Reduction of infectious complications and costs using temporary subcutaneous implantation of PD catheters.

A limited number of authors have demonstrated that temporary subcutaneous implantation of peritoneal dialysis catheters ("Moncrief") reduces infectious complications and increases catheter life expectancy. Two operations are required to use the Moncrief catheter as compared to only one operation when peritoneal dialysis catheters are exteriorized for immediate use ("Updike"). The questions arise, then, are these findings reproducible and which catheter is the most cost-effective? In an effort to support these premises, a retrospective review of 195 patients who received peritoneal dialysis catheters from 1991 to 1995 was undertaken.

The long-term effect of delayed graft function on cadaveric renal transplants treated with low-dose cyclosporine.

We evaluated the long-term effect of delayed graft function (DGF) on cadaveric renal transplant patients treated with "low-dose" cyclosporine (CsA). Between January 1985 and December 1986, 103 cadaveric renal transplants were performed. Patients were divided into 3 groups, depending upon graft function 3 days posttransplantation (PT): 1) no DGF with serum creatinine (SCr) levels less than 2 mg/dl, 2) moderate DGF with SCr of 2.

Low-dose cyclosporine for cadaveric renal transplantation.

Low-dose cyclosporine (CsA) plus prednisone for induction and maintenance immunosuppression were used in 106 consecutive cadaveric renal transplants. Previous reports of lower initial CsA have described its use in combination with other forms of immunosuppression. An oral CsA dose of 3 mg/kg was given 2-4 hr before operation, and maintenance CsA was started 12 hr post-operatively at 1 or 1.

Influenza vaccination in renal transplant recipients.

Renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy are prone to major pulmonary infections. Development of influenza virus infection may lead to renal allograft damage or rejection. These patients should therefore be protected against influenza viruses by vaccination.

Bovine artegraft arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis in one-hundred patients after "conventional" arteriovenous fistulas failed.

The use of the Bovine artegraft for creation of arteriovenous fistulas in the hemodialysis patients was first carried out in the midsummer of 1971. Since that time, there has been considerable material reported in the use of this substitute as an access for hemodialysis. In this article information gained from an ongoing study of the first 100 patients in chronic hemodialysis who had Bovine artegraft arteriovenous fistulas was reviewed.

Three year experience with bovine graft arteriovenous (A-V) fistulas in 100 patients.

On the basis of the preceding discussion and information, it is our conclusion that: 1. Bovine graft A-V fistuals can be created successfully in 87% of those patients who have had a failure of conventional fistuals. 2.