BACKGROUND AND AIMS An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is preferred for long-term haemodialysis vascular access. AV fistula creation requires adequate arterial and venous anatomy to support its creation and a sufficient time interval to allow the AV fistula to mature prior to its use. Failure to mature remains a problem highlighting the importance of the perioperative evaluation of the fistula. Ultrasound and colour doppler are a rapid, non-invasive and repeatable tools that can be used for the early diagnosis of vascular complications. METHOD A prospective, observational study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in South India. All the patients with arteriovenous fistulas made in the upper limb between the time period of June 2021–August 2021 were included. A preoperative doppler mapping and assessment of the upper lime was done by the nephrology team and two DUS exams in the post-operative period. RESULTS In our study, a total of 134 patients were evaluated with a mean age of 51.89 ± 13.7 years. The total number of males in the study was 115 (85.8%). The aetiology of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was predominantly nondiabetic in origin seen in 56.7% of the patients. Ischaemic heart disease was seen in 36 patients. There were 116 brachiocephalic,18 radiocephalic AV fistulas in our group of patients. The overall success rate of the fistula was 79.9%. The average vein diameter in patients with successful AV fistula was 3.03 ± 1.05 mm and was 2.25 ± 0.9 mm in those who had a failed fistula. The average blood flow measurement in the proximal artery supplying the fistula was 479.42 ± 113.1 mL/min in the immediate post-op period and 1055.88 ± 227.6 mL/min at 6 weeks. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the blood flow measurement between those who achieved primary patency versus those with failure to mature. CONCLUSION It is essential for a practicing nephrologist to be acquainted with the technique of doppler to assess AV fistula to assess for maturity and to see for.
Background: HIV/AIDS was first recognized in USA in 1981 when centre for disease control (CDC) reported unexplained occurrence of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in 5 healthy homosexuals. Soon it was recognized in drug abusers and blood transfusion recipients. The present study has been taken up with an aim to know the incidence of various opportunistic infections in HIV positive patients and to correlate different opportunistic infections (OIs) with the CD4+cellcount.Methods: Sample of 132 cases admitted in Gandhi hospital during the study period were taken. CD4+ counting of blood samples was done by Flow cytometry as per manufacturer’s instructions (FACS Calibur, Becton- Dickinson, Immunocytometry system). Correlation of CD4 cell counts was done with the respective opportunistic infections.Results: TB (50%) is the most frequent OI followed by candidiasis (49%), pneumocystis (16%) and others. The mean CD4 cell count in TB was 110.80/mL and in candidiasis 97.84/mL. Low values were observed in CMV (27/mL) and in toxoplasmosis (61.66/mL).Conclusions: In most of the patient’s respiratory system was the most common system involved by OIs and had CD4 T cell count below 200/mL. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of opportunistic infections is important. This study helps the clinicians in proper guidance to come up before development of severe immunodeficiency to prevent serious and fatal outcome.
Introduction: Kidney transplant recipients appear to be at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to chronic immunosuppression and coexisting conditions. Objectives: We aimed to study the clinical characteristics, laboratory and radiological results, treatment aspects and clinical outcomes of kidney transplant patients with COVID-19. Patient and Methods: Twenty consecutive kidney transplant patients with COVID-19 pneumonia from two tertiary care centers from India were retrospectively studied from July 1 to Oct 31, 2020. Results: Of 20 patients, 18 required admission; mean age was 42.8±9.39 years and 18 out of 20 (90%) were male. Symptom onset to testing time was a mean of 3.05±1.47 days. All patients were on triple immunosuppression. The median time since transplantation to COVID-19 was 3.75 years (IQR 2.37-5.41). Fever, cough and breathlessness were the most common presenting symptoms. Nine out of twenty (45%) had severe COVID-19 while six out of 20 (30%) required intensive care. Twelve (60%) patients had lymphopenia. Additionally mycophenolate was withheld in seventeen out of twenty (85 %) and enoxaparin and intravenous methylprednisolone were administered in all hospitalized patients while remdesivir was prescribed in 16 out of 20 (80%). Moreover, acute kidney injury (AKI) was seen in five out of 20 (25%) since one of died (5%). After a median hospital stay of 8.5 days (IQR 6.75-15.5), seventeen patients were discharged from the hospital. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection in kidney transplant recipients is usually a moderate-severe form. COVID-19 should be a differential diagnosis for fever in this high-risk population however lymphopenia may not be seen in all. Antimetabolite withdrawal, intravenous steroid, anticoagulation and early remdesivir were all found to be safe and effective strategies for improving outcomes. Early diagnosis and timely treatment may decrease mortality in this high-risk population.
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