Crude Incidence Rate of Malignancy after Kidney Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

BACKGROUND: The incidence pattern of malignancy after kidney transplantation is different from that of the general population. Because increased exposure to immunosuppressants results in an increased incidence of malignancy, institutional reports that do not consider duration of immunosuppression have limited value for providing future kidney recipients with the actual risk for malignancy or for developing a kidney allograft recipient surveillance program. Thus, we retrospectively analyzed our institutional data with regard to the duration of exposure to immunosuppressants. METHODS: A total of 757 patients who had kidney transplantation and were followed-up for at least 6 months at our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The crude incidence rate (CI) was calculated by counting the days of exposure to immunosuppressants. RESULTS: Most malignancies after kidney transplantation were solid tumors (85.3%). The CI of malignancies was 641.1 in allograft recipients and 329.6 in the general population per 100,000 persons per year. Solid tumor cancers of the stomach, liver, lung, breast, cervix, and pancreas showed an increased CI in the allograft recipient group than the general population but cancers of the thyroid and colon did not. Based on the type of immunosuppressive agent, the CI was highest in the cyclosporine group (866/12 months/100,000 persons) than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: We have provided the CIs of cancers after kidney transplantation at our institute. The pattern of post-transplant malignancy is different from that of western countries. Nationwide registration is needed to provide a more rational approach to post-transplant cancer surveillance in Korea.

Development of Korean Model for Independent Organ Procurement Organization / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: The aims of this project were to increase organ donation by developing potential brain dead donor actively and to provide basic data to settle up independent Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) in Korea. METHODS: Hospital based Organ Procurement Organization (HOPO) of Keimyung university worked as a regional OPO and all the reported potential brain dead patient were treated by OPO team during May through October, 2007. Every reported and confirmed brain dead patient was evaluated for their eligibility of organ donation and these organs were allocated by Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS). In order to increase the development of organ donation, campaign was done for public and medical personnels. To estimate the capacity of brain death donor pool, medical records of the dead patients with brain injury were evaluated. Accommodations and educations to the care-giver to the potential donor, neurosurgeon, neurologist and emergency department physicians were also done. For standardization of potential donor care, frame a clinical pathway of the care of the potential donor from the data of computerized records. The cash flow of whole process from developing potential donor to final procurement of organs were calculated to provide minimum expenses for operating Independent OPO in our environment. RESULTS: Total 33 solid organs were procured from 11 brain dead donor during the experimental period. Twelve more organs were possible to donate but not procured because there were no matched recipient at that time. The reported number of potential donor was increased 2.5 times, compare to the same period of previous year (19 from 5 hospital in 2006 but 47 from 14 collaborating hospitals in 2007). Among 47 notified potential donor, only 11 were succeeded to procure. The reasons of failure for procurement in 36 patients were no familial consent in 12, poor patient condition to donate in 9, not in brain death criteria in 15. These results mean that we have at least 21 more potential donors if we can get familial consent and use marginal donor, and early notification. Mean medical expenses were 3 million won for individual expense beside insurance coverage and 5 million won for management expense of donor care from the detection to organ procurement. CONCLUSION: Our results showed the number of the potential donor and actual organ donation can be increased by continued active relationship with regional hospital and adequate care of the donor. The big gap between the profit from our donor care and calculated donor management expenses of IOPO can be progressively covered by increasing number of brain dead donor, increasing procurement rate and increasing organ fee paid by recipient. But for a certain periods, financial support is necessary to settle up IOPO. Our result can be used as a basic data for management plan of IOPO in the future.

Comprehensive Predictors of Fatigue for Cancer Patients / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify comprehensive predictors of fatigue in cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred ten cancer patients visiting in-patient or out-patient clinics of a university hospital located in Incheon participated in this study. RESULTS: The hematologic indicators (WBC and Hemoglobin) were significant for explaining fatigue. The psychological factors of fatigue were statistically significant. Both anxiety and depression, included as psychological factors, were significant in explaining fatigue in cancer patients. The influence of physical factors on fatigue was also statistically significant. Among the variables included as physical factors, pain, nausea/vomiting/anorexia, and sleep disturbance were significant whereas, dyspnea was not significant. The influence of the daily activity factor on fatigue was statistically significant. Among the variables included as daily activity factors, regular exercise or not and the usual activity level were significant in explaining fatigue of cancer patients, while the level of rest was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: From the study results fatigue of cancer patients appeared to be influenced by multidimensional factors, such as physiological, physical, psychological, and activity related factors.

