versus recipients of dual kidneys (5.1+/-3.3, 3.4+/-2.1, 2.8+/-1.5 versus 2.8+/-2.5, 1.5+/-0.6, 1.6+/-0.5 mg/dl; P<0.05). Cld Stg time also had an impact on DGF and early outcome. Recipients of dual kidneys stored less than 24 hr had a significantly lower incidence of DGF versus single kidneys stored more than 24 hr (10% vs. 46%; P<0.05) and better early graft function based on mean serum creatinine at 1, 4, and 12 weeks (1.9+/-0.8, 1.3+/-0.4, 1.5+/-0.2 vs. 6.6+/-3.4, 3.0+/-1.6, 2.9+/-1.9 mg/dl; P<0.05). The overall 1-year patient and graft survivals were 96% and 81% vs. 93% and 87% (P=NS) in recipients of single ECD versus dual ECD kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we believe that kidneys from ECD with D-AdC(Cr) < 90 ml/min and D-age > or = 59 should be used as dual kidney transplants, keeping the Cld Stg time at < 24 hr to minimize the effect of Cld Stg on early graft function.     

Follow-up study of Finnish volunteer oocyte donors concerning their attitudes to oocyte donation

A questionnaire was sent to the first 30 Finnish volunteer oocyte donors at 12-18 months after donation to determine their experiences concerning treatment and attitudes to donation. All donations were carried out anonymously and without payment. The donors were recruited by advertising in newspapers. Most donors were very satisfied with the experience. The side-effects of the treatment had been slight and tolerable. In all, 85% of the respondents reported no gynaecological problems afterwards. The problems reported by the other 15% were minor and unrelated to the donation. A total of 67% of the respondents would have liked to have known if pregnancy had been achieved in the recipient, and 89% reported that they had thought about the possibility of a child from their donation. Some 42% of the respondents preferred to receive no information concerning either the child or the recipient couple. Of the respondents, 59% thought the offspring should be told about its origin and 33% thought the child should be given identifying information about the donor. About half of the others would agree to the release of non-identifying information. In all, 96% of the respondents reported that their own feelings were sufficiently taken into consideration during the treatment and 78% would donate again. No-one regretted their donation.     

Helical CT angiography for examination of living renal donors

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study was intended to determine if helical CT arteriography plus conventional radiography is sufficiently accurate to replace and less costly than excretory urography and conventional renal arteriography, the techniques currently used to examine living renal donors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients underwent CT arteriography with a helical CT scanner. Conventional radiographs were obtained during the pyelographic phase to evaluate the urothelium. Findings on CT arteriograms were compared with findings on conventional arteriograms and at surgery. RESULTS: Of 57 patients who underwent CT arteriography, 46 also underwent conventional arteriography and 40 underwent surgery. For those 46 patients, we found agreement between results of CT arteriography and conventional arteriography in 89% of kidneys. For those 40 patients, we found agreement between results of CT arteriography and findings at surgery in 90% of kidneys and agreement between results of conventional arteriography and findings at surgery in 87% of kidneys. Of the 57 patients, six (11%) had findings on CT angiograms that precluded further consideration for donation. CONCLUSION: Eight to ten percent of renal arteries are not seen on renal arteriograms when compared with findings at surgery. Our results indicate that CT arteriography is as accurate as conventional arteriography at revealing the number of vessels that perfuse and drain the kidneys and can replace conventional arteriography. Use of CT angiography plus conventional radiography instead of excretory urography and conventional arteriography can result in a 35-50% reduction in cost of the imaging studies in potential renal donors.     

DNA index by flow cytometric analysis: an additional prognostic factor in advanced ovarian carcinoma without residual disease after primary operation

Prediction of duration of a patient's stay in the ICU after cardiac surgery is difficult. In 652 consecutive adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, we analysed prospectively preoperative and immediate postoperative variables thought to influence duration of stay in the ICU. With univariate analysis, we found that age, preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, blood transfusions and the number of inotropic agents administered in the immediate postoperative period (for at least 6 h) were significant correlates of duration of stay in the ICU. However, logistic regression analysis showed that the number of inotropes was the most important determinant of stay in the ICU, with an overall prediction accuracy of 94.8%. The main cause of prolonged stay in the ICU (more than 2 days) was low cardiac output syndrome. We conclude that analysis of perioperative variables enhanced our ability to accurately predict duration of stay in the ICU in cardiac surgery patients. The number of inotropic agents administered during the first 6 h after operation was the most important determinant of duration of stay in the ICU.     

Studies on the mechanism of antimalarial action of a novel arylene bis(methylketone)

CT-guided neurolytic splanchnic nerve block is a technique for relieving abdominal cancer pain; the goal is the alcoholic neurolytic interruption of the sensitive structures in retroperitoneal space. CT yields accurate anatomical detailing and the course for needle placement and alcohol spread. January, 1993, to July, 1996, twenty-one bilateral splanchnic nerve blocks were performed through the posterior access. Forty-eight hours after alcoholization, 14 patients (66%) had complete pain regression; 52% of the patients needed no analgesics for 6 to 54 days and only 9 patients (42%) needed another low opioid therapy. Complications included hypotension and diarrhea in all cases. One had a cardiac arrest and died 8 days after the procedure. There were no other complications. The whole procedure usually lasted 60 min (range: 45 to 90 min). Splanchnic nerve neurolysis is a useful treatment in the patients with severe chronic abdominal pain. It is used as a second line treatment when large lesions change celiac anatomy and complicate the percutaneous block of the celiac plexus.     

Serum neuron-specific enolase as early predictor of outcome after cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prognostic value of serum neuron-specific enolase for early prediction of outcome in patients at risk for anoxic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Coronary intensive care unit of the University of Heidelberg. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients (66.8 +/- 12.7 [SD] yrs, range 33 to 85) who had had either primary or secondary cardiac arrest, followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). INTERVENTIONS: Serial blood samples and clinical examinations. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum neuron-specific enolase concentrations were determined after CPR on 7 consecutive days. Twenty-five patients remained comatose and subsequently died; 18 patients survived the first 3 months and had no relevant functional deficit at 3-month follow-up. Neuron-specific enolase concentrations were correlated with neurologic outcome. Concentrations of >33 ng/mL predicted persistent coma with a high specificity (100%) and a positive predictive value of 100%. Overall sensitivity was 80%, with a negative predictive value of 78%. Serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase exceeded this cutoff value no more than 3 days after cardiac arrest in 95% of patients in whom these concentrations had exceeded 33 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who have been resuscitated after cardiac arrest, serum neuron-specific enolase concentrations of >33 ng/mL predict persistent coma with a high specificity. Values below this cutoff level do not necessarily indicate complete recovery, because this method has a sensitivity of 80%.