Transient Renal Insufficiency Research Articles

Aortic arch reconstruction using regional perfusion without circulatory arrest

Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest during repair of aortic arch anomalies may induce neurological complications or myocardial injury. Regional cerebral and myocardial perfusion may eliminate those potential side effects. From March 2000 to March 2002, 48 neonates or infants with complex arch anomaly were operated on using the regional perfusion technique. Thirty-three patients were male and the median age was 24 days (range 5-301 days). Preoperative diagnosis consisted of coarctation or interruption of the aorta associated with ventricular septal defect (group I, n = 26) and arch anomaly with complex intracardiac defects such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome or its variants (group II, n = 22). Arterial cannula was inserted through the innominate artery and the flow rate was regulated to about 50-100 ml/kg per min during regional perfusion. Simultaneous myocardial perfusion was maintained using a Y-connected infusion line. Cardioplegia was applied during intracardiac repair. Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times were 154 +/- 49 and 39 +/- 34 min, respectively. Temporary circulatory arrest for intracardiac procedures was performed in eight patients. However, the mean arrest time was minimized (range 1-18 min). The descending aorta clamping time was 33 +/- 16 min. Operative mortality rates in each group were 0 and 18.2% (0/26 and 4/22). Late mortality rates were 0 and 11.1% (0/26 and 2/18) during 9.1 months of follow-up. Complications consisted of low cardiac output in eight cases, transient neurological problems in two cases, and transient renal insufficiency in two cases, respectively. Regional perfusion is feasible and can be used with acceptable results. It may reduce potential complications following aortic arch reconstruction using circulatory arrest. However, repair of aortic arch in the patients with complex intracardiac defects still imposes a significant rate of mortality and morbidity.

Rheolytic thrombectomy in the management of limb ischemia: 30-day results from a multicenter registry.

To evaluate the use of rheolytic thrombectomy (RT) with the AngioJet catheter for treatment of lower extremity ischemia due to arterial/graft thrombotic occlusion. A retrospective multicenter review was performed of 99 consecutive patients (52 men; mean age 67 +/- 13 years, range 30-90) who underwent RT for thrombotic occlusions in native arteries (n=80) or bypass grafts (n=19). Pre- and postprocedural limb ischemia and in-hospital events were evaluated. Amputation and mortality rates at 30 days were determined. The majority of patients (78.8%) presented within 14 days of symptom onset. RT resulted in substantial to complete thrombus removal in 70 (70.7%) patients and partial in 22 (22.2%); there was no angiographic change in 7 (7.1%). Adjunctive post RT thrombolysis was used in 37 patients. Underlying stenoses found in 81 limbs were treated with one or more of the following procedures: balloon angioplasty (n=62), stenting (n=35), or nonemergent surgical revision (n=5). In-hospital complications included 2 major amputations, 5 cases of minor tissue loss, 7 rethromboses, and 3 cases of transient renal insufficiency. Four (4.0% patients died in-hospital; the 95 surviving patients all had viable limbs at discharge. Mortality and amputation rates at 30 days were 7.1% and 4.0%, respectively. Percutaneous treatment of thrombotic occlusions with RT, followed by definitive treatment of the underlying stenosis, is a promising therapeutic option for patients with limb-threatening ischemia.

Transient renal insufficiency by bilateral renal cysts and posterior urethral valves

Renal insufficiency developed in a newborn with huge bilateral renal cysts and posterior urethral valves. Definitive therapy consisted of laser coagulation of the valves and transient percutaneous drainage of the cysts. J Pediatr Surg 37:130-131. Copyright © 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

Flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy: first-line therapy for proximal ureteral and renal calculi in the morbidly obese and superobese patient.

