Two cases of pancreas retransplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

The risk of graft loss is relatively high in early stages after pancreatic transplantation so that some patients are placed back on a waiting list for pancreatic transplantation. This review summarized the experiences of two recipients of pancreatic re-transplantation after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Both patients could successfully discontinue insulin dosing, blood sugar levels were maintained at a normal level and function of kidney graft improved obviously as compared to pre-transplant levels.

Graft Calcification Caused by a Torsion of the Hepatic Vein after a Living-Related Donor Liver Transplantation

Abstract: The torsion of vessels after liver transplantation rarely occurs. Likewise, calcification of a liver graft has seldom been reported. This report details a case which had torsion of the left hepatic vein on the seventh day after living-related donor liver transplantation. The torsion was reduced soon after re-exploration; however, congestion with partial necrosis of the graft occurred. On the follow-up imaging studies, some resolution of necrosis and graft regeneration were found, yet geographic calcification of the liver graft appeared. The patient died of pneumonia after 13 weeks, post-operation. The avoidance such torsion of vessels is necessary and important.(AU)

Temporary Portocaval Shunt by Piggyback Cava in Liver Re-Transplantation: Report of a Case.

Re-transplantation operation is a technically difficult procedure because of many adhesions; it has higher morbidity and mortality. In this article a maneuver facilitating liver re-transplantation is described. 27-year old male with hepatic artery thrombosis three months after the deceased liver transplantation admitted to our clinic for retransplantation. Related living right lobe liver transplantation was planned. During recipient’s hepatectomy, the hepatic hilum was transected first, but retroperitoneal dissection and identification of the patient’s vena cava was very difficult. Prolonged operative time and risk of mesenteric venous hypertension after the clamping of portal vein required an application of temporary porto-caval bypass. For this shunt the portal vein of recipient and lower end of cadaveric liver vena cava (“piggyback vena cava”) were used. Vena cava of patient was not clamped during the bypass application, so blood flow in patient’s inferior vena cava was not deteriorated. The liver was removed with both caval veins (cadaveric liver vein and recipient’s own vein) remained in patient’s body. Living donor graft was connected to the piggyback vena cava. Temporary shunt was divided and portal vein anastomosed to the graft portal vein. Arterial anastomosis was performed with recipient’s gastroepiploic artery and the biliary reconstruction fashioned by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. So, piggyback vena cava can be used successfully and safely for temporary porto-caval shunt during the liver retransplantation.

Risk Factors Affecting Long-Term Outcome in Kidney Re-Transplantation Recipients / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to review the result of kidney re-transplantation in comparison with first kidney transplantation, and to identify the prognostic factors affecting long-term outcome at a single center. METHODS: Between April 1979 and January 2006, the total number of renal allografts was 2,495. Among these, 159 cases received second (155 cases) or third (4 cases) transplantation. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes of both groups were compared. And we examined the risk factors affecting long-term outcome in re-transplantation recipients. RESULTS: The mean duration of previous graft survival in re-transplantation group was 86.1+/-51.4 (0~215) months. Major cause of the previous graft failure was chronic rejection (n=88, 55.3%). One-, 5-, and 10-year graft survivals of the re-transplantation group and the first transplantation group were 94.1%, 88.9%, 76.0% and 96.0%, 84.8%, 69.1%, respectively without significant difference (P=0.2203). In uni-variate survival analysis, acute rejection experienced group, elderly recipient more than 50 years old, and female gender group showed significant inferior graft survival rate compared to control group. Previous graft survival duration didn't cause significant graft survival difference. Multivariate survival analysis also confirmed that the episodes of acute rejection within 12 months after transplantation (P=0.035, Odd ratio= 2.514), elderly recipient more than 50 years old (P=0.002, odd ratio=3.734), and female gender (P=0.005, Odd ratio= 3.692) were statistically significant independent risk factors affecting graft survival in kidney re-transplantation. CONCLUSION: Long-term outcomes after kidney re-transplantation were not different from that of first kidney transplantation. Therefore, renal re-transplantation could be the treatment of choice even in recipients with previous failed renal allograft.