Peritoneal dialysis （PD） is associated with a high risk of infection of the peritoneum, subcutaneous tunnel and catheter exit site. Although quality standards demand an infection rate 〈 0.67 episodes/patient/year o...Peritoneal dialysis （PD） is associated with a high risk of infection of the peritoneum, subcutaneous tunnel and catheter exit site. Although quality standards demand an infection rate 〈 0.67 episodes/patient/year on dialy-sis, the reported overall rate of PD associated infection is 0.24-1.66 episodes/patient/year. It is estimated that for every 0.5-per-year increase in peritonitis rate, the risk of death increases by 4% and 18% of the episodes resulted in removal of the PD catheter and 3.5% re-sulted in death. Improved diagnosis, increased aware-ness of causative agents in addition to other measures will facilitate prompt management of PD associated infection and salvage of PD modality. The aims of this review are to determine the magnitude of the infection problem, identify possible risk factors and provide an update on the diagnosis and management of PD as-sociated infection. Gram-positive cocci such as Staphy-lococcus epidermidis , other coagulase negative staphy-lococcoci, and Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus ） are the most frequent aetiological agents of PD-associated peritonitis worldwide. Empiric antibiotic therapy must cover both gram-positive and gram-negative organ-isms. However, use of systemic vancomycin and cip-rofoxacin administration for example, is a simple and efficient first-line protocol antibiotic therapy for PD peritonitis - success rate of 77%. However, for fungal PD peritonitis, it is now standard practice to remove PD catheters in addition to antifungal treatment for a minimum of 3 wk and subsequent transfer to hemodi-alysis. To prevent PD associated infections, prophylactic antibiotic administration before catheter placement, adequate patient training, exit-site care, and treatment for S. aureus nasal carriage should be employed. Mupi-rocin treatment can reduce the risk of exit site infection by 46% but it cannot decrease the risk of peritonitis due to all organisms.展开更多
There is continuing disparity between demand for and supply of kidneys for transplantation. This review describes the current state of kidney donation after cardiac death （DCD） and provides recommendations for a way...There is continuing disparity between demand for and supply of kidneys for transplantation. This review describes the current state of kidney donation after cardiac death （DCD） and provides recommendations for a way forward. The conversion rate for potential DCD donors varies from 40%-80%. Compared to con-trolled DCD, uncontrolled DCD is more labour intensive, has a lower conversion rate and a higher discard rate. The super-rapid laparotomy technique involving direct aortic cannulation is preferred over in situ perfusion in controlled DCD donation and is associated with lower kidney discard rates, shorter warm ischaemia times and higher graft survival rates. DCD kidneys showed a 5.73-fold increase in the incidence of delayed graft function （DGF） and a higher primary non function rate compared to donation after brain death kidneys, but the long term graft function is equivalent between the two. The cold ischaemia time is a controllable factor that signifcantly infuences the outcome of allografts, for example, limiting it to 〈 12 h markedly reduces DGF. DCD kidneys from donors 〈 50 function like stan-dard criteria kidneys and should be viewed as such. As the majority of DCD kidneys are from controlled dona-tion, incorporation of uncontrolled donation will expand the donor pool. Efforts to maximise the supply of kid-neys from DCD include： implementing organ recovery from emergency department setting; improving family consent rate; utilising technological developments to optimise organs either prior to recovery from donors or during storage; improving organ allocation to ensure best utility; and improving viability testing to reduce primary non function.展开更多
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease （ADPKD）, the most frequent cause of genetic renal disease affecting approximately 4 to 7 million individuals worldwide and accounting for 7%-15% of patients on renal repl...Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease （ADPKD）, the most frequent cause of genetic renal disease affecting approximately 4 to 7 million individuals worldwide and accounting for 7%-15% of patients on renal replacement therapy, is a systemic disorder mainly involving the kidney but cysts can also occur in other organs such as the liver, pancreas, arachnoid membrane and seminal vesicles. Though computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） were similar in evaluating 81% of cystic lesions of the kidney, MRI may depict septa, wall thickening or enhancement leading to upgrade in cyst classification that can affect management. A screening strategy for intracranial aneurysms would provide 1.0 additional year of life without neurological disability to a 20-year-old patient with ADPKD and reduce the fnancial impact on society of the disease. Current treatment strategies include reducing： cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels, cell proliferation and fluid secretion. Several