The surgical treatment of kidney and proximal ureteral stones in morbidly obese patients (>14 kg/m2) remains difficult because shockwave lithotripsy is precluded by weight limitations and percutaneous nephrolithotomy is associated with difficult access and a high (9%) rate of transfusion. We review our experience with retrograde ureteroscopic lithotripsy in morbidly obese patients with renal and proximal ureteral stones. Between December 1992 and April 2000, five women and three men with a mean age of 46.5 years (range 33-68 years) and a mean body mass index of 54 (range 45-65.2) underwent 10 independent ureteroscopic procedures for urolithiasis. The average stone size was 11.1 mm (range 5-25 mm). Lithotripsy was performed with the holmium laser in eight patients (60%) the electrohydraulic lithotripter in four (30%), and the tunable-dye laser in the remaining patient. Stone-free status was defined as no stones visible on a plain film with nephrotomograms or CT scan at 3 months. The mean operation time was 101 minutes (range 45-160 minutes), and 60% of the procedures were done on an outpatient basis. After the initial procedure, the stone-free rate was 70%. Two patients had fragments <4 mm, and no further therapy was undertaken. There was one complication: transient renal insufficiency (serum creatinine concentration 3.7 mg/dL) secondary to aminoglycoside toxicity. No transfusions were needed. In the morbidly obese patient with symptomatic stones <1.5 cm, ureteroscopic lithotripsy is safe, successful, and efficient.

Intensive chemotherapy and radical resections for primary nonseminomatous mediastinal germ cell tumors

Background. Primary nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the mediastinum (PNSGM), unlike malignancies of gonadal origin, have a poor prognosis. We report a single institutional experience over a 5-year period of PNSGM treated with intensive chemotherapy, followed by radical operation in those who responded to this neoadjuvant regimen.Methods. From 1993 to 1998, 20 patients were referred for the management of PNSGM. All were male, with a median age of 30.5 years (range 18 to 48). Eighteen of 20 (90%) presented with symptoms. Most tumors were large, with a median diameter of 10 cm (range 3 to 20 cm). Thirteen patients (65%) had metastatic disease at the time of presentation. Eleven patients had received no prior treatment (initial group) and 9 were referred for salvage therapy after progression of their tumors, following treatment at other facilities (salvage group). All had elevated serum tumor markers (βhCG and α-fetoprotein). Preoperative chemotherapy included alternating cycles of combinations of 3 or more drugs, including cisplatin, bleomycin, etoposide, vincristine, methotrexate, actinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin. An average of 10 cycles of chemotherapy was given to each patient in the initial group, and six to those in the salvage group. Five patients (25%) developed transient renal insufficiency, and 35% developed pulmonary infiltrates related to bleomycin. There were 3 chemotherapy related deaths.Results. After chemotherapy, 11 patients underwent operation, with 10 complete resections of the residual mediastinal tumors. There were no perioperative deaths. The 2-year survival in the initial group is 72%, and 42% for the salvage group.Conclusions. An aggressive, multidisciplinary approach of alternating cycles of chemotherapy, followed by complete surgical resection of all remaining disease in patients whose markers normalize, can be associated with prolonged survival in patients with PNSGM.

Long term results of single session percutaneous ethanol injection in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma

The objective of this study was to evaluate the indications for percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) performed in a single session under general anesthesia for treating patients with cirrhosis and large (tumors > 5 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and relevant survival curves. Between November 1991 and November 1996, 108 patients were treated (a total of 128 procedures). They fell into 3 groups: 24 patients with single, encapsulated HCC measuring from 5-8.5 cm (Group A); 63 patients with single, infiltrating HCC measuring from 5-10 cm or multiple HCC (Group B); and 21 patients with advanced disease, either hepatic (Child's Class C) or neoplastic (symptomatic HCC or with portal thrombosis) type (Group C). The mean amount of ethanol injected was 62 mL. The average hospital stay was 3.8 days. The mean follow-up time was 40 months. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year survival rates were: 72%, 65%, 57%, and 44%, respectively, for Group A; 73%, 60%, 42%, and 18%, respectively, for Group B; and 46%, 25%, and 0%, respectively, for Group C. Mortality was 0.7% (bleeding from esophageal varices in a Child's Class C patient). The rate of major complications was 4.6% (1 case of peritoneal hemorrhage, 1 case of severe liver failure, 1 case of transient renal insufficiency, 1 case of peritoneal seeding, and 2 cases of infarctions of a segment adjacent to the tumor). Single session PEI has been proven to be a valid alternative in patients otherwise treated surgically or with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization who present with adverse prognostic factors or risks for these therapies, and may be an option for selected patients with advanced disease previously excluded from any therapy. Risk conditions are marked portal or pulmonary hypertension or esophageal varices at risk of bleeding, superficial tumors with severe coagulation disorders, hyperfibrinolysis, chronic renal insufficiency, and obstructive jaundice.

