Predictors of outcome after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond Milan criteria.

The Milan criteria have been the cornerstone of selection policies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) awaiting liver transplantation (LT) globally for over two decades. Many groups have proposed the transplantation of patients with larger and more numerous tumors achieving comparable results. Many of these use radiologic morphometric criteria as surrogates for explant pathology to predict outcomes. Several other indices have been developed both within and beyond Milan incorporating biological indices as well as dynamic markers of response to pre-transplant locoregional treatments and waiting time. These have allowed for successful expansion of transplant selection criteria without compromising outcomes with limited organ supplies. In this review we will discuss the predictors of outcome in patients beyond Milan criteria.

Liver Transplantation in an Adult Recipient With Situs Inversus Totalis: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, reports have demonstrated the feasibility of liver transplantation in adult patients with situs inversus. However, this disease entity remains rare and experience remains limited in adult recipients with situs inversus undergoing transplantation. METHODS: A 23-year-old woman with situs inversus totalis and end-stage liver disease secondary to congenital biliary atresia was referred to our center and underwent a successful orthotopic liver transplantation. RESULTS: We report our experience and review the literature. We performed a modified piggy-back technique with cavo-cavostomy. Using a triangulated wide orifice, the suprahepatic cava was anastomosed in an end-to-side fashion. The patient underwent an uneventful hospitalization and recovery. CONCLUSION: Situs inversus remains a rare condition. Careful perioperative planning, thorough anatomic knowledge of both donor and recipient liver, and use of a variety of different novel techniques can lead to successful outcomes.

The Effect of Muscarinic Receptor Modulators on the Antinociception Induced by CB2 Receptor Agonist, JWH133 in Mice.

There is no published study regarding the interaction between muscarinic receptor modulators and antinociception induced by cannabinoid receptor (CB2) agonist. The effect of pilocarpine (a muscarinic agonist) and atropine (a muscarinic antagonist) on JWH-133 (a CB2 agonist) induced analgesia in mice was studied. First the analgesic effect of JWH-133 (0.001-1 mg/Kg) or pilocarpine (2.5-20 mg/kg) or atropine (0.2-5 mg/kg) was evaluated. Subsequently, the effect of co-administration of pilocarpine (2.5 mg/kg) or atropine (5 mg/kg) and JWH-133 (0.001-1 mg/Kg) were studied too. JWH-133 and pilocarpine provoked antinociception in mice but atropine did not. Pilocarpine potentiated the analgesic effect of JWH-133 but atropine antagonized that. It can be concluded that JWH-133 induced antinociception is affected by muscarinic receptor modulators in mice.

A retrospective analysis of liver resection performed without central venous pressure monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that blood loss can be reduced during liver resection by monitoring and maintaining low central venous pressure (CVP) through fluid restriction or other means, but such a strategy carries risks to the patient including those inherent to central venous catheterization. We sought to characterize fluid management and blood loss during liver resections done without CVP monitoring. METHODS: Retrospective data were extracted from electronic anesthesia records for 993 liver resections. For 135 resections, between 2011 through 2013, where a documentation template was used that recorded fluid administration prior to hepatic inflow occlusion, multivariate analysis was performed to test for an association between pre-clamp fluid volumes administered and blood loss and other adverse outcomes. RESULTS: The median estimated blood loss was 300 mL and overall rate of transfusion was 8.6%. There was no statistically significant association between crystalloid volume administered prior to inflow clamping (median 900 mL) and blood loss, mortality or length of stay in the subset of patients with supplemental fluid data. CONCLUSION: Liver resection can be performed safely without either CVP monitoring or non-invasive continuous cardiac output monitoring. Additionally, there was no disadvantage to a practical approach to fluid administration prior to inflow clamping during liver resections in the absence of CVP monitoring with regard to blood loss or short-term outcomes.