Perfusion fluid-related infections in liver transplant recipients: A 5-year, single-center, retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Perfusion fluid (PRF) is employed in liver transplantation (LTx) to maintain graft viability. Still, it represents a new potential way of infection transmission in LTx recipients (LTRs). Currently, no systematic research has investigated this topic. METHODS: Five-year single-center retrospective study conducted on LTRs from January 2017 to December 2021. We analyzed the incidence of positive PRF culture (PRF+) and perfusion fluid-related infections (PRF-RI) and their associated factors. We also assessed 1-year mortality, both overall and infection-related. RESULTS: Overall, 234 LTx were included. PRF+ were found in 31/234 (13.2%) LTx for a total of 37 isolates, with >1 isolate identified in 5 (2.1%) cases. High-risk microorganisms (Enterobacterales 13/37, Enterococcus spp. 4/37, S. aureus 3/37, P. aeruginosa 2/37) were isolated in 25/37 (67.6%) LTRs, the remaining being coagulase-negative staphylococci (12/37, 32.4%). Antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered to all LTRs, always active against the isolate even if suboptimal in 19 cases (61.3%). PRF-RI developed in 4/234 LTx (1.7%), and prophylaxis was considered suboptimal in 2/4 of them. The isolation of >1 microorganism in PRF culture was associated with an increased risk of developing PRF-RI (OR 37.5 [95%CI 2.6-548.4], p = .01). PRF-RI were associated with longer ICU stays (p = .005) and higher 1-year mortality, both overall and related to infections (p = .001). CONCLUSION: Despite PRF+ being infrequent, only a minority of patients develops PRF-RI. Nonetheless, once occurred, PRF-RI seems to increase morbidity and mortality rates.

Improving outcomes of in situ split liver transplantation in Italy over the last 25 years.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Split liver transplant(ation) (SLT) is still considered a challenging procedure that is by no means widely accepted. We aimed to present data on 25-year trends in SLT in Italy, and to investigate if, and to what extent, outcomes have improved nationwide during this time. METHODS: The study included all consecutive SLTs performed from May 1993 to December 2019, divided into three consecutive periods: 1993-2005, 2006-2014, and 2015-2019, which match changes in national allocation policies. Primary outcomes were patient and graft survival, and the relative impact of each study period. RESULTS: SLT accounted for 8.9% of all liver transplants performed in Italy. A total of 1,715 in situ split liver grafts were included in the analysis: 868 left lateral segments (LLSs) and 847 extended right grafts (ERGs). A significant improvement in patient and graft survival (p <0.001) was observed with ERGs over the three periods. Predictors of graft survival were cold ischaemia time (CIT) <6 h (p = 0.009), UNOS status 2b (p <0.001), UNOS status 3 (p = 0.009), and transplant centre volumes: 25-50 cases vs. <25 cases (p = 0.003). Patient survival was significantly higher with LLS grafts in period 2 vs. period 1 (p = 0.008). No significant improvement in graft survival was seen over the three periods, where predictors of graft survival were CIT <6 h (p = 0.007), CIT <6 h vs. ≥10 h (p = 0.019), UNOS status 2b (p = 0.038), and UNOS status 3 (p = 0.009). Retransplantation was a risk factor in split liver graft recipients, with significantly worse graft and patient survival for both types of graft (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis showed Italian SLT outcomes to have improved over the last 25 years. These results could help to dispel reservations regarding the use of this procedure. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Split liver transplant(ation) (SLT) is still considered a challenging procedure and is by no means widely accepted. This study included all consecutive in situ SLTs performed in Italy from May 1993 to December 2019. With more than 1,700 cases, it is one of the largest series, examining long-term national trends in in situ SLT since its introduction. The data presented indicate that the outcomes of SLT improved during this 25-year period. Improvements are probably due to better recipient selection, refinements in surgical technique, conservative graft-to-recipient matching, and the continuous, yet carefully managed, expansion of donor selection criteria under a strict mandatory split liver allocation policy. These results could help to dispel reservations regarding the use of this procedure.