randomised clinical trials （RCT） including mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, somatostatin analoguesand a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist have beenperformed to study the effect of diverse drugs ongrowth of renal and hepatic cysts, and on deteriorationof renal function. Prophylactic native nephrectomy isindicated in patients with a history of cyst infection orecurrent haemorrhage or to those in whom space musbe made to implant the graft. The absence of largeRCT on various aspects of the disease and its treatmen leaves considerable uncertainty and ambiguity in many aspects of ADPKD patient care as it relates to end stage renal disease （ESRD）. The outlook of patients with ADPKD is improving and is in fact much better than that for patients in ESRD due to other causes. This review highlights the need for well-structured RCTs as a frst step towards trying newer interventions so as to develop updated clinical management guidelines.展开更多
Diagnosis and treatment of common conditions in morbidly obese patients still pose a challenge to physicians and surgeons.Sometimes too much reliance is put on investigations that can lead to a misdiagnosis.This case ...Diagnosis and treatment of common conditions in morbidly obese patients still pose a challenge to physicians and surgeons.Sometimes too much reliance is put on investigations that can lead to a misdiagnosis.This case demonstrates an obese woman admitted under the medical team with a presumed diagnosis of pneumonia, who was later found to have an acute abdomen and raised amylase,which led to an assumed diagnosis of pancreatitis.She died within 24 h of admission and post mortem confirmed the cause of death as systemic sepsis due to perforated appendicitis,with no evidence of pancreatitis.Significantly elevated serum amylase level may occur in non-pancreatitic acute abdomen.展开更多
Permacol mesh has shown promise when used in abdominal wall repair,especially in the presence of a contaminated surgical field.This biomaterial,derived from porcine dermis collagen,has proposed advantages over synthet...Permacol mesh has shown promise when used in abdominal wall repair,especially in the presence of a contaminated surgical field.This biomaterial,derived from porcine dermis collagen,has proposed advantages over synthetic materials due to increased biocompatibility and reduced foreign body reaction within human tissues.However,we present a case report describing a patient who displayed rejection to a Permacol mesh when used in the repair of abdominal wound dehiscence following an emergency laparotomy.Review of the English language literature using PubMed and Medline, showed only two previously published cases of explantation of Permacoldue to sepsis or wound breakdown. The authors believe this is the first case of severe foreign body reaction leading to rejection of Permacol.Both animal and human studies show conflicting evidence of biocompatibility.There are several reports of successful use of Permacolto repair complex incisional herniae or abdominal walls in the presence of significant contamination.It appears from the literature that Permacolis a promising material,but as we have demonstrated,it has the potential to evoke a foreign body reaction and rejection in certain subjects.展开更多
AIM: To compare urological infections in patients with or without stents following transplantation and to determine the effect of such infections on graft function.METHODS: All 285 recipients of kidney transplantation...AIM: To compare urological infections in patients with or without stents following transplantation and to determine the effect of such infections on graft function.METHODS: All 285 recipients of kidney transplantation at our centre between 2006 and 2010 were included in the study. Detailed information including stent use and transplant function was collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively. The diagnosis of urinary tract infection was made on the basis of compatible symptoms supported by urinalysis and/or microbiological culture. Graft function, estimated glomerular filtration rate and creatinine at 6 mo and 12 mo, immediate graft function and infection rates were compared between those with a stent or without a stent.RESULTS: Overall, 196(183 during initial procedure, 13 at reoperation) patients were stented following transplantation. The overall urine leak rate was 4.3%(12/277) with no difference between those with or without stents- 7/183 vs 5/102, P = 0.746. Overall, 54%(99/183) of stented patients developed a urological infection compared to 38.1%(32/84) of those without stents(P = 0.0151). All 18 major urological infections occurred in those with stents. The use of stent(Wald χ2 = 5.505, P = 0.019) and diabetes mellitus(Wald χ2 = 5.197, P = 0.023) were found to have significant influence on urological infection rates on multivariate analysis. There were no deaths or graft losses due to infection. Stenting was associated with poorer transplant function at 12 mo.CONCLUSION: Stents increase the risks of urological infections and have a detrimental effect on early to medium term renal transplant function.展开更多
