Impact of Pulsatile Machine Perfusion on Posttransplant Recovery in Asystole Donation: Organ Optimization and the Future of Renal Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: With the increase in life expectancy and the aging of the population, chronic kidney disease has become increasingly prevalent in our environment. Kidney transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease, but the supply of renal grafts has not been able to keep pace with growing demand. Because of this rationale, organ selection criteria have been extended (expanded criteria donation), and alternative donation types, such as donation after circulatory death, have been evaluated. These approaches aim to increase the pool of potential donors, albeit with organs of potentially lower quality. Various forms of donations, including donation after circulatory death, have also undergone assessment. This approach aims to augment the pool of potential donors, notwithstanding the compromised quality of organs associated with such methods. Diverse strategies have been explored to enhance graft function, with one of the most promising being the utilization of pulsatile machine perfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 28 transplant recipients who met the inclusion criterion of sharing the same donor, wherein one organ was preserved by cold storage and the other by pulsatile machine perfusion. We performed statistical analysis on posttransplant recovery parameters throughout the patients' hospitalization, including admission and discharge phases. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were noted in delayed graft function (P = .04), blood transfusions requirements, and Clavien-Dindo complications. Furthermore, an overall trend of improvement in discharge parameters and hospital stay was in favor of the pulsatile machine perfusion group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of pulsatile machine perfusion as a method of renal preservation results in graft optimization, leading to earlier recovery and fewer complications compared with cold storage in the context of donation after circulatory death.

[Robot-assisted and laparoscopic pyeloplasty.] / Pieloplastia robótica y laparoscópica.

OBJECTIVES: Uretero-pelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction has been classically treated by open dismembered pyeloplasty. Recently, laparoscopic (LP) and robotic pyeloplasty (RP) have become the techniques of choice for the treatment of UPJ stenosis in adult and pediatric population. Our objective in this paper is to review the results of minimally invasive surgery as the treatment of UPJ obstruction, the trend to use these approaches and the current limits of LP and RP. METHODS: A review of most relevant papers and meta-analysis about LP and RP in pediatric and adult population was performed using PubMed. RESULTS: In pediatric population, comparative studies and meta-analysis of relevant series show an overlap of results between LP, RP and open surgery in terms of success rate, rate of complications and hospital stay, being operating time shorter in open pyeloplasty compared to minimally invasive techniques. In infants and pre-school age open surgery remains as technique of choice for pediatric surgeons. In adults, comparative studies and meta-analysis of the most relevant series show also an overlap of results in terms of success rate and complication rate between LP and RP. Nonetheless, minimally invasive techniques seem to offer a significant shortening of hospital stay and need for analgesics compared to open surgery, reason why laparoscopic techniques are recommended over open pyeloplasty in adult population. CONCLUSIONS: In view of published literature, minimally invasive surgery has been postulated as the standard treatment in UPJ stenosis, with superimposable results to open surgery. The high cost of robotic approach limits its use in this type of pathology.