Induced myocardial ischemia in candidates to liver transplantation without evidence of heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with perioperative liver transplantation (LT) mortality. In absence of a defined risk algorithm, we aimed to test whether stress echocardiography and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) could detect CAD in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients without previous evidence of heart disease. METHODS: LT candidates ≥30 years underwent a cardiovascular (CV) assessment through stress echocardiography. CCTA was performed in patients ≥50 years with two or more CV risk factors (e.g. diabetes, CAD family history, dyslipidaemia). Coronary angiography (CAG) was scheduled when stress echocardiography and/or CCTA were positive. Sensibility, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of stress echocardiography and CCTA were assessed by numbers of coronary revascularization (true positives) and lack of acute coronary events over a mean follow-up of 3 years (true negatives). RESULTS: Stress echocardiography was performed in 273 patients, CCTA in 34 and CAG in 41. Eight patients had critical coronary lesions, and 19 not-critical lesions. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 50.0%, 90.2%, 13.3% and 98.4% for stress echocardiography and 100%, 76.7%, 36.4% and 100% for CCTA. Among 163 patients who underwent LT (57.6%), 16 died and 5 had major adverse CV events over a mean follow-up of 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: A very low prevalence of CAD in a selected population of ESLD at intermediate to high CV risk was found. A screening based on stress echocardiography and CCTA resulted in low incidence of post-LT acute coronary events in ELSD patients. CAD has no impact on mid-term survival.

Previous colonic resection is a risk factor for surgical relapse in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Despite the improvement of medical therapies, nearly half of patients with Crohn's disease require surgery within 10 years after diagnosis. However, intestinal resection is not curative and recurrence may occur. AIMS: To evaluate post-surgical outcomes for patients with Crohn's disease in a large monocentric cohort, and to identify variables associated with clinical and surgical relapse. METHODS: Patients with Crohn's disease who had surgery for ileal and colonic Crohn's disease between 2004 and 2016 and on at least one-year follow-up following surgery were included. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-three patients were included in the study. Crohn's disease recurrence concerned 53% of patients after a median 56-month (6-158) follow-up and 29% of patients required a second surgical intervention. At logistic regression analysis, active smoking and young age at diagnosis were identified as independent risk factor for post-surgical relapse (p = 0.01), while colonic or ileocolonic resection was recognized as a risk factor for surgical Crohn's disease relapse (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Post-surgery recurrence is frequent for patients with Crohn's disease. Active smoking and young age at diagnosis are risk factors for Crohn's disease recurrence. As compared with patients undergoing small-bowel surgery, patients with colonic resection are proner to relapse requiring a second surgical intervention.

Endoscopic versus surgical treatment for a rare form of gallstone ileus: Bouveret's syndrome. Two case reports and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Bouveret's syndrome is a gastric outlet obstruction due to a gallstone impacted in the duodenal lumen or in the stomach via a bilioenteric fistula. It's the rarest form of gallstone ileus, with few cases reported in medical literature. Typically, this condition affects elderly people and causes high morbidity and mortality rates. METHODS: We present a review of the published cases of Bouveret's syndrome between 2006, year of publication of the largest case series, and 2015 with particular regard to the operative management and treatment options. Two demanding cases of Bouveret's syndrome reported in our Hospital are also described. RESULTS: Bouveret's syndrome is a rare clinical condition and data reported in medical literature only derive from single case reports and case series. Therefore no clear management indications have been ruled out and treatment options are still matter of debate. CONCLUSION: Bouveret's syndrome is a rare clinical entity with a challenging operative management. Surgical or endoscopic treatments should be tailored on patient medical conditions and clinical presentation. KEY WORDS: Bouveret's Syndrome, Cholelithiasis, Gallstone Ileus, Gastric Outlet Obstruction, Intestinal Obstruction.

Is duodenojejunal anastomosis to the left of the superior mesenteric vessels a feasible option for tumors of the angle of Treitz?

Tumors of the angle of Treitz are a rare entity. Only 3%-5% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) occur at the level of the duodenum, and their location at the duodenojejunal junction is very uncommon. Surgery is the treatment of choice, while adjuvant medical therapy is used on the basis of the degree of radicality of the excision and the tumor's proliferative profile. These factors primarily influence the prognosis. Due to the frailty of the vascular viability of the left duodenum, which can be injured during surgery, it is generally recommended to perform digestive reconstruction at the level of the right portion of the duodenum. We here report the case of a patient with a large GIST located at the duodenojejunal junction behind the ligament of Treitz. We found reconstructive digestive anastomosis at the level of the third part of the duodenum to be a safe procedure.

Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis complicating abdominal penetrating injury: case report and review of the literature.

Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare condition usually associated with endocarditis or spinal surgery. However, it may also occur following abdominal penetrating trauma with associated gastrointestinal perforation. Diagnosis might be challenging and appropriate treatment is essential to ensure a positive outcome. In trans-abdominal trauma, 48 hours of broad-spectrum antibiotics is generally recommended for prophylaxis of secondary infections. A case report of vertebral osteomyelitis complicating trans-colonic injury to the retroperitoneum is presented and clinical management is discussed in the light of literature review.