A case of strangulation of the transverse colon in a traumatic left diaphragmatic hernia manifesting as pericarditis is reported. This is unusual because pericardial signs in traumatic diaphragmatic hernia have been p...A case of strangulation of the transverse colon in a traumatic left diaphragmatic hernia manifesting as pericarditis is reported. This is unusual because pericardial signs in traumatic diaphragmatic hernia have been previously described in association with direct pericardial injury. This is the only such case where electrocardiographic changes of pericarditis were seen without direct pericardial trauma. The possibility of internal herniation through a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia must be considered in patients with chest symptoms and a compatible history.展开更多
About 10%of all renal allografts fail during the first year of transplantation and thereafter approximately 3%-5%yearly.Given that approximately 69 400 renal transplants are performed worldwide annually,the number of ...About 10%of all renal allografts fail during the first year of transplantation and thereafter approximately 3%-5%yearly.Given that approximately 69 400 renal transplants are performed worldwide annually,the number of patients returning to dialysis following allograft failure is increasing.A failed transplant kidney,whether maintained by low dose immunosuppression or not,elicits an inflammatory response and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.The risk for transplant nephrectomy(TN)is increased in patients who experienced multiple acute rejections prior to graft failure,develop chronic graft intolerance,sepsis,vascular complications and early graft failure.TN for late graft failure is associated with greater morbidity and mortality,bleeding being the leading cause of morbidity and infection the main cause of mortality.TN appears to be beneficial for survival on dialysis but detrimental to the outcome of subsequent transplantation by virtue of increased level of antibodies to mismatched antigens,increased rate of primary non function and delayed graft function.Many of the studies are characterized by a retrospective and univariate analysis of small numbers of patients.The lack of randomization in many studies introduced a selection bias and conclusions drawn from such studies should be applied with caution.Pending a randomised controlled trial on the role of TN in the management of transplant failure patients,it is prudent to remove failed symptomatic allografts and all grafts failing within 3 mo of transplantation,monitor inflammatory markers in patients with retained failed allografts and remove the allograft in the event of a significant increase in levels.展开更多
Access to organ transplantation depends on national circumstances, and is partly determined by the cost of health care, availability of transplant services, the level of technical capacity and the availability of orga...Access to organ transplantation depends on national circumstances, and is partly determined by the cost of health care, availability of transplant services, the level of technical capacity and the availability of organs. Commercial transplantation is estimated to account for 5%-10%(3500-7000) of kidney transplants performed annually throughout the world. This review is to determine the state and outcome of renal transplantation associated with transplant tourism(TT) and the key challenges with such transplantation. The stakeholders of commercial transplantation include: patients on the waiting lists in developed countries or not on any list in developing countries; dialysis funding bodies; middlemen, hosting transplant centres; organ-exporting countries; and organ vendors. TT and commercial kidney transplants are associated with a high incidence of surgical complications, acute rejection and invasive infection which cause major morbidity and mortality. There are ethical and medical concerns regarding the management of recipients of organs from vendors. The growing demand for transplantation, the perceived failure of altruistic donation in providing enough organs has led to calls for a legalised market in organ procurement or regulated trial in incentives for donation. Developing transplant services worldwide has many benefits- improving results of transplantation as they would be performed legally, increasing the donor pool and making TT unnecessary. Meanwhile there is a need to re-examine intrinsic attitudes to TT bearing in mind the cultural and economic realities of globalisation. Perhaps the World Health Organization in conjunction with The Transplantation Society would set up a working party of stakeholders to study this matter in greater detail and make recommendations.展开更多
