Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Telemedicine Preoperative Evaluation Initiative at a Major Academic Medical Center.

Background: With health care practice consolidation, the increasing geographic scope of health care systems, and the advancement of mobile telecommunications, there is increasing interest in telemedicine-based health care consultations. Anesthesiology has had experience with telemedicine consultation for preoperative evaluation since 2004, but the majority of studies have been conducted in rural settings. There is a paucity of literature of use in metropolitan areas.

Inferior allograft outcomes in adolescent recipients of renal transplants from ideal deceased donors.

Objective: To measure the impact of the Share-35 policy on the allocation of ideal deceased donor kidneys and to examine the impact of age on outcomes after kidney transplantation using ideal donor kidneys.

Background: In the United States, through Share-35, transplant candidates aged 18 years or younger receive priority for the highest-quality deceased donor kidneys. Adolescent (15-18 years) kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), however, may be more susceptible to allograft loss due to elevated rates of acute rejection and a possible increased risk of primary renal disease recurrence.

Changes in vitamin D binding protein and vitamin D concentrations associated with liver transplantation.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with fractures, infections and death. Liver disease impairs vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) metabolism.

Aims: We aimed to determine the impact of liver transplantation on vitamin D, particularly on DBP and free vitamin D concentrations.

Age, exclusion criteria, and generalizability of randomized trials enrolling kidney transplant recipients.

Background: The proportion of elderly (≥65 years) kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) doubled in the United States from 1999 to 2008. Given higher mortality, more medication side effects, and less rejection among elderly KTRs, optimal care of these patients may require tailored decisions about transplant therapeutics. It is unknown whether participants in transplant clinical trials-which generate the best evidence for patient care-are representative of the aging population of KTRs.