CHOP is implicated in programmed cell death in response to impaired function of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Cellular stress, particularly in response to toxic and metabolic insults that perturb function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER stress), is a powerful inducer of the transcription factor CHOP. The role of CHOP in the response of cells to injury associated with ER stress was examined in a murine deficiency model obtained by homologous recombination at the chop gene. Compared with the wild type, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from chop -/- animals exhibited significantly less programmed cell death when challenged with agents that perturb ER function. A similar deficit in programmed cells death in response to ER stress was also observed in MEFs that lack CHOP's major dimerization partner, C/EBPbeta, implicating the CHOP-C/EBP pathway in programmed cell death. An animal model for studying the effects of chop on the response to ER stress was developed. It entailed exposing mice with defined chop genotypes to a single sublethal intraperitoneal injection of tunicamycin and resulted in a severe illness characterized by transient renal insufficiency. In chop +/+ and chop +/- mice this was associated with the early expression of CHOP in the proximal tubules followed by the development of a histological picture similar to the human condition known as acute tubular necrosis, a process that resolved by cellular regeneration. In the chop -/- animals, in spite of the severe impairment in renal function, evidence of cellular death in the kidney was reduced compared with the wild type. The proximal tubule epithelium of chop -/- animals exhibited fourfold lower levels of TUNEL-positive cells (a marker for programmed cell death), and significantly less evidence for subsequent regeneration. CHOP therefore has a role in the induction of cell death under conditions associated with malfunction of the ER and may also have a role in cellular regeneration under such circumstances.

Indomethacin for Treatment of Fetofetal Transfusion Syndrome

Indomethacin for Treatment of Fetofetal Transfusion Syndrome

Indications for the surgical management of central nervous system blastomycosis

BACKGROUNDBlastomycotic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) occur infrequently. The medical literature concerning blastomycosis of the CNS contains little information regarding indications for surgery.METHODSWe report five cases of CNS blastomycosis that required surgery: four intracranial and one intraspinal. One patient had a prior diagnosis of sarcoidosis, whereas none of the others had been diagnosed with any other systemic illness. The patients were evaluated with plain x rays as well as with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.RESULTSFour of these patients had extradural abscesses that required surgical drainage as well as debridement of granulomatous tissue and infected bone. The remaining patient had an intracerebellar abscess. Postoperatively, three patients were treated with amphotericin B, one with amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and one with an experimental protocol of fluconazole alone. All of the patients recovered without sequelae of seizures, recurrence of disease, or reaction to pharmacotherapy, although one patient had transient renal insufficiency due to amphotericin B.CONCLUSIONSOur experience with CNS blastomycosis managed surgically is reported. We propose three general surgical indications for these patients: mass lesions, diagnostic biopsy, and osteomyelitis refractory to pharmacotherapy.

