Efficacy and Reliability of T-Cell-Depleted Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation in Hematologic Disorders: A Retrospective Study.

Background: A promising recent strategy for haploidentical transplantation is the depletion of T lymphocytes based on the selective elimination of T cells by manipulation, which enables a very low incidence of nonrelapse mortality and graft-vs-host disease. It is more expensive than conventional unmanipulated methods and requires dedicated transplant centers and sufficient stem cell processing facilities. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relapse, survival, and clinical data of the patients and to analyze the outcomes of the technique.

Perioperative Anesthetic Management and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Kidney Transplant in the Same Session.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is commonly seen in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is a major cause of graft failure and death in patients undergoing kidney transplant.

Methods: The retrospective study included 77 patients with ESRD who underwent combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and kidney transplant between May 2010 and September 2017.

Results: The patients included 65 (84.

Extracorporeal photopheresis did not prevent the development of an autoimmune disease: myasthenia gravis.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by an autoimmune defect in the neuromuscular junction. In most patients, the autoimmune attack is mediated by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) on the postsynaptic membrane. Deficient immunoregulation, including regulatory T cells, is consistently observed.

Post-transplantation Malignancy After Kidney Transplantation in Turkey.

Objective: Kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for end-stage renal disease patients. Increased incidence of post-transplantation malignancy can be caused by immunosuppressive drugs and some oncogenic infections. The aim of this study is to show the incidence of post-transplantation malignancy in patients who had surgery and were followed up in the Organ Transplant Center, Medical Park Antalya, Antalya, Turkey.

Renal Transplantation in Recipients Older Than 65 Years: Retrospective Analysis of the Results of a 4-year (2008-2012) Experience.

Background: We analyze the results of renal transplantation among recipients older than 65 years old over a 4-year period (2008-2012) from a single renal transplantation unit and compare results with younger recipients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 2018 renal transplantations performed between November 2008 and December 2012. The χ(2) test was used for the comparison of categorical data, and the Student t test was used for the analysis of continuous variables.

First International Paired Exchange Kidney Transplantations of Turkey.

Objective: We estimated that many patients on the waiting list for kidney transplantation in Turkey have immunologicaly incompatible suitable living donors. Paired exchange kidney transplantation (PETx) is superior to desensitization for patients with incompatible donors. Recently we decided to begin an international PETx program.

Neurological complications after liver transplantation.

This was a single-centre, prospective study to assess the frequency of neurological complications and their impact on prolonged hospitalization in 137 liver transplant patients presenting between September 1997 and June 2010. Neurological complications were seen in 22 (16%) patients during their postoperative stay in the intensive care unit. Complications included new-onset, recurrent headache (five patients), generalized seizures (four patients), dysarthria (two patients), delirium with agitation (three patients), persistent flapping tremor (two patients), alteration in level of consciousness (three patients), central pontine myelinolysis (one patient), myopathy (one patient) and visual hallucinations (one patient).

Maxillary sinusitis in patients ventilated for a severe head injury and with nostrils free of any foreign body.

Background: This study aims to determine the frequency of maxillary sinusitis in the patients with traumatic head injury and nostrils free of any foreign body. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography (US) for the detection of the presence of fluid in maxillary sinuses were evaluated.

Patients And Methods: Forty patients with severe traumatic head injury were included in the study.

Repeat percutaneous tracheostomy in the neurocritically ill patient.

Introduction: Percutaneous tracheostomy is a widely used and accepted method for long-term mechanical ventilation and airway protection. Neurocritically ill patients sometimes require repeat tracheostomy, which is traditionally considered a relative contraindication for percutaneous procedure. The aim of this study was to determine the safety of repeat percutaneous tracheostomy in neurocritically ill patients with a history of previous tracheostomy.

A botulism outbreak from roasted canned mushrooms.

Food-borne botulism is a rare disease that results from ingestion of the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. The most common cause of the disease is the consumption of home-canned foods prepared under inappropriate conditions, especially in rural environments. In this report, a food-borne botulism outbreak potentially caused by roasted home-canned mushrooms is evaluated and the major reasons for delayed diagnosis are emphasized.

Comparison of two different techniques for brachial plexus block: infraclavicular versus axillary technique.

Background: Brachial plexus block via the axillary approach is problematic in patients with limited arm mobility. In such cases, the infraclavicular approach may be a valuable alternative. The purpose of our study was to compare axillary and infraclavicular techniques for brachial plexus block in patients undergoing arm or forearm surgery.

The routine use of pediatric airway exchange catheter after extubation of adult patients who have undergone maxillofacial or major neck surgery: a clinical observational study.

Introduction: We conducted the present study to determine the usefulness of routinely inserting a pediatric airway exchange catheter (PAEC) before tracheal extubation of adult patients who had undergone maxillofacial or major neck surgery and have risk factors for difficult reintubation.

Methods: A prospective, observational and clinical study was performed in the 25-bed general intensive care unit of a university hospital. Thirty-six adult patients who underwent maxillofacial or major neck surgery and had risk factors for difficult reintubation were extubated after insertion of the PAEC.

The analgesic and sedative effects of intrathecal midazolam in perianal surgery.

Background And Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the analgesic and sedative effects of intrathecal midazolam when added to spinal bupivacaine in patients undergoing perianal surgery under spinal anaesthesia.

Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group I (B) received hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% 2 mL + saline 0.

Comparison of serum and cerebrospinal fluid protein S-100b levels after severe head injury and their prognostic importance.

Background: This study aimed to compare serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) S-100b protein levels after a severe head injury. The changes in serum S-100b and CSF S-100b concentrations were investigated as indicators of brain damage for patients suffering from severe head injuries.

Methods: The sample included 48 patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 8 or below who had been admitted to the authors' emergency service soon after their severe head injury occurred.

Brain death and donor management in the intensive care unit: experiences over the last 3 years.

We sought to examine the frequency of brain death in the ICU, the donation rate, and the problems encountered during donor management between the years of January 2000, the date we began treating patients with neurologic pathologies and traumatic brain injury, and March 2003. Between January 2000 and March 2003, 134 patients diagnosed with brain death in our ICU were studied prospectively for the reason of brain death, the time between admission to ICU, and the diagnosis of brain death, the frequency of diabetes insipidus, the inotrope requirement, hypothermia, electrolyte imbalance, arrhythmia, and cardiac arrest. Among the approximately 2600 patients admitted to the general 24-bed ICU, 940 had cerebral injuries.

Frequency of spinal reflex movements in brain-dead patients.

Spontaneous and reflex movements may occur in brain-dead patients. These movements originate from spinal cord neurons and do not preclude a brain-death diagnosis. In this study, we sought to determine the frequency and characteristics of motor movements in patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for brain death.

Utility of transcranial doppler ultrasonography for confirmatory diagnosis of brain death: two sides of the coin.

Background: Although the clinical examination and documentation of the clinical signs of brain death are very uniform, there are significant differences in the guidelines for using technical confirmatory tests to corroborate the clinical signs. The current study examined the utility of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) for confirmation of brain death.

Methods: After 19 patients were excluded from the study because of lack of bone window or because an apnea test could not be performed because of desaturation, 100 patients (61 patients with clinical brain death, and 39 control patients with Glasgow Coma Score<5) were included in the study.

The use of the laryngeal mask airway as an alternative to the endotracheal tube during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy under bronchoscopic guidance comparing with the ventilation via endotracheal tube (ET).

Design And Setting: Prospective, randomized clinical trial in the eight-bed general intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Patients: 60 consecutive adult critically ill patients who required elective tracheostomy for a period of 12 months.