Background

We evaluated a published Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) to determine if this preoperative cardiovascular risk stratification tool would be useful in the kidney transplant recipient population.

Methods

We identified all kidney transplants from 2005 to 2009 (n=1652) at our institution. We performed a detailed retrospective chart review of (a) all recipients who underwent preoperative coronary angiography (n=169) and (b) an age-matched and transplantation year-matched group who did not undergo coronary angiography (n=156). Charts were reviewed for the presence of specific preoperative cardiovascular risk factors and perioperative cardiovascular complications (as defined by RCRI plus elevation of troponin) from time of surgery to hospital discharge. The total number of risk factors for each patient was compared with the occurrence of postoperative cardiac complications to identify a possible association.

Results

The number of risk factors was highly predictive of cardiovascular complications (receiver operating characteristic area, 0.77; P<0.0001). History of coronary artery disease was most strongly associated (odds ratio, 20.59; confidence interval, 4.73-89.53; P=0.0001) and history of congestive heart failure was also significantly associated with cardiac complications (odds ratio, 2.95; confidence interval, 1.01-8.59; P=0.0475).

Conclusion

The RCRI is a useful tool for cardiac risk stratification in kidney transplantation and could be used to develop protocols for intraoperative and postoperative care to minimize complications.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of incidental findings on preoperative abdominal computed tomography angiography-computed tomography urography in asymptomatic prospective renal donors.

Methods

A Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant, Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved retrospective study of 1,597 subjects undergoing renal transplant evaluation from June 1, 2006, to March 31, 2011, was performed. Candidates underwent multiphasic multidetector computed tomography angiography-computed tomography urography for presurgical evaluation of renal vascular and parenchymal anatomy. All scans were reviewed by one of three fellowship-trained abdominal radiologists. The diagnoses were made on the basis of computed tomography characteristics of each lesion, and pathology confirmation was available for seven patients. We calculated the prevalence of each incidental finding, performed Fisher exact test or chi-square test for categorical variables between the cohort that did and did not undergo donor nephrectomy, and performed simple linear logistic regression analysis of incidental findings which predicted renal donation.

Results

Of the 1,597 potential donors, 58.4% were female, and the mean age was 42.6 years (range, 18-74). One thousand one hundred ninety-five (74.9%) had a total of 2,105 incidental findings. Based on American College of Radiology Incidental Findings Committee White Paper on Managing Incidental Findings on Abdominal Computed Tomography, 17.3% had incidentalomas and 1.1% required follow-up. Majority of the incidental findings (16 of 17) were in patients who did not undergo renal donation. The prevalence of pathologically proven malignancy was 0.1% (3 of 1,597).

Conclusion

Preoperative computed tomography angiography-computed tomography urography not only identifies vascular anatomy but may also help detect clinically significant unanticipated findings in an otherwise healthy population.

Perioperative pain management is an important consideration in early recovery and patient satisfaction following laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Transmuscular quadratus lumborum block has been described to reduce pain and opioid usage following several abdominal surgeries. In this prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial, we compared 52 patients who adhered to our institutional donor nephrectomy Early Recovery After Surgery pathway, which includes a laparoscopic-guided transversus abdominus plane block, to 40 patients who additionally received a transmuscular quadratus lumborum block with liposomal bupivacaine. Compared to control patients, those who received the block spent longer in the operating room prior to the surgical start (65.4 vs. 51.6 min, P < .001). Both groups had similar total hospital length of stay (33.3 h vs. 34.4 h, P = .61). Pain scores from postoperative days 0-30, number of patients requiring opioids, postoperative nausea, and pain management satisfaction were similar between both groups. Patients who received the block consumed less opioid on postoperative day 1 compared to controls (P = .006). No complications were attributable to the block. The quadratus lumborum block provides a safe pain management adjunct for some patients, and may reduce opioid use in the early postoperative period when combined with our standard institutional protocol for kidney donors.