THE PREVALENCE OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN LIVER TRANSPLANT CANDIDATES OVER AGE 50

The prevalence of angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) in adults with end-stage liver disease who undergo evaluation for liver transplantation is unknown; also it is unclear if cholestatic liver disease represents an independent risk factor. Patients with end-stage liver disease over age 50 having liver transplantation were studied using coronary angiography. Arterial stenosis was graded as normal, mild (< 30%), moderate (30 to 70%), or severe (> 70%). Risk factors for CAD were also assessed (male sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, family history of premature heart disease). Complications related to the angiography and decision making based on the findings were recorded. Thirty seven patients (23 females) with a median age of 61 years (range 50 to 71) underwent angiography. Thirteen patients (35.1%) had cholestatic liver disease. Thirty patients had no history of heart disease. The overall prevalence of severe coronary artery disease was 16.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.2% to 32.0%). No association was detected between CAD and cholestatic liver disease (P = 0.72). After eliminating seven patients with a prior history of angina (n = 1), myocardial infarction (n = 1), or coronary revascularization (n = 5), the frequency of moderate or severe CAD was 13.3% (95% CI = 3.8% to 30.7%). No association was detected between unsuspected CAD and cholestatic liver disease (P = 0.61). Diabetes was the most important risk factor for moderate or severe disease (P = 0.01). Patients without risk factors had significantly less CAD than the group as a whole regardless of the liver disease type (P = 0.02). Two patients experienced transient renal insufficiency after the angiography. Three patients with severe CAD were denied transplantation. We conclude that CAD represents a significant problem in patients over age 50 undergoing liver transplant evaluation. Cholestatic liver disease was not associated with a significantly higher prevalence of moderate or severe CAD in our population. Diabetes was the most predictive risk factor, and those without risk factors do not require extensive preoperative cardiac evaluation.

Potter sequence and consanguinity ? a case report

The first child of first-cousin parents had Potter sequence, including rudimentary, dysplastic kidneys and pulmonary hypoplasia. The girl died after 5 h. During the next pregnancy, early fetal ultrasound was normal. In the 33rd week, however, ultrasound revealed oligohydramniosis and reduced renal size. After 40 weeks of gestation a healthy girl of normal weight without any stigmata was born. Her pulmonary function and X-ray were normal. Renal ultrasound demonstrated small kidneys with high echogenicity. There was a transient renal insufficiency with a peak serum creatinine of 160 mumol/l. At 5 months of age the infant still has an increased serum creatinine concentration of 57 mumol/l and an inulin clearance of 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2. In this case there is a possibility of an autosomal recessive inheritance.

Phase II Study of Ifosfamide and Mesna in Nonsquamous Carcinoma of the Cervix: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

A phase II trial of ifosfamide (IFX) and mesna was conducted by the GOG in patients with recurrent or advanced nonsquamous carcinoma of the cervix. A starting dose of 1.5 g/m2 IFX iv daily for 5 days and 300 mg/m2 mesna iv every 4 hr with three doses daily after IFX were given. In patients who had received prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy, the starting dose of IFX was reduced to 1.2 g/m2. Forty-six patients were entered, and 41 are evaluable for toxicity. Forty patients are evaluable for response. Age range was 30-72 yr. GOG performance status was 0-1 for all but 2 patients. Fifteen patients (37.5%) developed GOG grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia, and 1 developed grade 4 thrombocytopenia. One patient developed transient renal insufficiency. There was one complete response and five partial responses (12.5%) for a response rate of 15.0%. Median response duration was 4.2 months (range, 1.7-22.6 months). Three responses were seen in areas with pelvic disease only. Three responses were observed in extrapelvic sites. IFX possesses activity which compares favorably with that of other agents in this disease.

Transient acute renal failure in the neonate

We have observed a transient renal insufficiency in newborns associated with ultrasonographic finding of hyperechoic renal pyramids. This condition rapidly resolves, coinciding with both normalization of the renal ultrasound and the occurrence of significant proteinuria. Others have recognized a similar state of oliguria and cylindruria associated with a prolonged nephrogram on intravenous urography in newborns. There is evidence to suggest that hyaline cast deposition within the collecting tubules may account for these imaging abnormalities. The precise events surrounding the protein deposition are unknown, and it may be either the cause or the result from the transient renal dysfunction. Our 2 cases add to the evidence that there is a distinct entity of acute renal dysfunction, with identifying characteristics, in neonates associated with a good prognosis and rapid resolution.

The Nordic Diltiazem Study (NORDIL). A prospective intervention trial of calcium antagonist therapy in hypertension.

