Initial Experience With Robotic Liver Resection in the United States.

BACKGROUND: This study's aim was to show the feasibility and safety of robotic liver resection (RLR) even without extensive experience in major laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). METHODS: A single center, retrospective analysis was performed for consecutive liver resections for solid liver tumors from 2014 to 2022. RESULTS: The analysis included 226 liver resections, comprising 127 (56.2%) open surgeries, 28 (12.4%) LLR, and 71 (31.4%) RLR. The rate of RLR increased and that of LLR decreased over time. In a comparison between propensity score matching-selected open liver resection and RLR (41:41), RLR had significantly less blood loss (384 ± 413 vs 649 ± 646 mL, P = .030) and shorter hospital stay (4.4 ± 3.0 vs 6.4 ± 3.7 days, P = .010), as well as comparable operative time (289 ± 123 vs 290 ± 132 mins, P = .954). A comparison between LLR and RLR showed comparable perioperative outcomes, even with more surgeries with higher difficulty score included in RLR (5.2 ± 2.7 vs 4.3 ± 2.5, P = .147). The analysis of the learning curve in RLR demonstrated that blood loss, conversion rate, and complication rate consistently improved over time, with the case number required to achieve the learning curve appearing to be 60 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that RLR is a feasible, safe, and acceptable platform for liver resection, and that the safe implementation and dissemination of RLR can be achieved without solid experience of LLR.

Utility of scores to predict alcohol use after liver transplant (lt): take them with a grain of salt.

BACKGROUND AIMS: The Sustained Alcohol use post-Liver Transplant (SALT) and the High-Risk Alcohol Relapse (HRAR) scores were developed to predict return to alcohol use after liver transplant (LT) for alcohol associated liver disease (ALD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of deceased donor LT 10/2018 to 4/2022 was performed. All patients (pts) underwent careful pre-LT psychosocial evaluation. Data on alcohol use, substance abuse, prior rehabilitation, and legal issues were collected. Post-LT, all were encouraged to participate in rehabilitation programs and underwent interval phosphatidylethanol (PeTH) testing. Pts with ALD were stratified by < or > 6 month sobriety prior to listing. Those with <6 month were further stratified as acute alcoholic hepatitis (AH) by NIAAA criteria and non-AH. The primary outcome was utility of the SALT (<5 vs. ≥5) and HRAR (<3 vs. ≥3) scores to predict return to alcohol use (+PeTH) within 1 year after LT. RESULTS: Of the 365 LT, 86 had > 6 month sobriety and 85 had <6 month sobriety; 41 with AH and 44 non-AH. In those with AH, the mean time of abstinence to LT was 58 days, and 71% failed prior rehabilitation. Following LT, return to drinking was similar in the AH (24%) compared to <6M non-AH (15%) and >6M ALD (22%). Only 4% had returned to heavy drinking. The accuracy of both the SALT and HRAR scores to predict return to alcohol was low (accuracy 61-63%) with poor sensitivity (46% and 37%), specificity (67-68%), positive predictive value (22-26%) with moderate negative predictive value (NPV) (81-83%), respectively with higher NPVs (95%) in predicting return to heavy drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Both SALT and HRAR scores had good NPV in identifying patients at low risk for recidivism.

'Burn and Push' technique: A novel robotic liver parenchymal transection technique.

BACKGROUND: Liver parenchymal transection during robotic liver resection (RLR) remains a significant challenge due to the limited range of specialised instruments. This study introduces our 'Burn and Push' technique as a novel approach to address these challenges. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 patients who underwent RLR using the 'Burn and Push' technique at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System from November 2021 to August 2023. The study evaluated peri- and post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: The median operation time was 241.5 min (range, 90-620 min), and the median blood loss was 100 mL (range, 10-600 mL). Major complications occurred in one case, with no instances of postoperative bleeding, bile leak, or liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: The 'Burn and Push' technique is a viable and efficient alternative for liver parenchymal transection in RLR. Further research with larger sample sizes and consideration of the learning curve is necessary to validate these findings.

