We reported the successful administration of infliximab for late-onset OKT3-resistant rejection in two patients, who presented persistent ulcerative inflammation of the ileal graft after intestinal transplantation (ITX). Based on this experience, the present study demonstrated our long-term experience with infliximab for different types of rejection-related and inflammatory allograft alterations. Infliximab administration (5 mg/kg body weight (BW)) was initiated at a mean of 18.2 ± 14.1 months after transplantation. The number of administrations per patient averaged 8.4 ± 6.7. Repeat dosing was timed according to clinical signs and graft histology in addition to serum-levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa ), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Infliximab was successful in the following patients: patients with late-onset OKT3-and steroid-refractory rejection who presented persistent ulcerative alterations of the ileal graft (n = 5), patients with ulcerative ileitis/anastomositis, who did not show typical histological rejection signs (n = 2), and one patient with early-onset OKT3-resistant rejection. Infliximab was not successful in one patient with earlyonset OKT3-resistant rejection that was accompanied by treatment-refractory humoral rejection. In conclusion, infliximab can expand therapeutic options for late-onset OKT3-and steroid-refractory rejection and chronic inflammatory graft alterations in intestinal allograft recipients.

Perioperative intake of ASA does not seem to influence the incidence of severe bleeding in non-high-risk patients undergoing elective general or abdominal surgery. Further, adequately powered trials are required to confirm the findings of this study.

Malignant ascites (MA) is most commonly observed in patients scheduled for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) surgery and is supposed as a major risk factor promoting perioperative hemodynamic deterioration. We aimed to assess the hemodynamic consequences of MA on systemic circulation in patients undergoing cytoreductive EOC surgery.This study is a predefined post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled pilot trial comparing intravenous solutions within a goal-directed algorithm to optimize hemodynamic therapy in patients undergoing cytoreductive EOC surgery. Ascites was used to stratify the EOC patients prior to randomization in the main study. We analyzed 2 groups according to the amount of ascites (NLAS: none or low ascites [<500 mL] vs HAS: high ascites group [>500 mL]). Differences in hemodynamic variables with respect to time were analyzed using nonparametric analysis for longitudinal data and multivariate generalized estimating equation adjusting the analysis for the randomized study groups of the main study.A total of 31 patients in the NLAS and 16 patients in the HAS group were analyzed. Although cardiac output was not different between groups suggesting a similar circulatory blood flow, the HAS group revealed higher heart rates and lower stroke volumes during surgery. There were no differences in pressure-based hemodynamic variables. In the HAS group, fluid demands, reflected by the time to reindication of a fluid challenge after preload optimization, increased steadily, whereas stroke volume could not be maintained at baseline resulting in hemodynamic instability after 1.5 h of surgery. In contrast, in the NLAS group fluid demands were stable and stroke volume could be maintained during surgery. Clinically relevant associations of the type of fluid replacement with hemodynamic consequences were particularly observed in the HAS group, in which transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was associated to an improved circulatory flow and reduced vasopressor and fluid demands, whereas the administration of artificial infusion solutions was related to opposite effects.Malignant ascites >500 mL implies increased fluid demands and substantial alterations in circulatory blood flow during cancer surgery. Fresh frozen plasma transfusion promotes recovering hemodynamic stability in patients with malignant ascites >500 mL, in whom artificial infusion solutions could not prevent from hemodynamic deterioration.