NORDIL--the Nordic diltiazem intervention study was started in September 1992. This trial is a prospective randomized open blinded-endpoint (PROBE) multicenter, parallel-group study conducted in Norway and Sweden. The study is designed to evaluate the potential preventive effects of diltiazem compared with conventional antihypertensive drug treatment. Primary endpoints are cardiovascular mortality defined as fatal acute myocardial infarction, fatal acute cerebrovascular disease (stroke), sudden death and other fatal cardiovascular disease as well as cardiovascular morbidity defined as myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease (stroke). Secondary endpoints are total mortality, the development or deterioration of ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, transient ischaemic attacks, diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency. Male and female patients, aged 50-69, with primary hypertension are randomly allocated to therapy starting with either diltiazem (180-360 mg daily) or conventional treatment (diuretics or beta-adrenergic blockers). Add-on therapy in the conventional treatment group excludes all types of calcium antagonists. The goal of treatment will be a target diastolic blood pressure of < or = 90 mmHg or a 10% diastolic blood pressure reduction. The NORDIL study will allow the detection of a 20% difference in cardiovascular mortality between the two groups with a power of 80% at the 5% significance level (two-sided test). A total of 12,000 patients will be recruited from about 480 primary Health Care Centers or hospital based Hypertension Units. Patients will be treated for an average period of 5 years.

Late complications of revascularization for radiation-induced arterial disease

During a 14-year period 23 patients underwent 25 revascularizations for radiation-induced arterial obstructive disease. An average of 5000 rads was delivered, 3 to 24 (mean 9) years before arterial insufficiency, for malignancies of the following origin: gynecologic (n = 9), lymphoma (n = 7), head and neck (n = 5), testicular (n = 1), and lower extremity sarcoma (n = 1). Arterial occlusive disease occurred in the aortic arch vessels (n = 8), visceral aortic vessels (n = 1), and aortofemoral vessels (n = 16). Presenting symptoms were claudication (n = 8), rest pain or nonhealing ulcers (n = 7), transient ischemic attacks (n = 6), asymptomatic bruit (n = 1), and renal insufficiency (n = 1). Reconstructive operations included anatomic bypass (n = 10), extraanatomic bypass (n = 4), patch angioplasty (n = 5), endarterectomy (n = 3), and resection with interposition graft (n = 1). In this group of patients there were no major perioperative wound complications or other major radiation-associated morbidity. Five patients had late graft infections that manifested from 2 to 5 years after surgery. All occurred in anatomic regions where the bypass graft passed through previously irradiated tissues. Presenting symptoms of infection included a draining groin sinus (n = 3) or soft tissue abscess (n = 2). In all cases the graft had not incorporated into the surrounding tissues when passing through the irradiated area. Treatment included graft excision and extraanatomic bypass through nonirradiated tissue. One patient died of systemic sepsis. Vascular reconstructive surgery can safely be performed for radiation-induced arterial disease. We found a 21% incidence of late graft infection, all of which occurred when a bypass traversed previously irradiated tissue. Use of autologous conduits and extraanatomic bypass to avoid irradiated areas may decrease associated morbidity.

The effect of suprarenal cross-clamping on abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Two hundred five patients who underwent elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair were divided into two groups: those who underwent infrarenal cross-clamping alone (n = 166) and those who underwent suprarenal cross-clamping alone or combined with infrarenal cross-clamping (n = 39). Mortality was comparable between groups (1.2% for infrarenal cross-clamping vs 2.6% for suprarenal cross-clamping). Transient renal insufficiency was more frequent in the suprarenal group than in the infrarenal group (28% vs 10%), but dialysis rates (3% for suprarenal vs 2% for infrarenal) were similar. Cardiac morbidity was comparable between groups as well. Operating room data reflected the technical challenge of complex aneurysm repairs. The retroperitoneal approach was the preferred exposure in the suprarenal group since better access to the suprarenal aorta may be achieved with this technique. While abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs requiring suprarenal cross-clamping remain a technical challenge, the risks are not formidable and suprarenal cross-clamping should be considered when confronted with difficult periaortic dissection.