Robotic management of primary cholecystoduodenal fistula: A case report and brief literature review.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystoduodenal fistula (CDF) arises from persistent biliary tree disorders, causing fusion between the gallbladder and duodenum. Initially, open resection was common until laparoscopic fistula closure gained popularity. However, complexities within the gallbladder fossa yielded inconsistent outcomes. Advanced imaging and robotic surgery now enhance precision and detection. METHOD: A 62-year-old woman with chronic cholangitis attributed to cholecystoduodenal fistula underwent successful robotic cholecystectomy and fistula closure. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the symptoms subsided with no complications during the robotic procedure. Existing studies report favourable outcomes for robotic cholecystectomy and fistula closure. CONCLUSIONS: Our case report showcases a rare instance of successful robotic cholecystectomy with CDF closure. This case, along with a review of previous cases, suggests the potential of robotic surgery as the preferred approach, especially for patients anticipated to face significant laparoscopic morbidity.

Right versus left fully robotic live donor nephrectomy and open kidney transplantation: Does the laterality of the donor kidney really matter?

Objective: Robotic-assisted live donor nephrectomy (LDN) is being gradually adopted across transplant centers. The left donor kidney is preferred over right due to anatomical factors and ease of procurement. We aimed to study donor and recipient outcomes after robotic procurement and subsequent open implantation of right and left kidneys. Methods: All fully robotic LDNs and their corresponding open kidney transplants performed at our center between February 2016 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Out of 196 robotic LDN (49 [right] vs. 147 [left]), 10 (5.1%) donors had intra-operative events (6.1% [right] vs. 4.8% [left], p=0.71). None of the LDN required conversion to open surgery. The operative times were comparable for the two groups. Nausea (13.3%) was the most common post-operative complication. There was no mortality in either LDN group. Herein, we report our outcomes on 156 recipients (39 right and 117 left allografts) excluding robotic implants, exports, and pediatric recipients. There were no significant differences between right and left kidney recipients with respect to 1-year post-transplant patient survival (100.0% vs. 98.1%, p=0.45) or graft survival (93.9% vs. 97.1%, p=0.11), or delayed graft function (7.7% vs. 5.1%, p=0.55). Conclusion: Non-hand-assisted robotic live donor nephrectomies can be safely performed with excellent outcomes. Right LDN was not associated with higher incidence of complications compared to left LDN. Open implantation of robotically procured right renal allografts was not associated with higher risk of recipient complications.

Robotic hepatectomy and cholecystectomy in the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the biliary tract: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: In the Western Hemisphere, Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the biliary tract (IPMN-B) is a rare lesion with uncertain aetiology. This report outlines a scarcely documented instance of IPMN-B treated using robotic hepatectomy and cholecystectomy supplemented with intraoperative imagery aimed at informing future robotic procedures. METHODS: A healthy person with acute cholangitis symptoms underwent diagnostic imaging followed by successful robotic hepatectomy and cholecystectomy. Pathological examination confirmed IPMN-B. RESULTS: The patient was consulted regarding the proposed procedure of robotic left hepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and potential hepaticojejunostomy, to which she provided consent. Subsequent surgical intervention resulted in clear margins for malignancy, and the patient recovered without complications. CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasises the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in managing IPMN. The use of a robotic approach, specifically through robotic left hepatectomy combined with cholecystectomy, offers minimally invasive surgery that provides exceptional visualisation and precise control.

Domino Liver Transplantation for Unresectable Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis From a Donor With Heterozygous Familial Hyperlipidemia: A Case Report.

