Multidisciplinary approach to hemodialysis graft dysfunction and thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Top analize the clinic results of the implantation of a multidisciplinary protocol to maintain permeability of the arteriovenous hemodialysis grafts (AVG). METHOD: Prospective recording of all interventions (radiological and surgical) on AVG dysfunction in the 1999-2007 period. The AVG stenosis were always treated by percutaneous angioplasty (PA) except stenosis recurrence in less than three months or persistence after PA. The AVG thromboses were always treated by surgical thrombectomy plus PTFE bridge if necessary. Complications, primary and secondary AVG patency were reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety six dysfunction AVG were collected for study. All of them were 6x40 mm standard wall PTFE (Gore-Tex®). Thirty six of them were humero-basilic antebraquial loop and sixty were humero-axillary upper arm curve configuration. During the study, 52 PTFE bridges, 109 surgical thrombectomies, 131 PA, and 15 stents were needed to maintain FAVP permeability. Primay patency was 73.68%, 60.21% and 37.52% at one, two and three years respectively. Secondary patency was 89.49%, 84.07% and 66.84% at one, two and three years respectively. We avoid a central venous catheter (CVC) in the 80% of intervention for thrombosis dysfunction. No surgical or radiological related deaths occurred. Median hospital admission related with AVG thrombosis was 0.03/patient/year. CONCLUSION: The application of a combined protocol for the treatment of AVG dysfunction and thrombosis, according to DOQI recomendations obtains good results in AVG patency in our experience.

Tratamiento multidisciplinar de la disfunción y la trombosis de las fístulas arteriovenosas protésicas para hemodiálisis / Multidisciplinary approach to hemodialysis graft dysfunction and thrombosis

Objetivo: Análisis de la aplicación de un protocolo multidisciplinar para el mantenimiento de las fístulas arteriovenosas para hemodiálisis protésicas. Método: Recogida prospectiva de todas las intervenciones realizadas para el tratamiento de la disfunción de las fístulas arteriovenosas protésicas (FAVP) en el período 1999-2007 siguiendo un protocolo multidisciplinario. Las estenosis se trataron mediante angioplastia, (ATP) excepto en casos de persistencia o recurrencia antes de tres meses. Las trombosis fueron tratadas siempre mediante trombectomía quirúrgica y puente de PTFE si fue necesario. Se analizan el número y el tipo de procedimientos, las complicaciones, la permeabilidad primaria y secundaria de las FAVP. Resultados: Se completó el seguimiento de 96 FAVP. Todas fueron prótesis de PTFE de 6x40 mm (Gore-Tex®). Treinta y seis se colocaron en el antebrazo con anastomosis humerobasílica en asa y 60 en el brazo con anastomosis humeroaxilar curva. Durante el período de estudio fueron necesarios 131 angioplastias transluminales percutáneas, 15 stents, 109 trombectomías y 52 puentes a vena proximal para el mantenimiento de la permeabilidad de las FAVP. La permeabilidad primaria fue del 73,68 %, 60,21 % y 37,52 % a 1, 2 y 3 años, respectivamente. La permeabilidad secundaria fue del 89,49 %, 84,07 % y 66,84 % a 1, 2 y 3 años, respectivamente. Se consiguió evitar la colocación de un catéter central en el 80 % de las intervenciones por trombosis. No se produjeron muertes relacionadas con los procedimientos. La tasa de ingresos hospitalarios relacionados con la trombosis de las FAVP fue de 0,03 paciente/año. Conclusiones: La aplicación de un protocolo multidisciplinar en el tratamiento de las disfunciones de las FAVP siguiendo las recomendaciones de las guías internacionales prolonga la permeabilidad de las FAVP y disminuye el uso de catéteres centrales (AU)

Purpose: To analize the clinic results of the implantation of a multidisciplinary protocol to maintain ermeability of the arteriovenous hemodialysis grafts (AVG). Methods: Prospective recording of all interventions (radiological and surgical) on AVG dysfunction in the 1999-2007 period. The AVG stenosis were always treated by percutaneous angioplasty (PA) except stenosis recurrence in less than three months or persistence after PA. The AVG thromboses were always treated by surgical thrombectomy plus PTFE bridge if necessary. Complications, primary and secondary AVG patency were reviewed. Results: Ninety six dysfunction AVG were collected for study. All of them were 6x40mm standard wall PTFE (Gore-Tex®). Thirty six of them were humero-basilic antebraquial loop and sixty were humero-axillary upper arm curve configuration. During the study, 52 PTFE bridges, 109 surgical thrombectomies, 131 PA, and 15 stents were needed to maintain FAVP permeability. Primay patency was 73.68%, 60.21% and 37.52% at one, two and three years respectively. Secondary patency was 89.49%, 84.07% and 66.84% at one, two and three years respectively. We avoid a central venous catheter (CVC) in the 80% of intervention for thrombosis dysfunction. No surgical or radiological related deaths occurred. Median hospital admission related with AVG thrombosis was 0.03/patient/year. Conclusion: The application of a combined protocol for the treatment of AVG dysfunction and thrombosis, according to DOQI recomendations obtains good results in AVG patency in our experience (AU)

Initial surgical experience in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for middle and lower third rectal cancer: short-term results.

INTRODUCTION: Total mesorectal excision (TME) of the rectum has been advocated as the gold standard surgical treatment of middle and lower third rectal cancer. Laparoscopy has gained acceptance among surgeons in the treatment of colon malignancies, while scepticism exists about laparoscopic TME in terms of safety and its oncological adequacy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of laparoscopic TME on surgical and oncological outcome in a group of consecutive unselected patients. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with middle or inferior rectal cancer were admitted to our unit and underwent TME from December 1998 to February 2008. Eighty-nine patients were approached with laparoscopy. Patients staged cT3/4 cTxN+ or uTxN+ were submitted to neoadjuvant treatment. Postoperative complications and oncological outcomes were registered. RESULTS: In the laparoscopic group 80 anterior resections (including 4 intersphincteric resections and manual colo- anal anastomosis) and 9 abdominal-perineal resections were performed. 33.3% of patients were enrolled in "long-course" neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (partial and complete response rates 88.2% and 11.8%, respectively). Protective lateral ileostomy was performed in 72% of patients. Mean operative time was 254.3+/-38.3 min and mean blood loss was 215+/-180 ml. Conversion rate was 12.7%. Morbidity rate was 39.3% without mortality. The rate of anastomotic leaks was 13.48%, reoperation rate 13.48%, recovery rate 3.1+/-1.4 days and hospital stay 10.4+/-4.6 days. Concerning adequacy of oncologic resection, mean distance of the tumour from the anal verge was 4.3+/-2.2 cm. Nodal sampling of 12.4+/-4.8 were obtained. Six patients (6/89, 6.74%) had a R1 margin: 3 distal and 3 circumferential. Median follow-up was 29 months and local recurrence rate was 5.79%. Four-year cumulative overall survival was 78% and disease-free survival was 63% (Kaplan-Meier method). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic approach for rectal tumour is a technically demanding procedure, but it is oncologically safe.