Effect of Fibrin Glue on the Incidence of Surgical Complications After Living-Related-Donor Kidney Transplantation: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND The incidence of surgical complications after kidney transplantation ranges from 10-25%. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the application of fibrin glue as a preventive agent reduces surgical morbidity after a living-related-donor kidney transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS A controlled clinical trial involving 78 recipients randomly assigned to receive fibrin glue and 79 in the control group without the application of fibrin glue. Patients were followed for six months after surgery. RESULTS The average ages were 24.8±9.4 and 27.4±11.3 years in the control and study groups, respectively (p=0.11). Individual morbidities, such as urologic, lymphatic, vascular, and wound complications, were not statistically different between groups; however, the total number of surgical complications observed were in five patients in the study group and 16 patients in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.01, relative risk 0.44, 95% CI 0.20-0.97). There was no mortality or adverse reaction to fibrin glue. One kidney graft was lost because of uncontrollable bleeding secondary to tearing of the renal capsule. The incidence of early medical complications was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS Applications of the biological adhesive reduced the incidence of surgical complications.

Minimally Invasive Therapy Using Intralesional OnabotulinumtoxinA in Peyronie's Disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of intralesional administration of onabotulinumtoxinA in patients with Peyronie's disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective therapeutic cohort study was undertaken in patients aged ≥ 18 years with stable PD. Intervention included one-time intralesional application of 100 U of onabotulinumtoxinA. We included 22 patients who attended the urology clinic from October 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. Primary outcome measure was degree of curvature. Secondary outcome measures were thickness of the fibrous plaque, improvement in erectile function and pain. Erectile function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain during an erection. Statistical analyses were performed by Pearson's chi-squared test for categorical variables and student's t-test for quantitative variables. Any P value < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The size of the fibrous plaque was reduced from 0.34 ± 0.20 to 0.27 ± 0.13 cm after treatment (P = .014). The curvature initially averaged 32.95 ± 9.21°, and improved to 25 ± 9.38° (P = .025). According to the Kelami classification, the curvature was < 30° in 14 cases (63.6%) and was 30°-60° in eight cases (36.4%). At 16 weeks, the curvature was < 30° in 19 cases (86.4%) and 30°-60° in three cases (13.6%). The IIEF-5 score was 16.18 ± 4.46 before treatment and 18.22 ± 4.55 after treatment (P = .002). Pain was reduced from 3.36 ± 3.48 before treatment to 1.14 ± 1.58 after treatment (P = .001). CONCLUSION: The administration of onabotulinumtoxinA may improve the clinical manifestations of PD resulting from fibrosis, thus improving sexual function in patients.

Long-term outcome after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in geriatric Mexican patients.

AIM: To evaluate long-term survival and prognostic factors in elderly Mexican patients who have undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). METHODS: The present study was a retrospective cohort analysis of 110 patients aged older than 70 years without head and neck malignancy who underwent PEG between January 2005 and December 2012. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for demographic and clinical variables, and survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Medium age and follow up were 82.45 ± 6.6 years and 688.3 ± 394.6 days, respectively. The patients who died in the early postoperative period (n = 6) were older than those who survived. The Karnofsky performance status and lymphocyte count were non-significantly lower in non-survivors. The body mass index and serum albumin level were lower in non-survivors (P = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively) and Charlson's Comorbidity Index (CCI) was higher. A total of 32 (29%) patients died later in the postoperative period with a mean follow up of 436.2 ± 267.4 days. Risk factors for mortality included Karnofsky Performance Status (odds ratio [OR] 9.76, 95% CI: 3.26-29.3), CCI (OR 7.04, 95% CI: 2.31-21.41) and postoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.45, 95% CI: 1.71-6.67). Postgastrostomy pneumonia occurred in 36.8% of the patients who died during follow-up (OR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.6-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: Karnofsky performance status, Charlson's comorbidity index and postoperative hypoalbuminemia, were independent risk factors for mortality. Modifiable factors are related to nutritional support. Early PEG may help prevent malnutrition and infection.

Platelet count/spleen diameter ratio to predict esophageal varices in Mexican patients with hepatic cirrhosis.

AIM: To validate whether the platelet count/spleen size ratio can be used to predict the presence of esophageal varices in Mexican patients with hepatic cirrhosis. METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study to validate the diagnostic test for hepatic cirrhosis and was performed between February 2010 and December 2011. Patients with a diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis were included and stratified using their Child-Pugh score. Biochemical parameters were evaluated, and ultrasound was used to measure the longest diameter of the spleen. The platelet count/spleen diameter ratio was calculated and analyzed to determine whether it can predict the presence of esophageal varices. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was used as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were determined, with the cutoff points determined by receiver-operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were included. The mean age was 53.75 ± 12 years; 50 (54.9%) were men, and 41 (45.0%) women. The etiology of cirrhosis included alcohol in 48 (52.7%), virally induced in 24 (26.3%), alcoholism plus hepatitis C virus in three (3.2%), cryptogenic in nine (9.8%), and primary biliary cirrhosis in seven (7.6%). Esophageal varices were present in 73 (80.2%) patients. Child-Pugh classification, 17 (18.6%) patients were classified as class A, 37 (40.6%) as class B, and 37 (40.6%) as class C. The platelet count/spleen diameter ratio to detect esophageal varices independent of the grade showed using a cutoff value of ≤ 884.3, had 84% sensitivity, 70% specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 94% and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the platelet count/spleen diameter ratio may be a useful tool for detecting esophageal varices in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.