Evaluation of anesthetic management in renal transplant patients in a tertiary care centre

1. Introduction

The number of solid organ transplants performed worldwide is ever increasing. The improved survival rates are the result of well-established surgical techniques and effective immunosuppressive therapy [1]. All this has led to an increase in number of patients who present for either elective or emergency non-transplant surgery [2]. Laparotomy for small bowel obstruction, hip arthroplasty given the increased risk of fracture and avascular necrosis as a result of chronic steroid use causing bone demineralization and osteoporosis, lymph node excision and biopsy because of increased risk of lymphoproliferative disease, native nephrectomy in kidney transplant recipients, bronchoscopy in lung recipients, biliary tract interventions in liver recipients, and abscess drainage because of increased risk of infection are just a few of the increased surgical needs in this population [3].

Vigilant intraoperative monitoring, optimization of intravascular fluid volume status to maintain maximum kidney perfusion, to avoid fluid overload, and early correction of electrolyte abnormalities are the crux of short and long term success of renal transplants [4]. With the expanding criteria for taking patients for kidney transplantation, anesthesiologists are likely to be encountered with more problems of the interaction of other co-morbid diseases and multiple drug therapies in the near future. Recipients involving cadaveric donor organs are often scheduled as urgent or emergency procedures [5]. However, a well-preserved kidney provides enough time to prepare the recipient and if necessary dialyze to normalize electrolyte and volume imbalance. Successful use of regional anaesthesia has been reported by some centers. Certain factors to be considered for the use of regional anaesthesia are uraemic bleeding tendency, effect of residual heparin given during dialysis, altered platelet function, decrease in coagulation factors and the duration of surgery [6]. Considering this, we attempted present study to evaluate anesthetic management in renal transplant patients.

2. Methodology

This retrospective study was initiated once the approval from Ethical review and clearance committee was obtained. All patients managed in the department in last 1 years (Ninety- two) were part of the study.

Patients’ case record files were retrieved from the department. Parameters such as type of transplant, reason for chronic kidney disease, preoperative data, history of dialysis, preoperative anesthesia management, monitoring details and the outcome were recorded. Results of the present study after recording all relevant data were subjected for statistical inferences using chi- square test. The level of significance was significant if p value is below 0.05 and highly significant if it is less than 0.01.

3. Results

Common reasons for end stage kidney disease was chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) in 28 (30.4%), chronic interstitial nephritis (CIN) in 20 (21.7%), polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) in 11 (11.9%), obstructive nephropathy (Ob. N) in 4 (4.3%), diabetic nephropathy (DN) in 8 (8.7%), hereditary nephropathy in 3 (3.2%), reflux nephropathy in 12 (13%) and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 6 (6.5%). A significant difference was observed \((P< 0.05)\) (Table 1, Figure 1).

Table 1. Reason for end stage kidney disease.

Variables	Parameters	Number	P value
Reason for injury	RTA	62	Significant <0.05
	Fall	40
	Domestic violence	10
Associated fracture	Trans-scaphoid   fracture	23	Significant <0.05
	Radial styloid fractures	14
Mayo wrist score	Excellent to good	70	Significant <0.05
	Fair to poor	42
Lyon wrist score	Excellent to good	64	Significant <0.05
	Fair to poor	48
Wrist   flexion/extension arc		49.1 degree	–
Wrist radial/ulnar deviation arc		18.2 degree	–
Wrist   radial ulnar movement arc		50.4 degree	–
Forearm   supination/pronation arc		82 degree	–
Grip   strength		68.2%	–

It was found in 32 (35.6%) patients, isoflurane was inhalational agent and recovery time was 25.1 minute, in 40 (43.4%), desflurane was inhalational agent and recovery time was 22.7 minutes and in 20 (21.7%), sevoflurane was inhalational agent and recovery time was 32.1 minutes. A significant difference was observed (P< 0.05) (Table 2).

Table 2. Recovery time amongst inhalational agents used.

Inhalational agents	Number (%)	Recovery time (in mins)	P value
Isoflurane	32 (35.6%)	25.1	0.05
Desflurane	40 (43.4%)	22.7
Sevoflurane	20 (21.7%)	32.1

Post- operative complications were acute graft rejection in 6 (6.5%), pneumonia in 3 (3.2%), pulmonary edema in 4 (4.3%) and re-exploration in 1 (1%). A significant difference was observed \((P< 0.05)\) (Table 3, Figure 2).