BACKGROUND The key question in living kidney donor assessment is how best to determine the contribution of each kidney to overall renal function and guide selection of which kidney to donate,ensuring safety of procedu...BACKGROUND The key question in living kidney donor assessment is how best to determine the contribution of each kidney to overall renal function and guide selection of which kidney to donate,ensuring safety of procedure and good outcome for both recipient and donor.It is thought that a length difference>2 cm may indicate significant difference in function and therefore need for measurement of differential function.AIM To determine the effect of using kidney length to decide which kidney to donate in a retrospective cohort of potential donors.METHODS All 333 potential living kidney donors between January 2009 and August 2018 who completed assessment were retrospectively evaluated.Donor assessment was performed as per United Kingdom guidelines.Data included age,sex,kidney length(cranio-caudal)obtained by computed tomography/ultrasonography,51-chromium ethylenediamine tetraacetatic acid measured glomerular filtration rate,mercapto acetyl tri glycine split function and vascular anatomy.There were 48 exclusions due to inadequate data or incomplete investigations.Statistical analysis was performed using Excel pivot tables and GraphPad Prism.Correlation between kidney length and differential function was determined with Pearson’s correlation coefficient.RESULTS Of 285 potential donors included in the study,there were 144 males(mean age 49.9±14.75)and 141 females(mean age 51.2±11.23).Overall,the Pearson’s correlation between differences in length and divided function of kidney pairs was 0.1630,P=0.0058.Of 73 with significant difference(>10%)in divided function,18(24.7%)had no difference in kidney length;54(74%)had a difference of<2 cm and only one of>2 cm.Using a length difference of>1 cm would only predict significant difference in divided function in 8/34(23.5%)of cases.Using a difference of>2 cm as cut off for performing split function would lead to false reassurance in 72 patients(6 had>20%difference in divided function whereas 66 had 10%-20%difference).CONCLUSION Length difference between kidney pairs alone is not sufficient to replace measurement of divided function.This issue requires a randomised controlled trial to resolve it.展开更多
文摘Peritoneal dialysis （PD） is associated with a high risk of infection of the peritoneum, subcutaneous tunnel and catheter exit site. Although quality standards demand an infection rate 〈 0.67 episodes/patient/year on dialy-sis, the reported overall rate of PD associated infection is 0.24-1.66 episodes/patient/year. It is estimated that for every 0.5-per-year increase in peritonitis rate, the risk of death increases by 4% and 18% of the episodes resulted in removal of the PD catheter and 3.5% re-sulted in death. Improved diagnosis, increased aware-ness of causative agents in addition to other measures will facilitate prompt management of PD associated infection and salvage of PD modality. The aims of this review are to determine the magnitude of the infection problem, identify possible risk factors and provide an update on the diagnosis and management of PD as-sociated infection. Gram-positive cocci such as Staphy-lococcus epidermidis , other coagulase negative staphy-lococcoci, and Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus ） are the most frequent aetiological agents of PD-associated peritonitis worldwide. Empiric antibiotic therapy must cover both gram-positive and gram-negative organ-isms. However, use of systemic vancomycin and cip-rofoxacin administration for example, is a simple and efficient first-line protocol antibiotic therapy for PD peritonitis - success rate of 77%. However, for fungal PD peritonitis, it is now standard practice to remove PD catheters in addition to antifungal treatment for a minimum of 3 wk and subsequent transfer to hemodi-alysis. To prevent PD associated infections, prophylactic antibiotic administration before catheter placement, adequate patient training, exit-site care, and treatment for S. aureus nasal carriage should be employed. Mupi-rocin treatment can reduce the risk of exit site infection by 46% but it cannot decrease the risk of peritonitis due to all organisms.
文摘There is continuing disparity between demand for and supply of kidneys for transplantation. This review describes the current state of kidney donation after cardiac death （DCD） and provides recommendations for a way forward. The conversion rate for potential DCD donors varies from 40%-80%. Compared to con-trolled DCD, uncontrolled DCD is more labour intensive, has a lower conversion rate and a higher discard rate. The super-rapid laparotomy technique involving direct aortic cannulation is preferred over in situ perfusion in controlled DCD donation and is associated with lower kidney discard rates, shorter warm ischaemia times and higher graft survival rates. DCD kidneys showed a 5.73-fold increase in the incidence of delayed graft function （DGF） and a higher primary non function rate compared to donation after brain death kidneys, but the long term graft function is equivalent between the two. The cold ischaemia time is a controllable factor that signifcantly infuences the outcome of allografts, for example, limiting it to 〈 12 h markedly reduces DGF. DCD kidneys from donors 〈 50 function like stan-dard criteria kidneys and should be viewed as such. As the majority of DCD kidneys are from controlled dona-tion, incorporation of uncontrolled donation will expand the donor pool. Efforts to maximise the supply of kid-neys from DCD include： implementing organ recovery from emergency department setting; improving family consent rate; utilising technological developments to optimise organs either prior to recovery from donors or during storage; improving organ allocation to ensure best utility; and improving viability testing to reduce primary non function.
