New studies have found that following a kidney transplant surgery (above), some treatments have been--to understate it--less than optimal. We see an operating room in which the dominant colour is blue. The surgeons are all in blue so is the sheet covering the patient. We see two surgeons in caps and masks. The lead surgeon is stationed at the left and appears to be cutting into the patient's stomach. The other surgeon is to the right behind what appears to be a red monitoring device. Above the patient are a series of surgical tools under transparent covering.

New studies have found that following a kidney transplant surgery (above), some treatments have been--to understate it--less than optimal.
Photo Credit: cbc.ca

Ottawa scientists break new ground in post-op kidney transplant treatment

Doctors and research scientists in Ottawa continue to poke holes in conventional medical wisdom.

Dr. Greg Knoll is a kidney transplant specialist at The Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Knoll is looking directly at the camera. he has black hair parted on the right side and wears rimless glasses. He shows perfect white teeth in his smile, but the smile is that of a person who is not used to having his picture taken.
Dr. Greg Knoll is a kidney transplant specialist at The Ottawa Hospital. © Courtesy: The Ottawa Hospital

Earlier this month, we told you about Dr. Marc Rodger and his team of researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, who–after 12 years of research–freed pregnant women from daily injections of blood thinners to prevent miscarriages. (See RCI, Oct. 15.)

Now, another group of scientists at The Ottawa Hospital have scientifically debunked more conventional wisdom, this time in the after-care for those receiving a kidney transplant.

Kidney transplants, of course, save lives and dramatically improve quality of life, but transplant recipients often must take dozens of pills a day to keep their new kidney functioning and prevent complications.

But, as the Gershwin brothers noted in Porgy and Bess, “It ain’t Necessarily So.”

Dean Fergusson's, a PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McGill University, was co-lead on the three studies that found some post-op medication for kidney transplant patients to be wanting. Dr. Fergusson is looking directly at the camera, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and paisley tie. He has dark, penetrating eyes. His short hair is flecked with grey and a tiny part of it falls slightly over the middle of his forehead.
Dean Fergusson’s, a PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McGill University, was co-lead on the three studies that found some post-op medication for kidney transplant patients to be wanting. © Courtesy: The Ottawa Hospital

In three separate studies that could change medical practice around the world, the Ottawa research team found that three of the drugs (levofloxacin, sirolimus and ramipril) may have serious side effects and are not nearly as effective as previously thought.

The most recent study–on ramipril–was published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on Oct. 22.

The co-lead authors of the studies were Dr. Greg Knoll, a kidney transplant specialist, and Dr. Dean Fergusson, an epidemiologist.

Dr. Knoll joined RCI by phone from The Ottawa Hospital on Thursday.

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