Long-term outcomes of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma after hepatectomy or liver transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare primary liver malignancy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the evidence available on the long-term outcomes of cHCC-CC patients after either hepatectomy or liver transplantation (LT). DATA SOURCES: Relevant studies published between January 2000 and January 2018 were identified by searching PubMed and Embase and reviewed systematically. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 42 observational studies involving 1691 patients (1390 for partial hepatectomy and 301 for LT) were included in the analysis. The median tumor recurrence and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 65% (range 38%-100%) and 29% (range 0-63%) after hepatectomy versus 54% (range 14%-93%) and 41% (range 16%-73%) after LT, respectively. Meta-analysis found no significant difference in OS and tumor recurrence between LT and hepatectomy groups. CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy rather than LT should be considered as the prior treatment option for cHCC-CC.

Survival after repeat hepatectomy for recurrent colorectal liver metastasis: A review and meta-analysis of prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND: Frequent recurrent hepatic metastasis after hepatic metastasectomy is a major obstacle in the treatment of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). We performed the present systematic review to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes after repeat hepatectomy for recurrent CRLM and determine factors associated with survival in these patients. DATA SOURCES: An electronic search of PubMed database was undertaken to identify all relevant peer-reviewed papers published in English between January 2000 and July 2018. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated for prognostic factors of overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The search yielded 34 studies comprising 3039 patients, with a median overall morbidity of 23% (range 8%-71%), mortality of 0 (range 0-6%), and 5-year OS of 42% (range 17%-73%). Pooled analysis showed that primary T3/T4 stage tumor (HR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.04-3.63), multiple tumors (HR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.10-2.01), largest liver lesion ≥5 cm (HR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.11-3.23) and positive surgical margin (HR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.09-2.97) at initial hepatectomy, and high serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (HR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.27-2.74), disease-free interval ≤12 months (HR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.10-1.62), multiple tumors (HR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.32-2.02), largest liver lesion ≥5 cm (HR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.34-2.56), positive surgical margin (HR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.39-3.65), presence of bilobar disease (HR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.19-2.20), and extrahepatic metastases (HR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.23-2.09) at repeat hepatectomy were significantly associated with poor OS. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat hepatectomy is a safe and effective therapy for recurrent CRLM. Long-term outcome is predicted mainly by factors related to repeat hepatectomy.

A pooled analysis of treatment and prognosis of hepatic angiosarcoma in adults.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare malignant vascular tumor presenting unique treatment challenges. The aim of the present study was to determine the treatment and prognosis of this entity. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and Chinese Biomedical Literature database, to identify articles published from January 1980 to July 2017. Search terms were "hepatic angiosarcoma" and "liver angiosarcoma". Additional articles were retrieved through manual search of bibliographies of the relevant articles. Pooled individual data concerning the prognosis following various therapeutic modalities were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 75 articles involving 186 patients were eligible for inclusion. The median overall survival (OS) was 8 months, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of 36.6%, 22.3%, and 12.0%, respectively. The median OS after partial hepatectomy (n = 86), chemotherapy (n = 36), liver transplantation (n = 17), and supportive care (n = 46) were 15, 10, 5 and 1.3 months, respectively. Small tumor size (<10 cm) was the only significant favorable factor for OS after partial hepatectomy (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the dismal prognosis, partial hepatectomy could prolong the survival of hepatic angiosarcoma patients, particularly those with tumors <10 cm. Chemotherapy could be an option for unresectable disease. Liver transplantation is not a recommendable option for the management of this malignancy.

An evidence-based approach to the surgical interventions for severe pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and therapeutic outcome of different surgical interventions for severe pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed database for relevant articles published between 1990 and March 2017. Descriptive statistics were performed and data are expressed as mean. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies involving 370 patients undergoing surgical interventions for severe pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy were included. Rates of further relaparotomy, in-hospital mortality, and long-term endocrine insufficiency were reported for completion pancreatectomy (31.8%, 42% and 100% respectively), disconnection of anastomosis with preservation of a pancreatic remnant (25%, 21.3% and 17.8% respectively), internal or external wirsungostomy (10.4%, 14.9%, and 12.3% respectively), salvage pancreaticogastrostomy (12.5%, 0% and 25%, respectively), and simple peripancreatic drainage (30%, 47.9% and 12.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The pancreas-preserving strategy of disconnection of anastomosis with preservation of a pancreatic remnant, internal or external wirsungostomy, and salvage pancreatogastrostomy seems to be the preferred option for the treatment of severe pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy. As completion pancreatectomy is a very aggressive treatment, it should only be reserved for specific instances in which organ-preserving resection is technically unfeasible.

Recent advances in orally administered cell-specific nanotherapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disease in gastrointestinal tract. Conventional medications lack the efficacy to offer complete remission in IBD therapy, and usually associate with serious side effects. Recent studies indicated that nanoparticle-based nanotherapeutics may offer precise and safe alternative to conventional medications via enhanced targeting, sustained drug release, and decreased adverse effects. Here, we reviewed orally cell-specific nanotherapeutics developed in recent years. In addition, the various obstacles for oral drug delivery are also reviewed in this manuscript. Orally administrated cell-specific nanotherapeutics is expected to become a novel therapeutic approach for IBD treatment.

Dexamethasone combined with other antiemetics for prophylaxis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common and distressing adverse events after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone combined with other antiemetic in the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing LC. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant RCTs. The primary outcome was PONV in the early period (0-3 hours, 0-4 hours, or 0-6 hours), late period (>6 hours), and the overall period (0-24 hours). RESULTS: Nine RCTs with a total of 1089 patients were included in the analysis. Pooled analysis showed that dexamethasone combined with other antiemetics provided significantly better prophylaxis than single antiemetics in the early period [odds ratio (OR): 0.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.55; p < 0.001], late period (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22-0.57; p < 0.001), and the overall period (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.27-0.49; p < 0.001). Correspondingly, rescue antiemetic usage was significantly less in the combination therapy group (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.12-0.41; p < 0.001). The most frequently reported adverse events were headache, dizziness, and itching. The incidence of adverse events did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone combined with other antiemetics was significantly better than single antiemetics for prophylaxis of PONV in patients undergoing LC, without apparent side effects.