The current status of multivisceral transplantation

BACKGROUND: Multivisceral transplantation (MVTx) is concurrent transplantation of the stomach, spleen, pancreaticoduodenal complex, and intestine, with (MVTx) or without (modified MVTx) the liver. MVTx has been performed more frequently worldwide, and the survival of patients approximates that of patients who have undergone transplantation of other solid organs. This review introduces the recent development in MVTx. DATA SOURCES: Two English-language medical databases, MEDLINE and SPRINGERLINK, were searched for articles on 'multivisceral transplantation', graft procurement', 'immunosuppression,' and related topics. RESULT: MVTx has been the optimal therapy for the intestine with liver failure and/or failure of several other organs, despite many difficulties in preventing rejection and infection. CONCLUSION: Further study is needed to improve the long-term survival of recipients and reduce the complications.

Current status of intestinal and multivisceral transplantation

Clinical-nutritional autonomy is the ultimate goal of patients with intestinal failure(IF).Traditionally,patients with IF have been relegated to lifelong parenteral nutrition(PN)once surgical and medical rehabilitation attempts at intestinal adaptation have failed.Over the past two decades,however,outcome improvements in intestinal transplantation have added another dimension to the therapeutic armamentarium in the field of gut rehabilitation.This has become possible through relentless efforts in the standardization of surgical techniques,advancements in immunosuppressive therapies and induction protocols and improvement in postoperative patient care.Four types of intestinal transplants include isolated small bowel transplant,liver-small bowel transplant,multivisceral transplant and modified multivisceral transplant.Current guidelines restrict intestinal transplantation to patients who have had significant complications from PN including liver failure and repeated infections.From an experimental stage to the currently established therapeutic modality for patients with advanced IF,outcome improvements have also been possible due to the introduction of tacrolimus in the early 1990s.Studies have shown that intestinal transplant is cost-effective within 1–3 years of graft survival compared with PN.Improved survival and quality of life as well as resumption of an oral diet should enable intestinal transplantation to be an important option for patients with IF in addition to continued rehabilitation.Future research should focus on detecting biomarkers of early rejection,enhanced immunosuppression protocols,improved postoperative care and early referral to transplant centers.

Abdominal cluster transplantation and management of perioperative hemodynamic changes

BACKGROUND: Multivisceral transplantation (MTX, or cluster transplantation) is defined as the transplantation of three or more abdominal organs en bloc, namely the liver together with the pancreatoduodenal complex, the stomach as well as the small bowel with/without the right hemicolon. Up to May 1999, only 72 cases were reported to the Intestinal Transplant Registry. Organ cluster transplantation may carry with complex hemodynamic alterations. Based on our experience in two cases of abdominal cluster transplantation, we describe the technical details of multivisceral transplantation and the management of hemodynamic changes. METHODS: A Swan-Ganz catheter was placed to assist in monitoring the patients' hemodynamic status. After the transplantation, the 2 patients were closely observed in the intensive care unit in terms of vital signs; disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) including activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fg) and D-dimer, and arterial blood gas; and quantity and characteristics of drainage. Additionally, intra-abdominal hemorrhage was supervised by bedside B-ultrasonography or enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination. Whole blood viscosity was monitored 2 weeks after transplantation. The blood flow of the hepatic artery and portal vein and arterial resistant index were assessed routinely by Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: Hemodynamic changes were observed during perioperation. Liver and renal function recovered within one week after transplantation. Enteral feedings and oral intake were gradually increased with a reciprocal decrease in parenteral nutrition. Despite systemic antibiotics were given according to the results of frequent cultures, patient 1 died from cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection 4 months after transplantation and patient 2 died of a systemic sepsis 2 months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors contribute to the success of multivisceral transplantation. In order to maintain hemodynamics stable during perioperation, preoperative coagulatory function should be corrected, and stable circulation, serum electrocyte balance, and normal body temperature should be kept during the operation in addition to the treatment of intra-abdominal hemorrhage and making up for the loss of body fluid. However, complicatiom, infection and rejection are barriers for the improvement of graft survival.

Transplantation of an eight-organ multivisceraI graft in a patient with frozen abdomen after complicated Crohn's disease

To report an extended multivisceral transplantation （MVTx） including right kidney and ascending colon in a patient with complicated Crohn＇s disease （CD）. A 36-year old female suffering from short bowel syndrome and frozen abdomen due to fistulizing CD after multiple abdominal operations underwent MVTx of eight organs including stomach, pancreatoduodenal complex, liver, intestine, ascending colon, right kidney, right adrenal gland, and greater omentum in November 2003. Immunosuppression consisted of alemtuzumab, tacrolimus and steroids. The patient was off parenteral nutrition by postoperative wk 3. She experienced one episode of pneumonia. The patient recovered completely and discharged 2.5 mo and was doing well 30 mo after MVTx. This is one of the very rare cases in which a complete mulitivisceral graft of eight abdominal organs was transplanted orthotopically.