Liver transplantation (LT) is a potential curative treatment for unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited condition characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Liver transplantation is offered for selected cases, and an explanted liver can be used as a domino graft. We report the first report of domino LT for unresectable CRLM using a liver from a patient with heterozygous FH. The domino donor was a 30-year-old female with a history of heterozygous FH. She had failed medical therapies for FH, including plasmapheresis; therefore, she underwent living donor LT as a treatment for FH. The explanted liver was transplanted to the domino recipient. She has been doing well with normal LDL-C levels. The domino recipient was a 44-year-old female with a history of stage 4 sigmoid cancer with liver metastases, for which she underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy and right hepatectomy. She developed unresectable lesions in the remnant left lobe, which were controlled well with chemotherapy; therefore, she underwent domino LT. She is doing well without recurrence at the 31-month follow-up. Domino LT from a donor with heterozygous FH is feasible for strictly selected patients with unresectable CRLM.

Liver transplantation for post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy is an emerging cholestatic liver disease observed in patients recovering from severe COVID-19 infection. Its prognosis is poor, necessitating liver transplantation in some cases. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of liver transplantation for post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy. METHODS: Seven patients who underwent liver transplantation for post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy at three institutions between 2020 and 2022 were included in this retrospective multi-center case series. RESULTS: At the time of initial COVID-19 infection, all patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, and six patients (86%) required ICU admission. Median time intervals from the initial COVID-19 diagnosis to the diagnosis of post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy and liver transplantation were 4 and 12 months, respectively. Four patients underwent living donor liver transplantation, and three patients underwent deceased donor liver transplantation. The median MELD score was 22 (range, 10-38). No significant intraoperative complications were observed. The median ICU and hospital stays were 2.5 and 12.5 days, respectively. One patient died due to respiratory failure 5 months after liver transplantation. Currently, the patient and graft survival rate is 86% at a median follow-up of 11 months. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation is a viable option for patients with post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy with acceptable outcome. Timely identification of this disease and appropriate management, including evaluation for liver transplantation, are essential.

Single incision simultaneous liver kidney transplantation: Feasibility and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, simultaneous liver kidney transplantation (SLK) has been performed using a subcostal incision for the liver allograft and a lower abdominal incision for kidney transplantation (dual incision, DI). At our institution, we performed SLK using a single subcostal incision (SI). The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of single versus dual incisions for SLK. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of consecutive SLK procedures performed at our center from January 2015 to April 2021 was performed. The demographic characteristics, complications, intraoperative findings, and complications after SI and DI were statistically compared. RESULTS: A total 37 SLK were performed (19 DI and 18 SI). The age and indications for transplantation were comparable between the two groups. Patient in SI group had significantly higher MELD score (27.0 ± 1.5 vs. 31.7 ± 1.5, p = .038). The cold ischemic time of kidney transplantation (599 ± 26 min vs. 447 ± 27 min, p < .001) and the total surgical time (508 ± 21 min vs. 423 ± 22 min, p = .008) were significantly shorter in the SI group. The incidence of complications and post-transplant kidney function was comparable between the groups. A slightly higher incidence of surgical site complications was noted in the DI group without any statistically significance (p = .178). CONCLUSIONS: Single-subcostal incision SLK is technically feasible and has comparable outcomes to dual-incision SLK. SI was associated with shorter cold ischemic time for kidney transplant, as well as shorter overall operative time.

Risk Factors for and Outcomes of Intraoperative Blood Loss in Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Tumors.

Intraoperative blood loss (IBL) during liver resection is a predictor of morbidity, mortality, and tumor recurrence after hepatectomy; however, there have been few reports on patient factors associated with increased IBL. We enrolled consecutive patients who underwent liver resection for primary liver malignancies, and evaluated the predictors of IBL using a data set in which factors that might influence IBL, such as surgical devices, methods and anesthetic technique, were all standardized. We studied 244 patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that higher IBL was an independent risk factor for post-hepatectomy liver failure grade ≥B and overall survival. Multiple linear regression analyses showed serum creatinine, clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), tumor size, and major hepatectomy were all significant predictors of IBL. In conclusion, higher IBL was significantly associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with primary HCC who underwent liver resection. The risk of IBL was related to several factors including tumor size, serum creatinine, CSPH, and major hepatectomy.

