DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO MANAGING UROLITHIASIS IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS - A CASE REPORT.

Urolithiasis is a rare urologic complication after kidney transplantation, and its diagnosis and treatment can be challenging for clinicians. In our 52-year-old male patient, graft hydronephrosis was found six months after transplantation. The patient had recurrent urinary tract infections followed by macrohematuria and an increase in creatinine levels. Computerized tomography revealed a 13-mm diameter stone in the ureter of the transplanted kidney as the cause of obstruction. Percutaneous nephrostomy was placed in the graft to solve the obstruction. Initial endoscopic treatment with a retrograde approach failed. An antegrade approach through a previously placed nephrostomy was not successful either. By a repeated retrograde approach, laser lithotripsy was performed successfully. The patient has been monitored for six months and has stable graft function without hydronephrosis or stones. As in our patient's case, the diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis in kidney transplant patients is challenging, and minimally invasive procedures are the treatment of choice.

A CT-based pelvic calcification score in kidney transplant patients is a possible predictor of graft and overall survival.

OBJECTIVES: Computerized tomography (CT) is the most accurate method for evaluating pelvic calcifications, which are of utmost importance for planning kidney transplantation (KT). The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and distribution of iliac artery calcifications and correlate the novel pelvic calcification score (PCS) with cardiovascular risk factors and graft and overall survival in KT patients. METHODS: We retrospectively included 118 KT patients operated at our institution with pretransplant pelvic CT. Calcification morphology, circumference and length of both common and external iliac arteries were independently scored by two uroradiologists. PCS was calculated as the total score sum of all three calcification features in all vessels. PCS correlation with graft and patient survival was performed. RESULTS: Calcification in at least one vascular segment was found in 79% of patients. PCS was significantly higher in male patients (p = 0.006), patients over 55 years (p < 0.001), and patients on haemodialysis (p = 0.016). Patients with a PCS >3 had significantly shorter graft and overall survival rates (p = 0.041 and p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of iliac artery calcification in KT recipients quantified by PCS on pretransplant CT correlates with graft and overall patient survival. A PCS over three was associated with worse clinical outcomes and could become a possible prognostic factor. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Our novel PCS is a robust method for quantifying iliac artery calcification burden. Since higher a PCS correlates with worse patient and graft survival, PCS has the potential to become a prognostic factor in kidney transplant patients.

Case Report: Synchronous Removal and Implantation of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Using Bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) surgery include PD catheter insertion and removal. Both procedures require the use of anesthesia. The end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients usually have severe comorbidities. The general anesthesia, because of its negative systemic effect, should be omitted in this vulnerable group of the patients. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block as a newer method of regional anesthesia is a technique without systemic effect and recently started to be used in ESRD patients for PD catheter placement and/or removal. Here we report a patient in whom we for the first time simultaneously removed and implanted a PD catheter by using a bilateral transversus abdominis plane block. Case Presentation: The patient was an 80-year-old man who was admitted for removal of malfunctioned PD catheter. Since the patient opted for staying on PD simultaneous implantation of catheter was planned. Because of his age and significant comorbidities, general anesthesia was avoided and bilateral TAP block become our option. In the same anesthesia, using bilateral TAP block, the old PD catheter was removed and a new one was implanted. Until now the patient is on regular PD without any complications. Conclusion: The TAP block could be used as a primary anesthetic technique in ESRD patients for PD surgery even for synchronous removal and implantation of PD catheter.