EDITORIAL
CASE REPORTS
Background. Vascular bone graft transposition is the one of most effective method of nonunion fracture and bone defect treatment. However, the use of this technique is associated with some difficulties. One is the adjustment of recipient bed size and the graft. The other is the difficulty to reconstruct the alignment and length of bone. A promising method of preparing for the vascular bone graft transposition is virtual three-dimensional planning based on computed tomography data and three-dimensional printing templates.
The aim was to summarize our experience in the treatment of bone nonunion and defects with vascular bone autografts using tree-dimensional virtual planning and printing.
Material and methods. We analyzed the treatment process and outcomes of 4 patients with limb bone nonunion and 6 patients with bone defects. In all cases, we used vascular bone grafts. Internal fixation of grafts was used in 7 cases, external fixation was used in 3 cases. At preparation stage in 4 cases, we used tree-dimensional virtual surgery planning and printing templates.
Results. One case was diagnosed with bone graft necrosis caused by venous thrombosis. Consolidation was achieved in all patients; a late consolidation was observed in 2 cases. Hematoma in donor area was seen in 2 patients. When using three-dimensional virtual planning and tree-dimensional printing templates, the operation time was decreased by 1 hour 5 minutes. We identified two cases of poor reposition in the group without virtual planning. No poor reposition was observed in the cases where tree-dimensional planning was used.
Conclusion. Vascularized bone grafts provide an effective method to treat bone defects and nonunion. But the planning of graft and recipient site sizes is associated with certain difficulties. Our preliminary results have shown that virtual three-dimensional planning and printing allow improving the precision of the surgical procedure and decreasing operative time.
REVIEW ARTICLES AND LECTURES
Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment for the end-stage chronic renal disease that has been observed to increase in the incidence consistently in recent years. Despite the achievements in immunosuppressive therapy in patients after renal transplantation, the graft survival length has remained unchangeable during the recent few decades. Bone marrow multipotent mesenchymal (stromal) stem cells (BM MMSCs) are known as a potential tool to influence this situation. Since their discovery in the middle of the XX century, their wide therapeutic potential in the transplantation of solid organs was demonstrated both in experimental and clinical trials. They have the ability to modify recipient’s immune response and improve postoperative course, however, having a low level of their own immunogenicity. MMSCs realize their properties through interactions both with the innate and adoptive immune system. Meanwhile, actual questions such as an optimal dosage and injection timing are still need answers. Actual experience of both experimental and clinical use of MMSCs in kidney transplantation has been analyzed in the present publication.
The paper reviews the milestones and prerequisites in the history of the emergence and development of xenotransplantation. The currently existing barriers (immunological, infectious, genetic, ethical, and regulatory) to the development of this organ and tissue transplantation type have been studied. Available data on theoretical research and experimental studies have been reviewed. The prospects for performing xenotransplantation in various combination of species have been assessed. The forms and variants of the xenograft rejection reaction have been described. Genetic engineering approaches to overcoming xenoimmunological incompatibility are described. An assessment is made of ways to overcome existing barriers and prospects for the further development of xenotransplantation as a scientific section of transplantology.
PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS
Introduction. Currently, lung transplantation is an approved method for treating a wide range of end-stage lung diseases refractory to medical or surgical treatments when patient's life expectancy without transplantation makes no more than two years.
The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of continuous nutritional support via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in potential recipients of lung transplantation with a Body Mass Index under 16 kg/m2.
Material and methods. The study was based on the analysis of 93 potential recipients with various lung diseases; 27 of them with diagnosed cystic fibrosis. The enteral nutrition results of the patients with cystic fibrosis whose Body Mass Index (BMI) was under 16 kg/m2 were assessed by the increment in BMI and compared between those (15) fed via gastrosomy and those (22) fed per os.
Results. As a result of enteral nutrition via the gastrostomy in the daytime and at night, the majority of recipients (73.3% of cases) had the Body Mass Index (BMI) corrected from 0.1 to 4.91 kg/m2 during the first year, the mean BMI increment made 1.87 ± 0.4 kg/m2. After the BMI correction, 11 of the 15 potential recipients were included in the waiting list, and 6 of them (40%) underwent lung transplantation. In the comparison group, the BMI increment was 0.9 ± 0.3 kg/m2, also having reached a significant difference compared to the baseline (p = 0.04). However, the BMI increment in the main group was significantly higher than in the comparison group (p = 0.02).
Conclusion. A statistically significant increase in BMI in a group of patients with cystic fibrosis and BMI under 16 kg/m2, has been demonstrated after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, which allows extending the criteria for the inclusion in the waiting list for lung transplantation.
SCIENTIFIC-ORGANIZATIONAL AND CLINICAL ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPLANTATION PROGRAMS
Introduction. The number of patients with chronic kidney disease has been steadily increasing throughout the world, which makes this pathology a pressing problem.
The purpose. The analysis of heterotopic kidney transplantation results.
Material and methods. The authors analyzed the experience of the clinical work arrangement, the results of operations, assessed the complication rate and the quality of life in 133 patients after heterotopic cadaveric kidney transplantation performed in the Grodno regional clinical hospital in the period from 2013 to mid August of 2018.
Results. In the early postoperative period, complications occurred in 22 (13.5 %) patients, the postoperative mortality was 1.8% (3 patients). In the late postoperative period, the kidney explantation was performed in 4 (2.45%) patients, 6 patients died (3.7%) as a result of progressing comorbidities and complications (average at 15.6±9.8 months after transplantation). A 5-year predicted patient survival after heterotopic kidney transplantation calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier' method was 94.5%.
Conclusions. Kidney transplantation in the Grodno Region, the results of operations, graft survival, quality of life and patient survival are comparable to international standards. A careful selection, examination, and preparation of patients for transplantation have a great effect on treatment outcomes.
HISTORY OF MEDICINE
ANNOUNCEMENT
ISSN 2542-0909 (Online)