Purpose: To evaluate the imaging features of anorectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with clinical and histopathologic correlation. Materials and methods: In this Institutional Review Board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant retrospective study, 16 patients (12 men; mean age 66 years (30–89 years)) with pathologically proven anorectal GISTs seen at our institution from January 2001 to July 2011 were identified. Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical data. Pretreatment imaging studies (computed tomography (CT) in 16 patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 9 patients and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in 8 patients) were evaluated by 2 radiologists until consensus. The location, size and imaging features of the primary tumor and metastases at presentation, if any, were recorded, and correlated with clinical data and pathologic features (histologic type, presence of necrosis, mitotic activity, risk category, immunohistochemical profile). Results: The mean tumor size was 6.9 × 6.0 cm. Of the 16 tumors, 11 (68.7%) were infralevator, 4 (25%) supra and infralevator and 1 (6.3%) supralevator; 9 (56.2%) were exophytic, 6 (37.5%) both exophytic and intraluminal, and 1 (6.3%) was intraluminal. The tumors were iso- to minimally hypoattenuating to muscle on CT, iso- to minimally hypointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images and showed variable enhancement. Necrosis was seen in 4 (25%), and hemorrhage and calcification in 2 (12.5%) patients each. The tumors were FDG avid with a mean maximum standardized uptake value of 11 (8.4–16.8). All tumors were positive for KIT and CD34. Distant metastasis to liver was seen in 1 patient (6.3%) at presentation. Conclusion: Anorectal GISTs are well-circumscribed, non-circumferential, predominantly infralevator, intramural or exophytic, FDG-avid, hypoattenuating masses, and present without lymphadenopathy or intestinal obstruction.

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Liver surgery is still associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to compare different haemodynamic treatments in liver surgery. In a prospective, blinded, randomised, controlled pilot trial patients undergoing liver resection were randomised to receive haemodynamic management guided by conventional haemodynamic parameters or by oesophageal Doppler monitor (ODM, CardioQ-ODM) or by pulse power wave analysis (PPA, LiDCOrapid) within a goal-directed algorithm adapted for liver surgery. The primary endpoint was stroke volume index before intra-operative start of liver resection. Secondary endpoints were the haemodynamic course during surgery and postoperative pain levels. Due to an unbalance in the extension of the surgical procedures with a high rate of only minor procedures the conventional group was dropped from the analysis. Eleven patients in the ODM group and 10 patients in the PPA group were eligible for statistical analysis. Stroke volume index before start of liver resection was 49 (37; 53) ml/m2 and 48 (41; 56) ml/m2 in the ODM and PPA group, respectively (p=0.397). The ODM guided group was haemodynamically stable as shown by ODM and PPA measurements. However, the PPA guided group showed a significant increase of pulse-pressure-variability (p=0.002) that was not accompanied by a decline of stroke volume index displayed by the PPA (p=0.556) but indicated by a decline of stroke volume index by the ODM (p<0.001). The PPA group had significantly higher postoperative pain levels than the ODM group (p=0.036). In conclusion, goal-directed optimization by ODM and PPA showed differences in intraoperative cardiovascular parameters indicating that haemodynamic optimization is not consistent between the two monitors.Trial RegistrationISRCTN.com ISRCTN64578872

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify factors impacting recipient sensitization rates and paediatric renal transplant patient outcomes. Patients and Methods For this purpose, a retrospective analysis of 143 paediatric renal transplants was carried out. This included the evaluation of patient’s and donor’s demographic data, HLA mismatches, immunosuppressive therapy, rejection episodes, panel reactive antibody (PRA) and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Results The mean patient age at the point of transplant receival was 11.5 years with a mean follow up time of 9.33±5.05 years. It was noted that graft survival rates for donors over 59 years had the worst outcome. HLA match did not show statistically significant influence on graft outcome. Graft survival for more than one biopsy-proven rejection was also significantly shorter (p=0.008). PRA were found in 28% of the recipient’s post-transplantation and showed association with lower graft survival rates (p<0.001). In the present study, 22.7% (5/22) of the patients with EBV infections presented a PTLD. Conclusion In conclusion, good graft survival with reduced sensitization for future transplantations and minimize the risk of PTLD, can be ensured through a balance between donor age, HLA match and condition of the recipient should be sought. Furthermore, paediatric patients should preferably receive organs from donors between the age of 10 and 59. EBV infection could be a relevant factor for developing PTLD.