Are the criteria always right? Assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma cases in living donor liver transplantation at a high-volume center

Background/aim: With the increased experience in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), it has been adopted for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with emerging discussions of criteria beyond tumor size and number. In contrast to deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT), recipient selection for LDLT is not limited by organ allocation systems. We discuss herein the assessment, criteria, and experience with liver transplantation (LT) in HCC cases at a high-volume LDLT center. Material and methods: Between August 2006 and December 2017, 191 adult LT HCC recipients with at least one-year follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In 191 patients, one-, three- and five-year survival rates were 87.2%, 81.6%, and 76.2%, respectively, including early postoperative mortality. In 174 patients with long-term follow-up, one-, three- and five-year disease-free survival rates were 91.6%, 87.7%, and 84.4%, respectively. When multivariate analysis was utilized, tumor differentiation was the only factor which statistically affected survival (p = 0.025). Conclusion: LDLT allows us to push the limits forward and the question "Are the criteria always right?" is always on the table. We can conclude that, with the advantage of LDLT, every HCC patient deserves a case-by-case basis discussion for LT under scientific literature support. In borderline cases, tumor biopsy might help determine the decision for LT.

Superselective Transarterial Chemoembolization as an Alternative to Surgery in Symptomatic/Enlarging Liver Hemangiomas.

BACKGROUND: Transarterial embolization of liver hemangiomas has not been considered to be consistently effective. METHODS: The charts of 25 patients who underwent superselective transarterial chemoembolization with the bleomycin-lipiodol emulsion were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients had abdominal pain; asymptomatic/vaguely symptomatic enlargement was the treatment indication in three patients. A single session was conducted in 17 patients, two sessions in 7 and three sessions in one. After the first session, lesion volume decreased by median (range) 51% (10-92%) from median (range) 634 (226-8435) to 372(28-4710) cm3 (p < 0.01), after a median period of 4 months (range 2-8). A second session was performed in eight patients (median (range) initial volume 1276 (441-8435) cm3) with persistent complaints and/or large lesions receiving feeders from both right and left hepatic arteries (staged treatment). Median (range) lesion size decreased further from 806 (245-4710) to 464 (159-2150) cm3 (p < 0.01). Three patients experienced a postembolization syndrome that persisted after the first week. Seventeen of the 22 symptomatic patients (77%) reported resolution or marked amelioration of complaints. Regrowth after initial regression was not observed during median (range) 14 (8-39) months of follow-up (n:18). CONCLUSION: Transarterial chemoembolization with the bleomycin-lipiodol emulsion is a potential alternative to surgery for symptomatic/enlarging liver hemangiomas. Volume reduction is universal, and symptom control is satisfactory. Centrally located and very large (>1000 cm3) lesions may require two sessions.

Living Donor-Initiated Domino Split-Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Setup: A Case Report With Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing liver transplantation for metabolic diseases, removing the patient's liver for transplantation to another recipient is called "domino liver transplantation." The extracted liver can be divided and transplanted into 2 recipients, which is called domino split-liver transplantation in the literature. However, in our study, the domino liver was obtained from a pediatric patient. METHODS: A patient with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) underwent a living donor liver transplant, and the explanted liver was divided in situ into right and left lobes and transplanted to 2 separate patients. Demographic data, surgical techniques, postoperative period, and patient follow-ups were evaluated. RESULTS: The father's left lobe liver graft was transplanted into a 12-year-old boy with MSUD. The removed liver was divided in situ into right and left lobes. The left lobe was transplanted to a 14-year-old male patient, whereas the right lobe was transplanted to a 67-year-old male patient. The donor and the first recipient were discharged on postoperative days 5 and 22. The second pediatric patient who underwent domino split-left lobe transplantation was discharged on postoperative day 23. The adult patient who underwent domino split-right lobe transplantation died on postoperative day 12 owing to massive esophageal variceal bleeding. CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent liver transplantation due to MSUD are among the best donor choices for domino liver transplantation. If the extracted liver has a sufficient volume and anatomic features for a split, it can be used in "selected cases."

