Laparoscopic (vs open) live donor nephrectomy: a UNOS database analysis of early graft function and survival.

The impact of laparoscopic (lap) live donor nephrectomy on early graft function and survival remains controversial. We compared 2734 kidney transplants (tx) from lap donors and 2576 tx from open donors reported to the U.S. United Network for Organ Sharing from 11/1999 to 12/2000. Early function quality (>40 mL urine and/or serum creatinine [creat] decline >25% during the first 24 h post-tx) and delayed function incidence were similar for both groups. Significantly more lap (vs. open) txs, however, had discharge creats greater than 1.4 mg/dL (49.2% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.002) and 2.0 mg/dL (21.8% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.04). But all later creats, early and late rejection, as well as graft survival at 1 year (94.4%, lap tx vs. 94.1%, open tx) were similar for lap and open recipients. Our data suggests that lap nephrectomy is associated with slower early graft function. Rejection rates and short-term graft survival, however, were similar for lap and open graft recipients. Further prospective studies with longer follow up are necessary to assess the potential impact of the laparoscopic procurement mode on early graft function and long-term outcome.

Mortality in candidates waiting for combined liver-intestine transplants exceeds that for other candidates waiting for liver transplants.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reports indicate that mortality on the intestine transplant waiting list is higher than on other transplant waiting lists. The goals of this study were (1) to determine whether most of the intestinal transplant candidate deaths have occurred in those who also need liver transplants, and (2) to compare the waiting list mortality in the liver-intestine candidate subset with the overall liver transplant candidate population. We found that 90% of intestine transplant waiting list deaths have occurred in candidates who also needed liver transplants. Since 1994, annual mortality has been higher in liver-intestine transplant candidates than in the overall liver transplant candidate population, and these differences have been statistically significant since 1996. These mortality differences applied to all age groups. Also, status 2B, 3, and 7 candidate mortality was significantly higher in liver-intestine candidates than in the overall liver transplant candidate population. Because there were so few liver-intestine transplant candidates listed as status 1 or 2A, a meaningful comparison was not possible in these statuses. These data indicate that liver-intestine transplant candidates are a unique subset of liver transplant candidates with a significantly higher risk of dying on the waiting list. Recent changes in UNOS liver allocation policy that gives higher priority to liver-intestine candidates may help to reduce this discrepancy. However, further research into the etiology of liver disease in patients on long-term parenteral nutrition and earlier referral of high-risk short bowel syndrome patients to centers with special expertise in their management are needed for an ultimate solution to this problem.

Impact of acute rejection episodes on long-term graft survival following simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation.

Although it is well established that acute rejection is one of the major risk factors for chronic graft loss following kidney transplantation, its effect on long-term graft survival following simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants (SKPTs) is less well known. We analyzed a large cohort of SKPTs and cadaver kidney transplants reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing database during 1988-97, to determine the impact of acute rejection episodes on long-term kidney and pancreas graft survival. Only patients whose kidney and pancreas grafts had survived for at least 1 year were included. Other potential risk factors influencing long-term graft survival were included in the analysis. Of the 4251 SKPTs, 45% had no acute rejection, 36% had kidney only rejection, 3% had pancreas only rejection, and 16% had both kidney and pancreas rejection within the 1st year post transplant. The 5-year kidney and pancreas graft survival rates adjusted for other risk factors were 91% and 85%, respectively; for those with no acute rejection episodes, 88% and 84%, respectively; for those with kidney only rejection, 94% and 83%, respectively; for those with pancreas only rejection; and 86% and 78%, respectively, for those with both kidney and pancreas rejection. The relative risk (RR) of kidney graft failure was 1.32 when acute rejection involved the kidney graft only, while the RR was 1.53 when the rejection involved both organs. We conclude that acute rejection episodes have a negative impact on the long-term kidney graft survival in the SKPT population similar to that in the cadaver kidney transplant population. Patients who had acute rejection episodes of both kidney and pancreas have the worst long-term graft survival.