Hyperechoic renal medullary pyramids in infants and children.

Fifty-five children (34 boys, 21 girls; age range, 1 day to 18 years) with increased echogenicity of the renal medullary pyramids at ultrasound evaluation were identified. The clinical diagnoses associated with hyperechoic medullary pyramids could be separated based on the presence or absence of hypercalciuria. Patients with drug-induced hypercalciuria included 10 infants treated with furosemide, two treated with long-term steroid therapy, and one treated with excessive amounts of vitamin D. Other clinical conditions associated with hypercalciuria included renal tubular acidosis (n = 10), Bartter syndrome (n = 5), hyperparathyroidism (n = 3), Williams syndrome (n = 2) and medullary sponge kidney (n = 2). Ten children with transient renal insufficiency and three with sickle cell disease had normal urine calcium concentration. Isolated disease entities accounted for the remainder of cases. A specific diagnosis can usually be made in a patient with hyperechoic renal medullary pyramids by using a systematic clinical approach that includes evaluation of patient age, serum and urine calcium concentration, and renal function.

Renal dysgenesis in a monozygotic twin: Association with in utero exposure to indomethacin

We report oligohydramnios and renal dysgenesis in one of identical twins, which might have resulted from in utero exposure to early, prolonged high-dose indomethacin. The proposita was the second of twin girls born at 36 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy was complicated initially by polyhydramnios in both amniotic sacs and premature uterine contractions. After administration of indomethacin and terbutaline from 16 to 30 weeks' gestation, serial prenatal ultrasound examinations ultimately showed oligohydramnios in twin B and resolution of polyhydramnios in twin A. On day 5 twin B developed hematuria, hypertension, renal failure, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, sodium wasting and severe, transient inability to excrete potassium. Renal sonography showed enlarged, hyperechoic kidneys with almost no corticomedullary differentiation. Renal biopsy revealed immature glomeruli, dilated Bowman's spaces, dilated tubules, and interstitial fibrosis. The liver was histologically normal. Indomethacin may induce oligohydramnios and transient renal insufficiency in humans and renal dysgenesis in fetal monkeys; it might have induced the abnormalities in this patient.

Idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy

We describe two twin sisters in whom calcification of different arteries was detected in the first weeks of life. Transient renal insufficiency, arterial hypertension, and skeletal abnormalities were also observed. One child had anasarca and heart decompensation at birth. Prenatal infarction of one kidney had occurred in the same infant. A kidney biopsy showed calcium deposits in all the layers of the arteries. Most findings in these patients are compatible with idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy (IACI). Investigation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism revealed spontaneously receding hypercalciuria, increased intraerythrocytic calcium levels, and transient X-ray abnormalities of the long bones. Treatment initially consisted of biphosphonate and later, the calcium antagonist flunarizin. A progressive diminution of the arterial calcification was observed in the course of both treatments.

Complications in percutaneous transluminal dilatation of renal arteries.

We propose a classification of the complications in renal artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) according to their severity and their direct or indirect relationship to PTA. Minor complications are reversible within the normal recovery period after PTA, while major complications are irreversible or reversible but necessitate extended hospitalization or surgery. The following complications are reported in the literature as being directly related to PTA: hemorrhage at the puncture site, hemorrhage from renal or access artery perforation or rupture, occlusive or nonocclusive dissection of the renal or access arteries, renal artery thrombosis, renal artery spasm or embolism leading to segmental renal infarction, peripheral artery embolisation, and balloon rupture complications. The indirectly related complications include transient or irreversible renal insufficiency, contrast media hypersensitivity, pressure-drop-related cerebral or myocardial ischemia, and anticoagulation-related hemorrhage infections. In our own series of 105 PTA in 80 patients, complications occurred in 11% of which 4% were major, 1% indirectly related to PTA leading to death. In the reports available, the rate of major complication ranges between 3 and 10%, and the death rate around 1%.