Metastatic cutaneous melanoma presented with ileal invagination: report of a case.

We herein report a case of ileal invagination secondary to metastasis of a cutaneous melanoma. A 45-year-old female was admitted with intermittent abdominal pain and nausea. The patient's medical history was remarkable for cutaneous malignant melanoma. Imaging studies showed a solid mass in the right lower quadrant and the possibility of invagination. We made a preoperative diagnosis of partial intestinal obstruction, and laparotomy was performed. Intraoperative findings revealed ileal invagination. Segmental ileum resection with wide mesenteric lymph node dissection was performed. A polypoid metastasis of melanoma into the lumen of the ileum was confirmed with pathological examination. The diagnosis and management of intestinal metastasis of cutaneous malignant melanoma are discussed together with a literature review.

Ischemia-modified albumin in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia: a preliminary study.

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a sensitive marker of myocardial ischemia, skeletal muscle ischemia, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. However, there are no studies showing whether IMA increases in mesenteric ischemia. The aim of this study was to determine whether IMA was elevated in acute mesenteric ischemia. This case-controlled study was performed in an emergency department of a university hospital. The measurement of IMA levels in patient plasma yielded means of 0.264 +/- 0.057 absorbance units (ABSU) in the thromboembolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) group and 0.163 +/- 0.025 ABSU in the control group. When plasma IMA levels in the thromboembolic occlusion SMA group were compared with those in the control group, statistically significant increases in IMA were observed in the occlusion group (P = .003). Findings indicating that IMA may have a place in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric embolism were obtained in this preliminary study. Further prospective studies are needed to see if IMA is clinically useful in the early detection of thromboembolic occlusion of the SMA.

Umbilical trocar site closure with Berci's needle after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The umbilical region is particularly susceptible for development of incisional hernia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). To evaluate the effects of port-closure techniques on the complications seen after umbilical port-site closure, we compared closure with Berci's needle and the standard technique of a hand-sutured closure. METHODOLOGY: A hundred patients underwent LC were randomly divided into two groups. We evaluated the required time for closure, the security of techniques and the factors affecting postoperative complications for both closure groups in a prospective manner. RESULTS: Closure of the umbilical port site was performed faster with the Berci's needle compared to standard hand-sutured technique. Postoperative hospital stay and complication rates were not altered significantly depend on the closure technique. Skin dimpling on the trocar site was observed predominantly after closure with Berci's needle. Spontaneous improvement on skin dimpling was observed within the 2 weeks after operation in all patients. During the follow-up period, there was no trocar site hernia observed in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of the umbilical port site with Berci's needle is found as an effective and safe method for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Diaphragmatic Hernia After Liver Transplant in Children: Report of 2 Cases.

OBJECTIVES: Diaphragmatic hernia is a rare complication after pediatric liver transplant. This report presents occurrences of diaphragmatic hernia after living-donor liver transplants in 2 children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1 of the 2 patients, a right-sided diaphragmatic hernia developed after a living-donor liver transplant due to progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis where a left lateral segment graft was used. In the other patient, a left-sided diaphragmatic hernia developed after a living-donor liver transplant due to biliary atresia following Kasai portoenterostomy where a left lateral segment graft was used. RESULTS: After diaphragm repair, the postoperative course was uneventful and there were no recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: A literature review identified nearly 30 cases of diaphragmatic hernia following liver transplants; diaphragmatic hernia should be considered a potential surgical complication after liver transplant.

Transabdominal migration of retained surgical sponge.

Retained surgical sponge (RSS) is a rare surgical complication. The RSSs are mostly located intra-abdominally but they can also be left in the thorax, spine, extremity, cranium, and breast. RSS is often difficult to diagnose because of the nonspecific clinical symptoms and radiologic findings. Clinically, RSS may present as an exudative reaction in the early postoperative period or may also cause an aseptic fibrous tissue response. A foreign body may remain asymptomatically silent for a long time, and it may later present with obstruction, fistulization, or mass formation. In this report, we present a case in which an RSS has migrated through the abdominal wall and caused an anterior abdominal wall abscess.