文摘Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease （ADPKD）, the most frequent cause of genetic renal disease affecting approximately 4 to 7 million individuals worldwide and accounting for 7%-15% of patients on renal replacement therapy, is a systemic disorder mainly involving the kidney but cysts can also occur in other organs such as the liver, pancreas, arachnoid membrane and seminal vesicles. Though computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） were similar in evaluating 81% of cystic lesions of the kidney, MRI may depict septa, wall thickening or enhancement leading to upgrade in cyst classification that can affect management. A screening strategy for intracranial aneurysms would provide 1.0 additional year of life without neurological disability to a 20-year-old patient with ADPKD and reduce the fnancial impact on society of the disease. Current treatment strategies include reducing： cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels, cell proliferation and fluid secretion. Several randomised clinical trials （RCT） including mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, somatostatin analoguesand a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist have beenperformed to study the effect of diverse drugs ongrowth of renal and hepatic cysts, and on deteriorationof renal function. Prophylactic native nephrectomy isindicated in patients with a history of cyst infection orecurrent haemorrhage or to those in whom space musbe made to implant the graft. The absence of largeRCT on various aspects of the disease and its treatmen leaves considerable uncertainty and ambiguity in many aspects of ADPKD patient care as it relates to end stage renal disease （ESRD）. The outlook of patients with ADPKD is improving and is in fact much better than that for patients in ESRD due to other causes. This review highlights the need for well-structured RCTs as a frst step towards trying newer interventions so as to develop updated clinical management guidelines.
文摘Diagnosis and treatment of common conditions in morbidly obese patients still pose a challenge to physicians and surgeons.Sometimes too much reliance is put on investigations that can lead to a misdiagnosis.This case demonstrates an obese woman admitted under the medical team with a presumed diagnosis of pneumonia, who was later found to have an acute abdomen and raised amylase,which led to an assumed diagnosis of pancreatitis.She died within 24 h of admission and post mortem confirmed the cause of death as systemic sepsis due to perforated appendicitis,with no evidence of pancreatitis.Significantly elevated serum amylase level may occur in non-pancreatitic acute abdomen.
文摘Permacol mesh has shown promise when used in abdominal wall repair,especially in the presence of a contaminated surgical field.This biomaterial,derived from porcine dermis collagen,has proposed advantages over synthetic materials due to increased biocompatibility and reduced foreign body reaction within human tissues.However,we present a case report describing a patient who displayed rejection to a Permacol mesh when used in the repair of abdominal wound dehiscence following an emergency laparotomy.Review of the English language literature using PubMed and Medline, showed only two previously published cases of explantation of Permacoldue to sepsis or wound breakdown. The authors believe this is the first case of severe foreign body reaction leading to rejection of Permacol.Both animal and human studies show conflicting evidence of biocompatibility.There are several reports of successful use of Permacolto repair complex incisional herniae or abdominal walls in the presence of significant contamination.It appears from the literature that Permacolis a promising material,but as we have demonstrated,it has the potential to evoke a foreign body reaction and rejection in certain subjects.
文摘AIM: To compare urological infections in patients with or without stents following transplantation and to determine the effect of such infections on graft function.METHODS: All 285 recipients of kidney transplantation at our centre between 2006 and 2010 were included in the study. Detailed information including stent use and transplant function was collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively. The diagnosis of urinary tract infection was made on the basis of compatible symptoms supported by urinalysis and/or microbiological culture. Graft function, estimated glomerular filtration rate and creatinine at 6 mo and 12 mo, immediate graft function and infection rates were compared between those with a stent or without a stent.RESULTS: Overall, 196(183 during initial procedure, 13 at reoperation) patients were stented following transplantation. The overall urine leak rate was 4.3%(12/277) with no difference between those with or without stents- 7/183 vs 5/102, P = 0.746. Overall, 54%(99/183) of stented patients developed a urological infection compared to 38.1%(32/84) of those without stents(P = 0.0151). All 18 major urological infections occurred in those with stents. The use of stent(Wald χ2 = 5.505, P = 0.019) and diabetes mellitus(Wald χ2 = 5.197, P = 0.023) were found to have significant influence on urological infection rates on multivariate analysis. There were no deaths or graft losses due to infection. Stenting was associated with poorer transplant function at 12 mo.CONCLUSION: Stents increase the risks of urological infections and have a detrimental effect on early to medium term renal transplant function.
文摘A case of strangulation of the transverse colon in a traumatic left diaphragmatic hernia manifesting as pericarditis is reported. This is unusual because pericardial signs in traumatic diaphragmatic hernia have been previously described in association with direct pericardial injury. This is the only such case where electrocardiographic changes of pericarditis were seen without direct pericardial trauma. The possibility of internal herniation through a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia must be considered in patients with chest symptoms and a compatible history.
