Current management issues of immediate postoperative care in pediatric kidney transplantation

The number of pediatric kidney transplants has been increasing in many centers worldwide, as the procedure provides long-lasting and favorable outcomes; however, few papers have addressed the immediate postoperative care of this unique population. Herein, we describe the management of these patients in the early postoperative phase. After the surgical procedure, children should ideally be managed in a pediatric intensive care unit, and special attention should be given to fluid balance, electrolyte disturbances and blood pressure control. Antibiotic and antiviral prophylaxes are usually performed and are based on the recipient and donor characteristics. Thrombotic prophylaxis is recommended for children at high risk for thrombosis, although consensus on the optimum therapy is lacking. Image exams are essential for good graft control, and Doppler ultrasound must be routinely performed on the first operative day and promptly repeated if there is any suspicion of kidney dysfunction. Abdominal drains can be helpful for surveillance in patients with increased risk of surgical complications, such as urinary fistula or bleeding, but are not routinely required. The immunosuppressive regimen starts before or at the time of kidney transplantation and is usually based on induction with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, depending on the immunological risk, and maintenance with a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus or ciclosporin), an anti-proliferative agent (mycophenolate or azathioprine) and steroids

Can we predict which patients will evolve to chronic kidney disease after nephrectomy for cortical renal tumors?

Introduction: While some studies show that patients submitted to radical nephrectomy have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), some studies report that carefully selected living kidney donors do not present a higher risk for CKD. Here, we aim to study predictive factors of CKD after radical nephrectomy. Materials and Methods: Between January 2006 to January 2010, 107 patients submitted to radical nephrectomy for cortical renal tumors at our institution were enrolled in this study. Demographic data were recorded, modified Charlson-Romano Index was calculated, and creatinine clearance was estimated using abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation. Pathological characteristics, surgical access and surgical complications were also reviewed. The end-point of the current study was new onset estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 and less than 45 mL/minute/1.73 m(2). Results: Age, preoperative eGFR, Charlson-Romano Index and hypertension were predictive factors of renal function loss, when the end-point considered was eGFR lower than 60 mL/minute/1.73 m(2). Age and preoperative eGFR were predictive factors of renal function loss, when the end-point considered was eGFR lower than 45 mL/minute/1.73 m2. Moreover, each year older increased 1.1 times the risk of eGFR lower than 60 and 45 mL/minute/1.73 m(2). After multivariate logistic regression, only age remained as an independent predictive factor of eGFR loss. Conclusion: Age is an independent predictive factor of GFR loss for patients submitted to radical nephrectomy for cortical renal tumors

Multiple Uric Acid Bladder Stones: Clinical Presentation and Endoscopic Management.

Background: Bladder urinary calculi occur in 3%-8% of men with bladder outlet obstruction, and although most of them are composed of calcium, in a few cases uric acid bladder stones are diagnosed. Case Presentation: We present clinical images and therapeutic management of a 65-year-old diabetic man with significant prostate enlargement and >30 bladder stones, the largest being 17 mm. Despite the large stone burden, the patient was managed by cystolithotripsy. Remarkably, stone composition analysis revealed 100% uric acid stone. Intraoperative and postoperative course were uneventfully. Conclusion: Uric acid bladder stone pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial with local and systemic factors contributing in different manners and even large stone burdens may be cystoscopically managed

Multiple Uric Acid Bladder Stones: Clinical Presentation and Endoscopic Management

Background: Bladder urinary calculi occur in 3%–8% of men with bladder outlet obstruction, and although most of them are composed of calcium, in a few cases uric acid bladder stones are diagnosed. Case Presentation: We present clinical images and therapeutic management of a 65-year-old diabetic man with significant prostate enlargement and >30 bladder stones, the largest being 17 mm. Despite the large stone burden, the patient was managed by cystolithotripsy. Remarkably, stone composition analysis revealed 100% uric acid stone. Intraoperative and postoperative course were uneventfully. Conclusion: Uric acid bladder stone pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial with local and systemic factors contributing in different manners and even large stone burdens may be cystoscopically managed

Multiple Uric Acid Bladder Stones: Clinical Presentation and Endoscopic Management.

Background: Bladder urinary calculi occur in 3%-8% of men with bladder outlet obstruction, and although most of them are composed of calcium, in a few cases uric acid bladder stones are diagnosed. Case Presentation: We present clinical images and therapeutic management of a 65-year-old diabetic man with significant prostate enlargement and >30 bladder stones, the largest being 17 mm. Despite the large stone burden, the patient was managed by cystolithotripsy. Remarkably, stone composition analysis revealed 100% uric acid stone. Intraoperative and postoperative course were uneventfully. Conclusion: Uric acid bladder stone pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial with local and systemic factors contributing in different manners and even large stone burdens may be cystoscopically managed

Current management issues of immediate postoperative care in pediatric kidney transplantation

The number of pediatric kidney transplants has been increasing in many centers worldwide, as the procedure provides long-lasting and favorable outcomes; however, few papers have addressed the immediate postoperative care of this unique population. Herein, we describe the management of these patients in the early postoperative phase. After the surgical procedure, children should ideally be managed in a pediatric intensive care unit, and special attention should be given to fluid balance, electrolyte disturbances and blood pressure control. Antibiotic and antiviral prophylaxes are usually performed and are based on the recipient and donor characteristics. Thrombotic prophylaxis is recommended for children at high risk for thrombosis, although consensus on the optimum therapy is lacking. Image exams are essential for good graft control, and Doppler ultrasound must be routinely performed on the first operative day and promptly repeated if there is any suspicion of kidney dysfunction. Abdominal drains can be helpful for surveillance in patients with increased risk of surgical complications, such as urinary fistula or bleeding, but are not routinely required. The immunosuppressive regimen starts before or at the time of kidney transplantation and is usually based on induction with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, depending on the immunological risk, and maintenance with a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus or ciclosporin), an anti-proliferative agent (mycophenolate or azathioprine) and steroids