Hepatic resection for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma during pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during pregnancy is extremely rare. Treatment strategies for cancers detected during pregnancy have been controversial. We herein report a case of recurrent HCC detected at 20 weeks of pregnancy, which subsequently prompted hepatic resection after abortion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic partial hepatectomy for HCC (20 mm in diameter) in segment 5 of the liver during follow-up after being determined as a hepatitis B virus carrier two and a half years ago. Post-surgery follow-up abdominal ultrasonography revealed a 36-mm tumor in segment 7 of the liver. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a well-enhanced tumor with a 40-mm diameter in segment 7 adjacent to the inferior vena cava and right hepatic vein, suggesting HCC recurrence. Laboratory data revealed total bilirubin (0.4 mg/dL), aspartate aminotransferase (28 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (30 IU/L), glutamyltransferase (16 IU/L), prothrombin time (115.3%), and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (7.0%). α-Fetoprotein (AFP) (12,371.5 ng/mL; normal range < 10 ng/mL) and PIVKA-II (208 mAU/mL; normal range < 40 mAU/mL) were both significantly elevated. After discussions with a cancer board consisting of experts from the departments of gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery, as well as obtaining appropriate informed consent from the patient and her family, we decided to perform a hepatic resection after abortion. Subsequently, abortion surgery was performed at 21 weeks and 2 days of pregnancy. After 6 days, subsegmentectomy of liver segment 7 was performed under general and epidural anesthesia, with a pathological diagnosis which was moderately differentiated HCC being established. Given the good postoperative course, without particular complications, the patient was subsequently discharged 10 days after the operation. Approximately 2 years after the surgery, the patient remains alive without recurrence, while both AFP and PIVKA-II were within normal limits. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment strategies for HCC detected during pregnancy remain controversial. As such, decisions should be made based on HCC growth and fetal maturity after thorough multidisciplinary team discussions and obtaining appropriate informed consent from the patient and her family.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma of the distal bile duct: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) of the common bile duct (CBD) is very rare, with only 10 reported cases. Here, we report a case of MANEC of the distal bile duct (DBD) that was surgically resected under a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old male had epigastric pain and was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of a suspected CBD stone. Upon admission, laboratory findings revealed elevated hepatobiliary enzymes including serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum glutamyltransferase, and serum alkaline phosphatase. Both carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were negative. Computed tomography (CT) showed dilation of the CBD. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed circumferential stenosis and a 5-mm elevated lesion in the DBD. Brush cytology showed atypical ductal cells, indicating adenocarcinoma (AC) of the DBD. Under a diagnosis of CCA of the DBD, a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Neither peritoneal dissemination nor lymph node metastasis was found. Microscopically, the lesion was seen to be composed of predominantly well-differentiated tubular AC in the superficial layer of the tumor, admixed with neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) in the deeper portion, indicating a diagnosis of MANEC of the DBD. After immunohistochemical staining, NEC components were positive for synaptophysin and CD56 and were for SSTR2, SSTR5, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Three months postsurgery, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was started. More than 3 years postsurgery, he is alive without recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: MANEC is highly malignant, progresses rapidly, and has a poor prognosis. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult; therefore, identifying NEC components by immunohistochemical staining using resected specimens is important.