Table 3. Postoperative complications in renal transplant recipients.

Complications	Number (%)	P value
Acute graft rejection	6 (6.5%)	0.05
Pneumonia	3 (3.2%)
Pulmonary edema	4 (4.3%)
Re-exploration	1 (1%)

4. Discussion

This study was conducted among 92 patients who received renal transplant in last 1 year. It had 43 males and 49 females. Successful use of regional anaesthesia has been reported by some centers. Certain factors to be considered for the use of regional anaesthesia are uraemic bleeding tendency, effect of residual heparin given during dialysis, altered platelet function, decrease in coagulation factors and the duration of surgery. The advantages of combined spinal-epidural technique are rapid onset and good muscle relaxation from spinal and supplemental analgesia through epidural during and after surgery [7]. Most centers however use balanced general anaesthesia to provide stable hemodynamics, excellent muscle relaxation and predictable depth of anaesthesia. Standard ASA monitors are adequate, although, patients with more advanced co-morbid conditions require extensive monitoring such as continuous arterial pressure or CVP monitoring. Those with the most severe co-morbid conditions, such as symptomatic CAD or history of congestive heart failure, should be monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter or transesophageal echocardiography. Strict asepsis should be maintained at all times [8].

Our results found that chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) in 28 (30.4%), chronic interstitial nephritis (CIN) in 20 (21.7%), reflux nephropathy in 12 (13%), polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) in 11 (11.9%), diabetic nephropathy (DN) in 8 (8.7%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 6 (6.5%), obstructive nephropathy (Ob. N) in 4 (4.3%) and hereditary nephropathy in 3 (3.2%) were common reasons for end stage kidney disease. Tiwari et al., [9] included 100 patients with end stage renal disease and found that 92% were living and 8% were cadaveric related transplant. 92% were done electively. Most common co-morbidity recorded was hypertension in 49% patients. Predominant cause of end stage renal disease was chronic glomerulonephritis (41%). General anesthesia was technique of choice in all patients, 27 also received epidural. Invasive blood pressure monitoring was done in 3 patients with cardiac co-morbidities. 15% patients required blood transfusion. CVP maintained > 12 mmHg and maximum at de-clamping. Mean arterial pressure maintained above 95 mmHg. Ionotropic support required in 2 patients. 76% patients were transfused with only crystalloid (NS and/or RL) while 24 patients received a combination of both crystalloid and colloid. 97% patients were extubated postoperatively while 3% required ventilator support. Recovery time with desflurane was significantly less as compared to other inhalational agents. One patient died postoperatively.

It was observed that in 32 (35.6%) patients, isoflurane was inhalational agent and recovery time was 25.1 minute, in 40 (43.4%), desflurane was inhalational agent and recovery time was 22.7 minutes and in 20 (21.7%), sevoflurane was inhalational agent and recovery time was 32.1 minutes. Hadimioglu et al., [10], the authors found that lactated ringer’s used in the perioperative period of renal transplant surgeries, resulted in similar potassium levels during the postoperative period, higher bicarbonate and pH levels, and also lower chlorides, despite using the similar infusion volume in comparison to normal saline solutions.

Low serum albumin levels leads to an increase in free fraction of the drug in plasma while uremia associated altered blood brain barrier can increase the levels of unbound drug crossing the blood brain barrier into CNS receptors. Hence, the dose of induction agents may need to be adjusted according to the volume status, acidic pH and increased sensitivity of the nervous system to these drugs. In chronic renal failure patients, the underlying rate and extent of thiopental distribution and elimination are much the same as in normal patients [11]. However, a higher dose of propofol is required to reach the clinical end point of hypnosis and bispectral index of 50. The hyperdynamic circulation and high plasma volume resulting from anemia can counteract the effect of low serum albumin explaining the higher dose requirement with propofol. Ketamine pharmacokinetics are not significantly changed by renal disease, but the hypertensive effects make it undesirable in patients with underlying hypertension. Etomidate is well tolerated and preserves hemodynamic stability [12].

5. Conclusion

Anesthesia management has made renal transplantation safe and predictable. Postoperative maintenance of renal transplant patients have contributed to the success of renal transplant programme.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the writing of this paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.