World J Gastrointest Surg
September 2024
Background: Through continuous improvement in transplantation medicine, a wider range of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients is considered suitable for complex procedures. Despite advances in modern transplantation practice, transpiring invasive fungal infections pose a substantial threat for SOT recipients. To our knowledge, cryptococcal infection confined amidst sole pancreas SOT recipients has not been described to date.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRetroperitoneal paragangliomas are tumors of neuroectodermal origin rarely appearing in the pediatric population. We report a case of a large paraganglioma infiltrating the right kidney and inferior vena cava in a 16-year-old boy who initially presented with a right-sided varicocele. Right retroperitoneal paraganglioma was embolized preoperatively, followed by total tumor excision, right nephrectomy, inferior vena cava resection, and reconstruction using a prosthetic vascular graft.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation (LT) however, selection criteria remain controversial. We aimed to identify survival factors and predictors for tumour recurrence using machine learning (ML) methods. We also compared ML models to the Cox regression model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo determine the potential benefits and feasibility of administering maintenance therapy with dinutuximab beta for high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) in clinical practice, a retrospective review of charts of patients with HRNB treated at a single center in Croatia (2012-2021) was undertaken. Of 23 patients with HRNB, 11 received up to five cycles of dinutuximab beta as part of multimodal therapy; 12 patients did not (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The data on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) in Croatia is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Croatian SOTRs.
Materials And Methods: From 7 September to 27 November 2020 (beginning of the second COVID-19 pandemic wave), a cross-sectional screening for COVID-19 was performed in the adult outpatient liver (LTRs; N = 280) and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs; N = 232).
Benign liver tumors are common lesions that are usually asymptomatic and are often found incidentally due to recent advances in imaging techniques and their widespread use. Although most of these tumors can be managed conservatively or treated by surgical resection, liver transplantation (LT) is the only treatment option in selected patients. LT is usually indicated in patients that present with life-threatening complications, when the lesions are diffuse in the hepatic parenchyma or when malignant transformation cannot be ruled out.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile pancreatic cancer is still characterized by early systemic spread and poor outcomes, the treatment of this disease has changed significantly in recent years due to major advancements in systemic therapy and advanced surgical techniques. Broader use of effective neoadjuvant approaches combined with aggressive surgical operations within a multidisciplinary setting has improved outcomes. Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer is characterized by tumor vascular invasion, and is a setting where the combination of potent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and aggressive surgical methods, including vascular resections and reconstructions, shows its full potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of viral hepatitis globally. The first human case of autochthonous HEV infection in Croatia was reported in 2012, with the undefined zoonotic transmission of HEV genotype 3. This narrative review comprehensively addresses the current knowledge on the HEV epidemiology in humans and animals in Croatia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent cancers worldwide, and its prevention and reduction of incidence is imperative. The presence of diabetes has been associated with a 30% increased risk of CRC, likely through the mechanism of hyperinsulinemia, which promotes tumorigenesis the insulin receptor in the epithelium or by insulin-like growth factor pathways, inflammation, or adipokines, inducing cancer cell proliferation and cancer spread. Metformin, the first-line agent in treating type 2 diabetes, has a chemopreventive role in CRC development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiver transplantation (LT) has become a field with rich publication activity; however, there is a paucity of research regarding LT publications from southeastern European (SEE) countries. Understanding the factors that influence the publication output is essential to direct the research and to promote the publication of high-quality papers. A bibliometric analysis was performed in PubMed for articles published on LT-related clinical experience from 11 countries from the SEE region before 2020.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver transplantation (LT) is a frequent and multifactorial event related to increased morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for AKI after LT still need to be clarified.
Aim: To identify the predictors of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation.
An increase in the average life expectancy, paralleled by a demographic shift in the population with end-stage liver disease lies behind the rising demand for liver transplantation (LT) among the elderly. Some of the most common indications for LT including hepatocellular carcinoma, alcohol-related liver disease, chronic hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease tend to affect older patients. Transplant professionals are faced with an increasing demand for LT among elderly patients in an age of organ shortage and it is important that risk and benefits are carefully weighed in order to achieve the optimum use of precious liver grafts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZoonoses represent a problem of rising importance in the transplant population. A close relationship and changes between human, animal and environmental health ("One Health" concept) significantly influence the transmission and distribution of zoonotic diseases. The aim of this manuscript is to perform a narrative review of the published literature on emerging and neglected zoonoses in the transplant population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe consequences of graft failure after liver transplantation (LT) range far beyond the liver. The kidneys are often affected, where persistent and progressive cholestasis can result in acute kidney injury (AKI) leading to the development of bile cast nephropathy (BCN). BCN is an often unrecognized condition that is characterized by proximal tubulopathy and the formation of bile casts in the distal tubules, which is almost diagnosed exclusively on a kidney biopsy or autopsy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Infect Dis Rep
November 2019
Purpose Of Review: In this review, we present the overview of emerging and neglected viruses associated with liver involvement.
Recent Findings: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) emerged in the last two decades, causing hepatitis in many parts of the world. Moreover, liver involvement was also described in some emerging arboviral infections.
Background: Refractory ascites is a rare complication following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The broad spectrum of differential diagnosis often leads to delay in diagnosis. Therapy depends on recognition and treatment of the underlying cause.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld J Clin Cases
September 2019
Background: Donor-origin cancer is a well-recognized but rare complication after liver transplantation (LT). The rise in the use of extended criteria donors due to the current shortage of organs increases the risk. Data on donor-origin neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and the most appropriate treatment are scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConjoined twining is a rare medical phenomenon, with an overall prevalence of 1.47 per 100 000 births. This report describes a successful separation of xypho-omphalopagus conjoined twins complicated by unbalanced blood shunting through the porto-systemic anastomoses within the shared liver parenchyma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Paraduodenal pancreatitis (PP) is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis presenting with symptoms of duodenal obstruction. Conservative treatment is often unsuccessful and pancreaticoduodenectomy is the preferred surgical approach. A mini review of the outcomes of surgical therapy for PP shows that the results of pancreaticoduodenectomy are predominantly favorable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. It is currently one of the leading indications for liver transplant, with selected 5-year survival rates after liver transplant of about 70%. Despite excellent results of liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma, a number of patients develop metastases after transplant, and multifocal metastatic disease is the most frequent cause of death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: About 15% of liver transplantations (LTs) in Eurotransplant are currently performed in patients with a high-urgency (HU) status. Patients who have acute liver failure (ALF) or require an acute retransplantation can apply for this status. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of this prioritization.
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