文摘About 10%of all renal allografts fail during the first year of transplantation and thereafter approximately 3%-5%yearly.Given that approximately 69 400 renal transplants are performed worldwide annually,the number of patients returning to dialysis following allograft failure is increasing.A failed transplant kidney,whether maintained by low dose immunosuppression or not,elicits an inflammatory response and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.The risk for transplant nephrectomy(TN)is increased in patients who experienced multiple acute rejections prior to graft failure,develop chronic graft intolerance,sepsis,vascular complications and early graft failure.TN for late graft failure is associated with greater morbidity and mortality,bleeding being the leading cause of morbidity and infection the main cause of mortality.TN appears to be beneficial for survival on dialysis but detrimental to the outcome of subsequent transplantation by virtue of increased level of antibodies to mismatched antigens,increased rate of primary non function and delayed graft function.Many of the studies are characterized by a retrospective and univariate analysis of small numbers of patients.The lack of randomization in many studies introduced a selection bias and conclusions drawn from such studies should be applied with caution.Pending a randomised controlled trial on the role of TN in the management of transplant failure patients,it is prudent to remove failed symptomatic allografts and all grafts failing within 3 mo of transplantation,monitor inflammatory markers in patients with retained failed allografts and remove the allograft in the event of a significant increase in levels.
文摘Access to organ transplantation depends on national circumstances, and is partly determined by the cost of health care, availability of transplant services, the level of technical capacity and the availability of organs. Commercial transplantation is estimated to account for 5%-10%(3500-7000) of kidney transplants performed annually throughout the world. This review is to determine the state and outcome of renal transplantation associated with transplant tourism(TT) and the key challenges with such transplantation. The stakeholders of commercial transplantation include: patients on the waiting lists in developed countries or not on any list in developing countries; dialysis funding bodies; middlemen, hosting transplant centres; organ-exporting countries; and organ vendors. TT and commercial kidney transplants are associated with a high incidence of surgical complications, acute rejection and invasive infection which cause major morbidity and mortality. There are ethical and medical concerns regarding the management of recipients of organs from vendors. The growing demand for transplantation, the perceived failure of altruistic donation in providing enough organs has led to calls for a legalised market in organ procurement or regulated trial in incentives for donation. Developing transplant services worldwide has many benefits- improving results of transplantation as they would be performed legally, increasing the donor pool and making TT unnecessary. Meanwhile there is a need to re-examine intrinsic attitudes to TT bearing in mind the cultural and economic realities of globalisation. Perhaps the World Health Organization in conjunction with The Transplantation Society would set up a working party of stakeholders to study this matter in greater detail and make recommendations.
文摘BACKGROUND The key question in living kidney donor assessment is how best to determine the contribution of each kidney to overall renal function and guide selection of which kidney to donate,ensuring safety of procedure and good outcome for both recipient and donor.It is thought that a length difference>2 cm may indicate significant difference in function and therefore need for measurement of differential function.AIM To determine the effect of using kidney length to decide which kidney to donate in a retrospective cohort of potential donors.METHODS All 333 potential living kidney donors between January 2009 and August 2018 who completed assessment were retrospectively evaluated.Donor assessment was performed as per United Kingdom guidelines.Data included age,sex,kidney length(cranio-caudal)obtained by computed tomography/ultrasonography,51-chromium ethylenediamine tetraacetatic acid measured glomerular filtration rate,mercapto acetyl tri glycine split function and vascular anatomy.There were 48 exclusions due to inadequate data or incomplete investigations.Statistical analysis was performed using Excel pivot tables and GraphPad Prism.Correlation between kidney length and differential function was determined with Pearson’s correlation coefficient.RESULTS Of 285 potential donors included in the study,there were 144 males(mean age 49.9±14.75)and 141 females(mean age 51.2±11.23).Overall,the Pearson’s correlation between differences in length and divided function of kidney pairs was 0.1630,P=0.0058.Of 73 with significant difference(>10%)in divided function,18(24.7%)had no difference in kidney length;54(74%)had a difference of<2 cm and only one of>2 cm.Using a length difference of>1 cm would only predict significant difference in divided function in 8/34(23.5%)of cases.Using a difference of>2 cm as cut off for performing split function would lead to false reassurance in 72 patients(6 had>20%difference in divided function whereas 66 had 10%-20%difference).CONCLUSION Length difference between kidney pairs alone is not sufficient to replace measurement of divided function.This issue requires a randomised controlled trial to resolve it.
