A donor history of cardiac arrest should not automatically exclude the use of the intestine graft for transplantation.

Primary closure of the abdominal wall after combined liver and intestine transplantation from a living donor into a pediatric patient is usually not possible, because of the size of the donor organ, graft edema, and preexisting scars or stomas of the abdominal wall. Closure under tension may lead to abdominal compartment syndrome with vascular compromise and necrosis of the transplanted organ. We describe our experience of abdominal wound closure after liver and intestinal transplant in the pediatric patient using a staged approach. From February 2003 to June 2006, we managed five pediatric liver and intestinal living donor transplant recipients. Because of the large post-transplantation abdominal wall defect, a staged technique of abdominal wound closure was utilized. Initially, an absorbable Polygalactin mesh was sutured around the layer of the defect. As soon as adequate granulation tissue was formed over the mesh a STSG was applied. From the wound stand point all five patients were managed successfully with staged wound closure after transplantation. Granulation tissue filled and covered the mesh within 7.6 wk. A STSG was then used to cover the defect. All infants recovered well and none had a significant wound complication in the immediate post-operative period following STSG. At a mean follow-up of 24 months only one patient developed an entero-cutaneous fistula five months post-transplant. Staged abdominal wall coverage with the use of Polygalactin mesh followed by STSG is a simple and effective technique. A closed wound is achieved in a timely fashion with protection of the viscera. Residual ventral hernia will need to be managed in the future with one of several reconstructive techniques.

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Summary The ideal immunosuppressive treatment for African–American kidney transplant recipients has not been established. We performed a long‐term prospective randomized trial comparing the results of tacrolimus (TAC) and cyclosporine (CSA) in the African–American population. Thirty‐five African–American primary cadaveric renal transplant (CRT) recipients were enrolled in the study. Group I (n = 14) received TAC and group II (n = 21) received CSA; mean follow up was 78 months. We found no difference in patient/graft survival rates between the groups. Twelve patients in the CSA group were converted to TAC, mostly because of hypercholesterolemia or as a rescue for an acute rejection episode. Significant lower creatinine and cholesterol levels were seen at 1 year post‐transplant, but this difference lost significance at 3 and 5 years, possibly because of conversion of most patients from CSA to TAC. In conclusion, African–American recipients of primary CRTs can achieve excellent long‐term results with TAC‐based immunosuppression.

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Preservation of the ileocecal valve improves absorptive function and decreases the amount of small bowel needed for survival in patients with short gut syndrome. We compared the results of small and large bowel transplant (SLBTx), small bowel transplant only (SBTx), and SBTx with the ileocecal valve (ICVTx) in a porcine model. Total enterectomy was performed on 18 Yorkshire-Landrace pigs followed by orthotopic SBLTx (n = 6), SBTx (n = 6), and ICVTx (n = 6). A jejunostomy and an ileostomy were constructed for biopsies. Overall mean survival was 17 d with no statistically significant difference between groups. Rejection was seen in 6/6 SLBTx, 4/6 SBTx, and 4/6 ICVTx recipients. Acute rejection was seen in 84.3% of SLBTx, 52.3% of SBTx, and 42.5% of the ICVTx mucosal biopsy samples. Two cases of intra-abdominal infection were in the ICVTx group only. Weight loss was 147 g/d in the SLBTx group, 643 g/d in the SBTx group, and 393 g/d in the ICVTx group. While the functional outcome after SLBTx and ICVTx was noticeably better than the SBTx group, the increased rejection and intra-abdominal infection rates make transplanting the large bowel or the ileocecal valve a less attractive clinical option.

Although SW appeared to be successful initially, our long-term data indicate that SW significantly increases the risk of late acute rejection and chronic rejection episodes without benefits in posttransplantation diabetes management. Steroid withdrawal in patients with posttransplantation diabetes should be approached with caution.

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant from living donors has been recently proposed as an effective therapeutic option in selected uremic patients with type I diabetes. We report the first simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant performed between identical twins. Posttransplant, the recipient has been maintained on low dose cyclosporine to avoid recurrent auto-immune insulitis. At the 1-year follow-up, both donor and recipient are well with normal renal function and excellent glucose control. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant between identical twins can be performed successfully using cyclosporine to prevent recurrent auto-immune insulitis.