Comparison of Tacrolimus Versus Cyclosporin on Cardiovascular Risk in Renal Allograft Recipient / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: Hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus are common metabolic disorders associated with transplantation and also are risk factors of cardiovascular disease which is leading cause of patient death in kidney transplant recipients. We compared blood lipid and glucose levels of patients receiving tacrolimus (Tac) with those of patients receiving cyclosporine (CyA). METHODS: Patients were grouped as Tac (n=124) or CyA (n=77). Minimal follow up duration was 18 months. Both groups have no difference in age, sex, HLA match, numbers of transplantation and proportion of the patients with pretransplant hypercholesterolemia (>220 mg/dL) or diabetes. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes in Tac and CyA groups were compared at posttransplant 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Prevalence of diabetes in CyA versus Tac group were 18.9 vs. 13.8% (P=0.348), 8.6% vs. 18.8% (P=0.060), 5.9% vs. 18.6% (P=0.016), and 10.4% vs. 21.1% (P=0.067) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after transplantation respectively. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in CyA versus Tac group were 52.5% vs. 16.9% (P=0.000), 37.7% vs. 8.3% (P=0.000), 30.3% vs. 7.4% (P= 0.000) and 22.6% vs. 8.3% (P=0.001) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation. CONCLUSION: CyA group was more prone to develop hypercholesterolemia than Tac group, whereas incidence of diabetes in Tac group was not different from CyA group. In terms of cardiovascular risk, there was no significant difference between CyA treated group and Tac treated group in renal allograft recipients.

Central Vein Stenosis in Hemodialysis Patients

PURPOSE: Central vein stenosis (CVS) is a common problem for the patients on chronic hemodialysis. It is primarily a result of previous catheterization of a central vein. This study investigated the characteristics of this problem and the effect following treatment different modalities. METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of 23 dialysis patients who had diagnosed with central venous stenosis from January 2001 to March 2005. We reviewed the characteristics, clinical manifestations and effects of treatment. RESULT: Of the total 23 patients, 9 patients had no past history of central vein catheterization ipsilateral to the vascular access. The most common site of venous lesion was the left innominate vein (n=12). A total of 20 patients underwent treatment. Of these 20 patients, 14 (20%) underwent balloon angioplasty, 5 underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with stent insertion and 1 underwent bypass surgery. The primary patency rate was 57% for the balloon angioplasty and 40% for the PTA with stent insertion. The numbers of patients in need of repeat treatment following the initial endovascular treatment were 2 of 14 patients (14%) for balloon angioplasty and 2 of 5 (40%) for the PTA with stenting. CONCLUSION: The primary goal of diagnosis and therapy for CVS is to maintaining the functionality of the access and to relieve the symptoms. Radiogical intervention is a gold standard. The long term patency after angioplasty, with or without stents, remains unproven.

Malignant Hyperthermia under General Anesthetic Operation: A Case Report

Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited disorder of skeletal muscle, characterized by temperature elevation, muscle destruction, muscle rigidity and high oxygen consumption. It is triggered by anesthetic agents, usually potent inhalation anesthetics and succinylcholine. It is fatal in the majority of cases unless early diagnosis and treatment are performed. We experienced one case of malignant hyperthermia incidentally. She had post burn scar contracture on anterior chest and abdomen and local flap was prepared for releasing scar contracture under general anesthesia. Approximately 3 hours after induction, tachycardia developed followed by severe arrhythmia with unstable blood pressure, temperature elevation and cyanosis. Anesthesia was stopped immediately and aggressive emergency management was performed with Dantrolene. About 4 hours after induction, the patient was recovered to normal state with intensive care.

The abdominal trauma index as a method for quantifying the risk of complication following abdominal trauma

No abstract available.