Small bowel preservation for intestinal transplantation: a review.

Intestinal transplantation has become the therapy of choice for patients with intestinal failure and life-threatening complications from total parenteral nutrition. Results, however, remain inferior as compared with other transplant types with the quality of the organ graft as the most important factor of outcome after transplantation. The intestine is extremely sensitive to ischemia. Unfortunately, a relatively long ischemic preservation period is inevitable. The current standard in organ preservation [cold storage (CS) with University of Wisconsin solution] was developed for kidney/liver preservation and is suboptimal for the intestinal graft despite good results for other organs. This review aimed at appraising the results from the use of previously applied and recently developed preservation solutions and techniques to identify key areas for improvement. As the studies available do not reveal the most effective method for intestinal preservation, an optimal strategy will result from a synergistic effect of different vital elements identified from a review of published material from the literature. A key factor is the composition of the solution using a low-viscosity solution to facilitate washout of blood, including amino acids to improve viability, impermeants and colloids to prevent edema, and buffer for pH-homeostasis. Optimizing conditions include a vascular flush before CS and luminal preservation. The most effective composition of the luminal solution and a practical, clinically applicable optimal technique are yet to reach finality. Short-duration oxygenated arterial and/or luminal perfusion have to be considered. Thus, a tailor-made approach to luminal preservation solution and technique need further investigation in transplant models and the human setting to develop the ultimate technique meeting the physiologic demands of the intestinal graft during preservation

Validation of the Distress Thermometer and Problem List in Patients with Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Objective. There is no specific clinical tool for physicians to detect psychosocial and physical distress or health care need in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). The main aim of this study is to validate the RRP-adapted Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DT&PL). Study Design. Prospective cross-sectional questionnaire research. Setting. Academic tertiary care medical centers in Groningen, Netherlands, and Helsinki, Finland. Subjects and Methods. Ninety-one juvenile- and adult-onset RRP patients participated from the departments of otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery of the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands, and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used as the gold standard. Results. A DT cutoff score 4 gave the best sensitivity and specificity. Thirty-one percent of patients had significant distress according to the DT cutoff. Significantly more patients with a score above than under the cutoff had a referral wish. The PL appeared to be reliable. Patients' opinions on the DT&PL were largely favorable. Conclusion. The Dutch and Finnish versions of the DT&PL are valid, reliable screening tools for distress in RRP patients