Large surgically resected leiomyosarcoma of the liver: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma (PHL) is an extremely rare type of tumor. We herein report a case of a large surgically resected leiomyosarcoma of the liver. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old man with a feeling of epigastric compression was referred for examination of an abdominal mass. He had no history of liver disease or alcohol abuse. Liver function tests indicated Child-Pugh class A. Tumor markers were negative. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a relatively well-contrasted 12 × 11 × 8 cm tumor with well-defined boundary replacing the lateral segment of the liver alongside multiple intrahepatic metastases. Several nodules up to 12 mm were found in both lungs, suggestive of metastasis. SUVmax of the liver mass and lung tumor in positron emission tomography were 10.4 and 1.5, respectively. Hepatocellular carcinoma was primarily suspected. Lateral segmentectomy of the liver was performed to confirm diagnosis and prevent tumor rupture. Macroscopically, the lateral segment of the liver had been replaced by a lobular or multinodular tumor with a maximum diameter of 15 cm. In pathological findings, the tumor consisted of bundle-like proliferation of complicated banding spindle-like cells with clear cytoplasm, accompanied by storiform pattern and compressed blood vessels. Nuclear fission images were observed in 8/10 HPF. Partial necrosis was present, with associated venous invasion and intrahepatic metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining for tumor cells revealed desmin, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and h-caldesmon were all positive, informing a final diagnosis of PHL. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on the 12th postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: PHL is a rare malignant disease with relatively poor prognosis. To confirm a diagnosis of PHL, immunohistochemical analysis as well as histopathological findings is important. The preferred treatment is surgical resection, sometimes in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Further studies are needed to elucidate and better understand this uncommon clinical entity.

Impact of Immune Response on Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Association With Vascular Formation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We investigated the prognostic value of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status, and their combination in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their association with PD-L1 expression and vascular formation was further explored. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Using a database of 387 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC, immunohistochemical staining of PD-L1, CD8, and CD34 was performed. Additionally, we undertook an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for soluble PD-L1. Compared with patients with HCC and PD-L1-negative expression (n = 311), patients with HCC and PD-L1-positive expression (n = 76) showed significantly worse overall survival (OS; multivariate hazard ratio, 2.502; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.716-3.649; P < 0.0001). The presence of tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cells was significantly correlated with longer OS (multivariate hazard ratio, 0.383; 95% CI, 0.274-0.537; P < 0.0001). Stratification based on PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status was also significantly associated with OS (log-rank, P < 0.0001). HCC with PD-L1-positive expression was significantly correlated with positivity for vessels that encapsulated tumor clusters. Serum PD-L1 levels were significantly higher in the group of patients who had PD-L1-positive expression than in the group of patients who had PD-L1-negative expression (P = 0.0158). CONCLUSIONS: PD-L1 expression in cancer cells was associated with a poor clinical outcome and vascular formation in patients with HCC. Additionally, the combination of PD-L1 expression with tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status enabled further classification of patients based on their clinical outcome. Thus, PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status might serve as predictive tissue biomarkers.

Prognostic nutritional index is superior as a predictor of prognosis among various inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

AIM: There is increasing evidence that inflammation-based prognostic scores are stage-independent predictors of poor outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, these findings were observed in a small-sized study comparing the prognostic value of these scores for patients after curative resection for HCC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 717 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent curative liver resection at Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic Bomb Survivors Hospital. Clinicopathological variables including preoperative inflammation-based prognostic scores, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, Controlling Nutritional Status score, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and Glasgow Prognostic Score were analyzed. The prognostic value of these scores was compared by the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. RESULTS: The integrate area under the curve of PNI, Controlling Nutritional Status score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and Glasgow Prognostic Score were 0.6751, 0.6435, 0.5845, 0.5276, and 0.5351 for overall survival (OS), respectively, and 0.5955, 0.5694, 0.4692, 0.4873, and 0.5272 for disease-free survival, respectively. Multivariate analyses for prognosis factor in HCC patients showed that PNI was an independent predictor of both OS (HR 0.91, P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (HR 0.94, P < 0.001). When the patients were divided into high and low PNI groups, the patients in the low PNI group had significant poorer OS (P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (P < 0.001), even after background factors were matched between these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: PNI is superior to Controlling Nutritional Status score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, or Glasgow Prognostic Score as a predictor of OS and recurrence-free survival in patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection.

