Design and development of a decision support package for low back pain.

Objective: To develop a decision support package for people with low back pain (LBP) referred for physiotherapy.

Methods: We used a program of exploratory work, including literature reviews, a Delphi study, a nominal group with physiotherapists, focus groups with patients, and secondary analysis of existing interview data.

Results: We developed an information booklet describing the evidence-based treatment modalities available in a physiotherapy department.

Ex vivo partial nephrectomy and autotransplantation for renal cell cancer after laparoscopic renal harvest.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is an alternative to the open approach. For centrally located tumors, open extracorporeal partial nephrectomy has been used. We report 2 cases of laparoscopic nephrectomy for the purpose of extracorporeal partial nephrectomy and autotransplantation for renal cell cancer.

New scoring system identifies kidney outcome with radiation therapy in acute renal allograft rejection.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of radiation therapy for acute refractory renal rejection after failure of medical intervention, and to identify risk factors that influence graft survival following radiation therapy.

Methods: Between June 1989 and December 1995, 53 renal transplant recipients (34 men and 19 women) were treated with localized radiation therapy for acute renal allograft rejection. Graft rejection was defined as an increase in serum creatinine with histologic evidence of rejection on renal biopsy.

Complications in 100 living-liver donors.

Objective: A review of 100 living-liver donors was performed to evaluate the perisurgical complications of the procedure and thus to help quantify the risks to the donor.

Summary Background Data: Despite the advantages of living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the procedure has received criticism for the risk it imposes on healthy persons. A paucity of data exists regarding the complications and relative safety of the procedure.