Prostate Artery Embolization in Patients With Acute Urinary Retention.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study assessed the efficacy of prostate artery embolization after failure of a trial without catheter in patients suffering a first episode of acute urinary retention as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Patients with failure of a trial without catheter despite alpha-blocker therapy were invited to participate in this protocol. Twenty patients were included in the study, and all underwent prostate artery embolization with calibrated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres (Bead Block, BTG Ltd., Farnham, UK). RESULTS: Successful removal of the indwelling bladder catheter and spontaneous voiding was achieved in 15 of 20 (75%) patients, and the overall clinical success at 6 months after prostate embolization was 14 of 20 (70%). No patient experienced severe adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate artery embolization might be a valuable treatment after a failure of a trial without catheter. Further studies are needed to better define its place in this setting.

Preliminary results of transplantation with kidneys donated after cardiocirculatory determination of death: a French single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD), formerly non-heart-beating donation and donation after cardiac death, has been re-introduced into clinical practice in France since June 2006 as a potential solution to organ shortage, but this kidney transplantation programme is not popular yet, mainly because of logistical concerns and uncertainty about the long-term warm ischaemia impact on transplanted kidneys. METHODS: Our institution started the DCDD programme in January 2007, following the national 'BioMedicine Agency' protocol. We only considered uncontrolled donors with an initial no-flow period (i.e. delay between collapse and external cardiac massage start) <30 min. A 5-min stand-off period was observed before declaring the death and performing in situ cold perfusion, and since January 2010, normothermic subdiaphragmatic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. All kidneys were machine-perfused using the hypothermic pulsatile preservation system before transplantation. Morphologic assessment and perfusion indexes were used to assess the suitability for transplantation. RESULTS: From January 2007 to December 2010, our team performed 58 kidney transplantations from uncontrolled Maastricht Category I and II donors. Mean recipient age was 47 ± 9 years. Male/female ratio was 45/13. Mean waiting time on transplantation registry was 30 months (4-180). Mean cold ischaemia time was 13 h 40 min (7-18) and pulsatile perfusion time 8 h (1-16). We had three cases (5%) of primary non-function (PNF) and 95% of delayed graft function. There was no increase in biopsy-proven acute rejection incidence (12.7%). Patient and graft survivals were 98 and 91.4%, respectively, at 1 year and 98 and 88%, respectively, at last follow-up. Estimated glomerular filtration rate ( Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula) was 48 ± 16 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at 1 year and 48 ± 15 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: DCDD kidneys are a valuable additional source of organs for transplantation. Our results show encouraging outcomes, which give rise to further interest in this donor pool. Respecting the national protocol is crucial to prevent PNF and deleterious warm ischaemia effect on transplanted kidney.

[Treatment for organ-confined and locally advanced kidney cancer]. / Traitement du cancer du rein aux stades local et localement avancé.

Treatment for organ-confined or locally advanced kidney cancer lies on principles established as from 1969: primary ligation of the vascular pedicle and resection of the tumour and surrounding fatty tissues. The current tendency is towards a decrease in tissue resection volume to preserve renal function, and the use of less invasive techniques, of which laparoscopic surgery, in the process of becoming a first-line therapeutic option, is the cornerstone. New technologies of tissue destruction without resection are currently being validated. Finally, close monitoring of tumours is becoming a competitive option as compared to resection and small-volume lesion destruction.

Impact of surgical procedures and complications on outcomes of third and subsequent kidney transplants.

BACKGROUND: Surgical procedures and complications have rarely been described in patients receiving a third or subsequent renal transplant. METHODS: Data from 61 consecutive third (n=56), fourth (n=4), and fifth (n=1) renal transplants performed during 1974 to 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Actuarial graft survival was 91%, 74%, and 57% at one, five, and 10 years, respectively. Technical failure accounted for the loss of three grafts (5%). A transperitoneal approach was necessary in 41% of patients. Technical difficulties occurred in half of the procedures, mainly due to atheroma or vascular calcifications. Overall, there were 45 surgical complications in 30 patients, of urological (n=11), vascular (n=6), infectious (n=9), hemorrhagic (n=12), digestive (n=3), or wound origin (n=4). The rate of surgical revision was 16%. Univariate analysis showed that among surgical complications, only vascular complications were associated with a poor graft outcome (P=0.02). Urological complications did not influence long-term graft outcome. Multivariate analysis of all surgical procedures and complications that might have influenced graft survival showed that only vascular complications were associated with a poorer graft outcome (relative risk=6.13, P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high rate of surgical complications and revisions, third and subsequent kidney transplantations may be performed safely by experienced surgeons without surgical complications influencing long-term graft outcome.