Elevation of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer after hepatectomy is associated with post-hepatectomy liver failure, total Pringle time, and renal dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a novel serum glycomarker used to assess liver fibrosis. However, it has been reported that M2BPGi is likely to reflect other factors not limited to liver fibrosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 79 patients with liver tumors who underwent liver resection. M2BPGi was measured within 1 week before operation and almost 1 month after operation. We introduced a value termed the "ΔM2BPGi ratio" (=M2BPGiafter operation/M2BPGibefore operation), and analyzed factors that influenced the ΔM2BPGi ratio. RESULTS: The median value of the ΔM2BPGi ratio was 1.28 (range, 0.36-5.68). In 64 patients (81.0%), the cutoff index values of M2BPGi were elevated approximately 1 month after operation, especially in patients who experienced post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). Multiple linear regression showed total Pringle time, PHLF grade ≥B, and preoperative value of creatinine were significant predictors of the ΔM2BPGi ratio. The mean values of the ΔM2BPGi ratio were 1.37 ± 0.07, 1.52 ± 0.22, and 2.94 ± 0.30 for PHLF grade 0, grade A, and grade B, respectively, resulting in statistically significant differences by the Kruskal-Wallis test (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Total Pringle time, PHLF grade ≥B, and preoperative creatinine significantly influenced the elevation of M2BPGi almost 1 month after liver resection. This study strongly affirms the previous suggestion that M2BPGi is likely to reflect other factors not limited to liver fibrosis.

Extensive Thrombectomy as a Legitimate Strategy in Living Donor Liver Transplantation With Advanced Portal Vein Thrombosis.

Management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), especially advanced PVT involving the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is challenging. There were 514 adults who underwent LDLT between 2005 and 2018 included in this retrospective study, and PVT was observed in 67 (13.0%) patients. The LDLT recipients with PVT were characterized by increased portal pressure at laparotomy (26.1 ± 6.0 versus 24.3 ± 5.9 mm Hg; P = 0.03) and at closure (16.8 ± 3.9 versus 15.6 ± 3.6 mm Hg; P = 0.02), increased operative blood loss (14.6 ± 29.7 versus 5.7 ± 6.3 L; P < 0.01), and decreased 1-year graft survival (83.5% versus 92.8%; P = 0.04). Among the 18 patients with atrophic or vanished portal vein on pre-LDLT computed tomography, significant portal atrophy was actually observed only in 1 (5.6%) patient during LDLT surgery. For advanced PVT (n = 7) involving SMV in era 1, we performed nonanatomical inflow reconstruction using interposition grafts, resulting in significant inflow problems in 4 (57.1%) patients. Thus, for the patients with advanced PVT (n = 4) in era 2, we abandoned nonanatomical reconstruction and applied extensive thrombectomy under ultrasound guidance with secure shunt ligation, resulting in no inflow problems and no graft loss. In conclusion, even for advanced PVT involving SMV, extensive thrombectomy under sonogram guidance followed by anatomical inflow reconstruction and shunt ligation is a legitimate strategy in adult LDLT with PVT.

Antibacterial-Agent-Immobilized Gelatin Hydrogel as a 3D Scaffold for Natural and Bioengineered Tissues.

Hydrogels and their medical applications in tissue engineering have been widely studied due to their three-dimensional network structure, biocompatibility, and cell adhesion. However, the development of an artificial bile duct to replace the recipient's tissue is still desired. Some challenges remain in the tissue engineering field, such as infection due to residual artifacts. In other words, at present, there are no established technologies for bile duct reconstruction as strength and biocompatibility problems. Therefore, this study investigated hydrogel as an artificial bile duct base material that can replace tissue without any risk of infectious diseases. First, an antibacterial agent (ABA), Finibax (an ABA used for the clinical treatment of biliary tract infection), was immobilized in gelatin using a crosslinking agent, and the antibacterial properties of the gel and its sustainability were tested. Furthermore, the immobilized amount and the improvement of the proliferation of the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured as the ABA-Gelatin hydrogel was introduced to prepare a 3D scaffold. Finally, we performed hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining after subcutaneous implantation in the rat. Overall, the ABA-Gelatin hydrogel was found to be viable for use in hydrogel applications for tissue engineering due to its good bactericidal ability, cell adhesion, and proliferation, as well as having no cytotoxicity to cells.