First Spanish series of intestinal transplantation in adult recipients.
BACKGROUND
short-bowel transplantation has experienced a substantial growth worldwide following improved results from the late 1990's on, and its coverage by Medicare. According to the International Registry (1985-2005), a total of 1,292 intestinal transplants for 1,210 patients in 65 hospitals across 20 countries have been carried out thus far.


OBJECTIVE
to know short-term (6 months) results regarding patient and graft survival from the first Spanish series of intestinal transplants in adult recipients.


METHODS
we present our experience in the assessment of 20 potential candidates to short-bowel transplantation between June 2004 and October 2005. Of these, 10 patients were rejected and 4 were transplanted, which makes up the sample of our study.


RESULTS
to this date 5 transplants have been carried out in 4 patients (2 retransplants, 2 desmoid tumors, 1 short bowel syndrome after excision as a result of mesenteric ischemia). Upon study completion and after a mean follow-up of 180 days (range 90-190 days) all recipients are alive, and all grafts but one (75%) are fully operational, with complete digestive autonomy. All patients received induction with alemtuzumab except one, who received thymoglobulin; in all induction was initiated with no steroids.


CONCLUSIONS
intestinal transplantation represents a therapeutic option that is applicable in our setting and valid for recipients with an indication who have no other feasible alternative to keep their intestinal failure under control.
Meneu Díaz
J C
JC
Services of General Surgery, Digestive Diseases, and Transplantation of Abdominal Organs, Hospital Universitario, Madrid, Spain. jcmeneu@hotmail.com
Moreno González
E
E
García García
J I
JI
Moreno
A
A
Montejo
J C
JC
Colina
F
F
Pérez
B
B
Rodríguez
S
S
Abradelos de Usera
M
M
Garfia
C
C
Fundora
Y
Y
Jiménez Galanes
S
S
Lumbreras
C
C
León
M
M
Pérez Cerdá
F
F
Solís-Herruzo
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome