Benefit of Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence after Liver Transplantation and Analysis of Prognostic Factors for Survival in a Large Euro-American Series.

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the combined experience at Toronto General Hospital and Hospital Vall d'Hebron managing HCC recurrence after LT (n = 121) between 2000 and 2012. We analyzed prognostic factors by uni- and multi-variate analysis. Median follow-up from LT was 29.5 (range 2-129.4) months. Median follow-up from HCC recurrence was 12.2 (range 0.1-112.5) months. RESULTS: At recurrence, 31.4 % were treated with curative-intent treatments (surgery or ablation), 42.1 % received palliative treatment, and 26.4 % received best supportive care. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survivals, respectively, after HCC recurrence were 75, 60, and 31 %, vs. 60, 19, and 12 %, vs. 52, 4, and 5 % (p < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, not being amenable to a curative-intent treatment [hazard ratio (HR) 4.7, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.7-8.3, p < 0.001], α-fetoprotein of ≥100 ng/mL at the time of HCC recurrence (HR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.3-2.3, p = 0.002) and early recurrence (<12 months) after LT (HR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.1-2.5, p = 0.03) were found to be poor prognosis factors. A prognostic score was devised on the basis of these three independent variables. Patients were divided into three groups, as follows: good prognosis, 0 points (n = 22); moderate prognosis, 1 or 2 points (n = 84); and poor prognosis, 3 points (n = 15). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival for each group was 91, 50, and 50 %, vs. 52, 7, and 2 %, vs. 13, 0, and 0 %, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HCC recurrence after transplant amenable to curative-intent treatments can experience significant long-term survival (~50 % at 5 years), so aggressive management should be offered. Poor prognosis factors after recurrence are not being amenable to a curative-intent treatment, α-fetoprotein of ≥100 ng/mL, and early (<1 year) recurrence after LT.

"Very early" intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in cirrhotic patients: should liver transplantation be reconsidered in these patients?

A retrospective cohort multicenter study was conducted to analyze the risk factors for tumor recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in cirrhotic patients found to have an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) on pathology examination. We also aimed to ascertain whether there existed a subgroup of patients with single tumors ≤2 cm ("very early") in which results after LT can be acceptable. Twenty-nine patients comprised the study group, eight of whom had a "very early" iCCA (four of them incidentals). The risk of tumor recurrence was significantly associated with larger tumor size as well as larger tumor volume, microscopic vascular invasion and poor degree of differentiation. None of the patients in the "very early" iCCA subgroup presented tumor recurrence compared to 36.4% of those with single tumors >2 cm or multinodular tumors, p = 0.02. The 1-, 3- and 5-year actuarial survival of those in the "very early" iCCA subgroup was 100%, 73% and 73%, respectively. The present is the first multicenter attempt to ascertain the risk factors for tumor recurrence in cirrhotic patients found to have an iCCA on pathology examination. Cirrhotic patients with iCCA ≤2 cm achieved excellent 5-year survival, and validation of these findings by other groups may change the current exclusion of such patients from transplant programs.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma in patients undergoing liver transplantation: a Spanish matched cohort multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of patients with hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (I-CC) on pathological examination after liver transplantation for HCC. BACKGROUND: Information on the outcome of cirrhotic patients undergoing a transplant for HCC and with a diagnosis of HCC-CC or I-CC by pathological study is limited. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective, matched cohort 1:2 study. STUDY GROUP: 42 patients undergoing a transplant for HCC and with a diagnosis of HCC-CC or I-CC by pathological study; and control group: 84 patients with a diagnosis of HCC. I-CC subgroup: 27 patients compared with 54 controls; HCC-CC subgroup: 15 patients compared with 30 controls. Patients were also divided according to the preoperative tumor size and number: uninodular tumors 2 cm or smaller and multinodular or uninodular tumors 2 cm or larger. Median follow-up: 51 (range, 3-142) months. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival rate differed between the study and control groups (83%, 70%, and 60% vs 99%, 94%, and 89%, respectively; P < 0.001). Differences were found in 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival rates between the I-CC subgroup and their controls (78%, 66%, and 51% vs 100%, 98%, and 93%; P < 0.001), but no differences were observed between the HCC-CC subgroup and their controls (93%, 78%, and 78% vs 97%, 86%, and 86%; P = 0.9). Patients with uninodular tumors 2 cm or smaller in the study and control groups had similar 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate (92%, 83%, 62% vs 100%, 80%, 80%; P = 0.4). In contrast, patients in the study group with multinodular or uninodular tumors larger than 2 cm had worse 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates than their controls (80%, 66%, and 61% vs 99%, 96%, and 90%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HCC-CC have similar survival to patients undergoing a transplant for HCC. Preoperative diagnosis of HCC-CC should not prompt the exclusion of these patients from transplant option.

Early predictors of antiviral treatment response in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C genotype 1.

The success of current antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence in liver transplant (LT) recipients remains limited. We aimed at evaluating the value of IL28B genotype and early viral kinetics to predict response to standard treatment in the transplant setting. We retrospectively evaluated 104 LT recipients treated for HCV genotype 1 recurrence between 2001 and 2010. Baseline variables, including IL28B genotype, and early viral kinetics were compared among patients who did or did not achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). Logistic regression analyses of candidate variables were conducted to generate a reliable predictive model based on the minimum set of variables. Twenty-nine (28%) achieved an SVR. On multivariate analysis, the magnitude of HCV RNA decline at 4 weeks (OR: 3.74, 95% CI: 1.64-9.39; P = 0.003) and treatment compliance (OR: 35.27, 95% CI: 3.35-365.54; P = 0.003) were the only independent predictors of SVR. Favourable recipient IL28B genotype significantly correlates with virological response at week 4 (OR 3.23; 95% CI, 1.12-9.15; P = 0.03). By logistic regression analysis, a model including donor age, recipient rs12979860 genotype and viral load at 4 weeks showed the best predictive value for SVR with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.861. Favourable recipient IL28B genotype strongly correlates with the viral response at week 4 which is the strongest predictor of response. The combination of recipient IL28B genotype and donor age with the week 4 response reliably estimates the probability of SVR early on-treatment and may facilitate therapeutic strategies incorporating new antiviral agents.

Immunogenicity of pandemic influenza A H1N1/2009 adjuvanted vaccine in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.

The aim of this study was to assess the immunogenicity of a vaccine against this virus in a prospective cohort of transplanted pediatric patients without previous influenza infection who received one dose of MF59®-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1/2009 vaccine. Seventeen patients who were being regularly followed up at the Outpatient Clinic of the Children's Transplant Unit (liver and kidney transplantation) in Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona) were included. Seroconversion was demonstrated in 15 of 17 (88.2%) vaccinated children. There were no rejection episodes or major adverse events. The MF59(®) -adjuvanted pandemic H1N1/2009 vaccine was safe and elicited an adequate response.

Intestinal perforation after pediatric liver transplantation: risk factors and management. / Perforación intestinal tras trasplante hepático pediátrico: factores de riesgo y manejo.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal perforation (IP) after pediatric liver transplant (PLT) is an uncommon complication with high mortality reported. The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors and management of this complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of IP after PLT from January 2014 to October 2020. RESULTS: Four intestinal perforations were indentificated in 102 PLT (3,9%). Three patients with BA and one neonate with hemochromatosis (HC) presented this complication. The mean weight of patients with IP was 6.3± 2.5kg (3.1-9) and 19.9 ± 15.4kg for the rest (p< 0.05). All IP with BA had a previous laparotomy. Two living donors and two left lateral reduced liver were implanted. The diagnosis of intestinal perforation was done on day 11 ± 3.3 (8-15 days). Diagnosis was suspected with clinical and biological signs of perforation, CT scan confirmed the diagnosis in patiens with BA and by direct visualization through the mesh for temporary closure in the patient with hemocromatosis. Urgent laparotomy was performed. We identified three colonic perforations, all of them in BA patients and all repaired with direct suture. The patient with HC presented multiple perforations secondary to necrotizing enterocolitis requiring an ileostomy and finally died due to multiorgan failure. CONCLUSION: Intestinal perforation after PLT is an infrequent complication. Age, weight, previous laparotomy and BA could be risk factors for IP in PLT. Urgent laparotomy after diagnosis should be performed in order to reduce mortality. Isolated IP with adequate treatment might not affect long term outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation.

INTRODUCCION: La perforación intestinal (PI) tras trasplante hepático pediátrico (THP) es una complicación poco frecuente, pero con una elevada mortalidad. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar los factores de riesgo y el manejo de esta complicación. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de la PI tras THP entre enero de 2014 y octubre de 2020. RESULTADOS: Se hallaron 4 perforaciones intestinales en 102 THP (3,9%). Presentaron esta complicación 3 pacientes con atresia biliar (AB) y un neonato con hemocromatosis (HC). El peso medio de los pacientes con PI era de 6,3 ± 2,5 kg (3.1-9) y de 19,9 ± 15,4 kg en el caso del resto (p<0,05). Todos los pacientes con PI y AB habían sido sometidos previamente a laparotomía. Se implantaron 2 hígados de donantes vivos y 2 hígados laterales reducidos izquierdos. El diagnóstico de perforación intestinal se efectúo en el día 11 ± 3,3 (8-15 días), sospechándose con signos clínicos y biológicos de perforación, y confirmándose mediante escáner en los pacientes con AB y mediante visualización directa a través de la malla para el cierre temporal en el paciente con hemocromatosis. Se llevó a cabo laparotomía de urgencia. Se identificaron 3 perforaciones de colon, todas ellas en pacientes con AB y reparadas con sutura directa. El paciente con HC presentaba múltiples perforaciones secundarias a enterocolitis necrotizante que precisaron ileostomía, falleciendo finalmente como consecuencia de un fallo multiorgánico. CONCLUSIONES: La perforación intestinal tras THP es una complicación poco frecuente. La edad, el peso, las laparotomías previas y la AB podrían ser factores de riesgo de PI en el THP. Para reducir la mortalidad, es conveniente practicar una laparotomía de urgencia tras el diagnóstico. Una PI aislada con un adecuado tratamiento puede no influir en los resultados a largo plazo tras un trasplante hepático pediátrico.

Influenza A H1N1/2009 infection in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.

AIM AND METHOD: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of pandemic influenza A H1N1/2009 (pH1N1) infection, in a retrospective cohort of pediatric patients with kidney and/or liver transplant and confirmed pH1N1 infection from June to December 2009, diagnosed in 2 Spanish teaching hospitals. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were included. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 4 patients (8.2%), and 3 of them required respiratory support. There were no related deaths. CONCLUSION: Antiviral treatment within 48 h was associated with a lower likelihood of pneumonia (0/38, 0%) than treatment started after 48 h (4/11, 36.3%) (P < 0.01).

Applicability and results of liver transplant combined with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy in the treatment of unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. / Aplicabilidad y resultados del trasplante hepático combinado con quimiorradioterapia neoadyuvante en el tratamiento del colangiocarcinoma perihiliar irresecable.

BACKGROUND: In 2007, a multicenter protocol was developed in Catalonia, Spain, combining neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and liver transplantation (LT) for those patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA). AIM: To analyse the effectiveness of the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and LT for those patients enrolled in the protocol based on intention-to-treat. METHODS: Observational multicenter study which includes patients ≤ 68 years-old diagnosed with unresectable, solitary tumors ≤ 3 cm in radial diameter, without evidence of lymph node metastases. The protocol was based on a strategy of neoadjuvant therapy with high-dose radiation (45 Gy in total) plus intravenous fluorouracil (5-FU) given as a daily bolus for the first 3 days of radiation follow by oral capecitabine until transplantation. The patient was included in waiting list for LT if no evidence of disseminated disease was found. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2018, 13 patients were enrolled in the transplant protocol. Of those, 61% (8/13) of the patients were transplanted. The average time spent on the waiting list was 122 days (range 5-192). Intent-to-treat survival was 69% and 39% at one and 5 years. Post-transplantation overall survival was 87% and 62% and 29% recurrence rate at 5 years. CONCLUSION: The suitability of the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and LT protocol was 61% in our series with long-term overall survival and should be considered as an alternative to resection for patients with localized node-negative hCCA.

No-touch hepatic hilum technique to treat early portal vein thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation.

A 'no-touch' hilum technique used to treat early portal vein complications post-liver transplantation in five children with body weight <10 kg is described. Four patients developed thrombosis and one portal flow absence secondary to collateral steal flow. A vascular sheath was placed through the previous laparotomy in the ileocolic vein (n = 2), inferior mesenteric vein (n = 1) or graft umbilical vein (n = 1). Portal clots were mechanically fragmented with balloon angioplasty. In addition, coil embolization of competitive collaterals (n = 3) and stent placement (n = 1) were performed. The catheter was left in place and exteriorized through the wound (n = 2) or a different transabdominal wall puncture (n = 3). A continuous transcatheter perfusion of heparin was subsequently administered. One patient developed recurrent thrombosis 24 h later which was resolved with the same technique. Catheters were removed surgically after a mean of 10.6 days. All patients presented portal vein patency at the end of follow-up. Three patients are alive after 5 months, 1.5 and 3.5 years, respectively; one patient required retransplantation 18 days postprocedure and the remaining patient died of adenovirus infection 2 months postprocedure. In conclusion, treatment of early portal vein complications following pediatric liver transplantation with this novel technique is feasible and effective.

[Long term follow-up of bile duct stenosis treated with interventional radiology in pediatric liver transplantation]. / Seguimiento a largo plazo de las estenosis de la vía biliar tratadas con radiología intervencionista en el trasplante hepático pediátrico.

The reported incidence of biliary strictures following pediatric liver transplantation has ranged between 5-34%, with a higher incidence in segmental grafts. Currently, percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation of biliary strictures is considered as the first line treatment owing to its minimal invasiveness. Between 1995-2006, 20 children who underwent liver transplantation developed biliary complications treated with interventional radiology. 16/20 developed biliary stricture, of whom 10 were treated with percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation. The mean age at the procedure was 6.6 years (range 8 m--14 years). The allograft types included whole (n=4), split (n=3), and reduced (n=3) livers. The procedure was performed at a mean time post-transplantation of 2.6 years. All patients are alive with a mean follow-up post-procedure of 24 months (range: 4 months-11 years). Currently, only 4 have a normal appearing biliary tree by imaging techniques and 6 developed stricture recurrence; of whom 3 developed biliary cirrhosis (2 splits, 1 reduced), one patient underwent successful rescue surgery, one was treated again percutaneously, and the remaining was lost to followup. In conclusion, treatment of percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation of biliary strictures is effective avoiding surgical correction. However, stricture recurrence in the medium- long term follow-up is frequent, particularly in segmental grafts. [corrected]

Severe rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure secondary to concomitant use of simvastatin with rapamycin plus tacrolimus in liver transplant patient.

OBJECTIVE: To report a severe interaction between simvastatin and rapamycin resulting in rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure in a liver transplant patient. BACKGROUND: A 56-year-old man with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis (Child B) was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and underwent liver transplantation in April 2007. He was immunosuppressed with tacrolimus (FK) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Postoperative complications were arterial hypertension and renal insufficiency. In June 2007, liver dysfunction was detected and acute rejection was diagnosed by biopsy. He received three 500-mg boluses of methylprednisolone and FK levels were maintained between 10 and 12 ng/mL. Laboratory values revealed persistent rejection and MMF was stopped with initiation of rapamicin. One month later, hyperlipidemia appeared as a consequence of rapamicin therapy; simvastatin was administered. In August 2007, the patient was readmitted due to severe muscule pain and the inability to ambulate. Laboratory values were: total bilirubin 16 mg/dL, serum creatinine 4.3 mg/dL, and total creatine kinase (CK) 42,124 U/L. With the suspicion of rhabdomyolysis, leading to worsening of his basal renal insufficiency, rapamycin and tacrolimus were stopped. Hemodialysis was initiated owing to renal failure and hyperkalemia. Some hours later, the patient developed ventricular fibrillation and respiratory failure and succumbed. DISCUSSION: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), corticosteroids, and mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR) inhibitors are associated with adverse dyslipidemic effects. To reduce the overall cardiovascular risk in these patients, lipid-lowering drugs, especially 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, have been widely used. CNI and m-TOR inhibitors, as well as most statins, are metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4; thus, pharmacokinetic interactions between these drugs are possible. Previous reports have indicated an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis in the presence of concomitant drugs that inhibit simvastatin metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant administration of statin therapy and drugs that inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 increased the risk of rhabdomyolysis in a patient suffering liver and renal dysfunction.

Impact of valganciclovir on Epstein-Barr Virus polymerase chain reaction in pediatric liver transplantation: preliminary report.

UNLABELLED: Preemptive therapy with ganciclovir has been recommended in the pediatric liver transplant strategy to avoid the development of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) from an high Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is detected. We sought viral load to analyze the response to preemptive therapy with valganciclovir (VGC) in children with liver transplantations and an high quantitative EBV-PCR. METHODS: From June 2005 to December 2007, we tested 979 EBV-PCR among 80 pediatric liver transplant recipients, from those 21/80 PCR were tested from the date of transplantation and 59/80 belonged to the historical cohort (7/59 had a prior history of PTLD). Patients were divided into 2 groups depending upon whether they did (n = 22) or did not (n = 19) receive VGC treatment. The response to VGC was considered complete, if the PCR was negative at 30 and 60 days of treatment; and partial, when the PCR decreased at least 50%. Ganciclovir blood levels tested in 109 cases instances and correlated with the EBV-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 369 (33%) positive PCR were detected in 36/80 patients (mean, 75,000 copies; range = 5000-4,200,000). Among the 22 episodes treated for 30 days, 34% showed complete responses, 41%, partial, and 23%, no response. Among the non-treated group the rates were 6%, 25%, and 68%, respectively (P = .01). However, no differences were observed among those episodes treated for 60 days. At the administered doses, hardly any patient reached the recommended ganciclovir therapeutic level at 2 hours (6 micro/mL). However, the mean PCR was lower when the ganciclovir levels were greater than 4 mg/L when compared with lower levels (P = .03). CONCLUSION: After 30 days of treatment there was a response to VGC in the EBV viral load. There was high interpatient variability of ganciclovir serum concentrations, suggesting the need for pharmacokinetic monitoring to optimize treatment. There was a relationship between the concentration of ganciclovir and the EBV viral load.

Non-anatomical intestinal transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal transplantation is the only long-range treatment option for patients with intestinal failure. We report an exceptional case of isolated intestinal transplantation with the implant in a non-anatomical position. CLINICAL CASE: The patient was a thirty-eight-year-old man (60 kg weight, 180 cm height, 18.3 body mass index) with intestinal failure and home parenteral nutrition due to a short-bowel syndrome for which intestinal transplantation was indicated. The patient had a vascular malformation with the cava vein located left to the aorta, and the intestine was implanted with a 180 masculine rotation around the mesenteric axis, so that the implant s superior mesenteric artery and vein matched the recipient s cava and aorta. Postoperative follow-up was excellent and the patient was discharged after six weeks with a 10-kg gain in body weight. DISCUSSION: This non-anatomical intestinal implantation of the small bowel, previously unreported, offers technical advantages over other options. Adequate intestinal function represents a unique model to prove the viability of intestinal implants in a non-anatomical position.

"Non-Touch" Vena Cava Technique as an Improvement in Combined Lung and Liver Procurement in Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death.

The number of organs retrieved from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors has continued to rise in recent years. The functional superiority of DCD organs is achieved when the lungs are perfused with cold perfusion and livers with normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). Thus, a precise surgical technique is required to combine thoracic and abdominal organ procurement. The technique used at our center consists of a rapid laparotomy and middle sternotomy, then the abdominal aorta (Ao) and abdominal inferior vena cava (VC) are cannulated and the descending thoracic Ao is cross-clamped. NRP is started at that point. As a variation of previously described techniques, the thoracic vena cava is not initially clamped in order to improve the return of blood volume to the NRP circuit. The pulmonary artery is cannulated to flush the lungs and the left atrial appendage is opened for drainage. After 120 minutes, NRP perfusion is stopped and the organs are flushed with cold preservation solution. In 2016, 3 livers and 6 lungs were harvested at our center using the technique described. After a minimum follow-up of 1 year, no evidence of biliary complications was observed. The combined procurement of lungs after room temperature perfusion and liver after NRP without initial clamping of the thoracic VC is feasible, with excellent function post-transplantation.

Safety and Efficacy of Early Everolimus When Calcineurin Inhibitors Are Not Recommended in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

Our aim was to study the safety and efficacy of immunosuppression with everolimus (EVL) within the 1st month after orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) when calcineurin inhibitors are not recommended. For this purpose, 28 recipients who had been treated with EVL within the 1st month after adult LT were eligible to enter in a retrospective multicenter study. Patients were followed up for 12 months after LT. EVL therapy was initiated at a median of 14 days (range, 4-24) after LT. The reason for early EVL was neurotoxicity in 14 cases, renal dysfunction in 12, and acute cellular rejection combined with renal impairment in 2. In 23 patients, immunosuppression was EVL + mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolate sodium + steroids, and EVL + tacrolimus + steroids/mycophenolate sodium was used in 4 cases. Neurotoxicity disappeared in all patients. Renal function in patients with renal impairment improved from a median of 32 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the moment of implementation of EVL to 62 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 1 year. Four patients (14.3%) developed acute cellular rejection. We observed incisional hernia in 4 patients (14.3%), hematologic complications in 6 (21.4%), proteinuria in 2 (7.1%), edema and/or effusions in 8 (28.6%), and dyslipidemia in 12 (42.8%). No arterial complications were observed. EVL was withdrawn in 5 patients during the 1st year after LT. One-year patient survival was 92.7%. In conclusion, use of EVL within the 1st month after LT when calcineurin inhibitors are not recommended seems to be an effective therapeutic option with an acceptable safety profile.

Initial experience in sentinel lymph node detection in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The local recurrence of pancreatic cancer is around 30% when complete resection can be achieved. Extended lymphatic resections may improve survival, but increases severe morbidity. As accurate patient selection should be mandatory, a new method is presented for pancreatic sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection with lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with cT2N0M0 pancreatic head cancer were enrolled between 2009 and 2012 in this prospective study. One day prior to surgery, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with echoendoscopic intratumoural administration of Tc(99m)-labelled nanocolloid was performed, with planar and SPECT-CT images obtained 2h later. Gamma probe detection of SLN was also carried out during surgery. RESULTS: Radiotracer administration was feasible in all patients. Scintigraphy images showed inter-aortocaval lymph nodes in 2 patients, hepatoduodenal ligament lymph nodes in 1, intravascular injection in 3, intestinal transit in 5, and main pancreatic duct visualisation in 1. Surgical resection could only be achieved in 4 patients owing to locally advanced disease. Intraoperative SLN detection was accomplished in 2 patients, both with negative results. Only in one patient could SLN be confirmed as truly negative by final histopathological analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This new method of pancreatic SLN detection is technically feasible, but challenging. Our preliminary results with 7 patients are not sufficient for clinical validation.

Portal vein thrombosis in liver transplantation.

In the initial experience of liver transplantation, complete thrombosis and portal vein occlusion were considered to be absolute contraindications for liver transplantation. The incidence of portal thrombosis in patients being prepared for transplantation varies between 5% and 15% according to published series. There are 2 surgical techniques to solve absent or low portal vein flow due to thrombosis. The most widely used technique is thrombectomy and the second technique is insertion of a shunt with a venous graft in the permeable portion of the superior mesenteric vein or in a vein in the splanchnic territory. Portal thrombosis recurrence rates vary among series, ranging from 0% to 25% or even 30%, depending on its extension and severity and also on time the transplantation was performed. Although overall survival is somewhat lower, there are no significant differences in most of the series when patients with portal thrombosis who underwent transplantation are compared with those without.