Publications by authors named "William D Tucker"

Optimized static cold storage has the potential to improve the preservation of organs most vulnerable to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Data from lung transplantation suggest that storage at 10 °C improves mitochondrial preservation and subsequent allograft function compared with conventional storage on ice. Using a porcine model of donation after circulatory death, we compared static storage of livers at 10 °C to ice.

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Donation after circulatory death (DCD) livers face increased risks of critical complications when preserved with static cold storage (SCS). Although machine perfusion (MP) may mitigate these risks, its cost and logistical complexity limit widespread application. We developed the Dynamic Organ Storage System (DOSS), which delivers oxygenated perfusate at 10°C with minimal electrical power requirement and allows real-time effluent sampling in a portable cooler.

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Background: Anemia is a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in multiple medical conditions, yet the impact of pretransplant anemia in patients with advanced lung disease on post-transplant outcomes remains under-explored. We sought to determine whether pretransplant anemia serves as a marker of altered inflammation in the host and associates with short-term outcomes following lung transplantation.

Study Design And Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of 238 lung transplant recipients.

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Article Synopsis
  • Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is used for support during lung transplants, but the ideal level of anticoagulation needed to balance thromboembolism risk and bleeding is not established.
  • A study analyzed 163 patients, categorizing anticoagulation intensity into four levels based on heparin doses, to evaluate blood transfusion rates and thromboembolism occurrences.
  • Results indicated that higher anticoagulation intensity correlated with increased blood transfusions, while thromboembolism rates remained similar across all groups, suggesting that lower anticoagulation might be beneficial in reducing transfusions, but further research is required.
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A hollow viscus injury is an uncommon but potentially dangerous intra-abdominal injury that can result from blunt abdominal trauma. It can be misdiagnosed in patient, particularly when the patient has other concerning findings. Also, diagnosis can be increasingly difficult in a patient with a pre-existing ventral hernia and chronic abdominal pain.

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Background: Many cultural and linguistic Deaf people in South Africa face disparity when accessing health information because of social and language barriers. The number of certified South African Sign Language interpreters (SASLIs) is also insufficient to meet the demand of the Deaf population in the country. Our research team, in collaboration with the Deaf communities in Cape Town, devised a mobile health app called SignSupport to bridge the communication gaps in health care contexts.

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