Number and tumor size are not sufficient criteria to select patients for liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an indication for liver resection or transplantation (LT). In most centers, patients whose HCC meets the Milan criteria are considered for LT. The first objective of this study was to analyze whether there is a correlation between the pathologic characteristics of the tumor, survival and recurrence rate. Second, we focused our attention on vascular invasion (VI). METHODS: From January 1997 to December 2007, a total of 196 patients who had a preoperative diagnosis of HCC were included. The selection criteria for LT satisfied both the Milan and the San Francisco criteria (UCSF). Demographic, clinical, and pathologic information were recorded. RESULTS: HCC was confirmed in 168 patients (85.7%). The median follow-up was 74 months. The pathologic findings showed that 106 patients (54.1%) satisfied the Milan criteria, 134 (68.4%) the UCSF criteria of whom 28 (14.3%) were beyond the Milan criteria but within the UCSF criteria, and 34 (17.3%) beyond the UCSF criteria. VI was detected in 41 patients (24%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 90%, 85%, and 77%, respectively, according to the Milan criteria and 90%, 83%, and 76%, respectively, according to the UCSF criteria (P = NS). In univariate and multivariate analyses, tumor size and VI were significant prognostic factors affecting survival (P < 0.001). Two factors were significantly associated with VI: alfa-fetoprotein level of >400 ng/ml and tumor grade G3. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size and VI were the only significant prognostic factors affecting survival of HCC patients. Primary liver resection could be a potential selection treatment before LT.

Incidence and clinical significance of bacterial and fungal contamination of the preservation solution in liver transplantation.

A perfusion fluid used in the preservation of the grafted liver represents a medium suitable for microorganism growth. In this observational study, a sample of 232 transplanted livers was collected. Perfusion fluid samples were stored for microbiological analysis from harvested donors. Bacteria were isolated in 91 out of 232 samples, post-operative infections related to contaminated perfusion solution occurred in 13 cases. The contamination rate of the preservation medium appears to be high, but postoperative infections occurs rarely. We suggest periodic detection and a protocol in place designed for antibiotic use for transplanted patients exposed to contaminated perfusion solution.

[Surgical treatment of non-metastatic gastric GIST: two cases and review of the literature]. / Trattamento chirurgico dei GIST gastrici non metastatici: due casi significativi e revisione della letteratura.

Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) represent an evolving field in oncological surgery and must be approached with specific prognostic and therapeutic criteria. In the GIST's suspicion the surgeon has to consider all the therapeutic possibilities, also for the impossibility to predict the biological behaviour and the aggressiveness of the tumor. The presence of a GIST has to be suspected in patients observed for gastrointestinal bleeding, when another pathology isn't demostrable. Surgical strategy must consider a limited resection as the best treatment, differently from what we do for adenocarcinoma. The extension of the resection can changes, regarding tumor volume and position, from extremely invasive surgery to laparoscopic operations with a partial removal of the gastric wall. Lymphadenectomy is not indicated because these tumors rarely spread to the nodes. We present the clinical case of two patients observed for gastrointestinal bleeding and with preoperative diagnostic suspicion of GIST, submitted to surgical resection. In the first case we performed a superior polar gastrectomy with esofago-gastric anastomosis for the mass proximity to the cardias. In the second patient the intervention has been a limited resection of the fundus of stomach including the tumor.

Causes of sirolimus discontinuation in 97 liver transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Sirolimus is a potent immunosuppressant with a mechanism of action different from calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). It has increasing importance for liver transplant (OLT) patients, in particular if when there is decreased renal function. We evaluated the efficacy and the causes for discontinuation of sirolimus-based immunosuppression among OLT recipients. OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively analyzed 97 liver transplanted patients who were prescribed sirolimus as the principal immunosuppressant. Of these, 61 patients discontinued treatment. Herein we have reported the causes, the timing, and the effects of sirolimus discontinuation. RESULTS: The overall patient survival at 3 years follow-up was 89%. Hepatotoxicity and blood disorders were the most frequent, severe reported side effects. Acute cellular rejection episodes appeared in seven patients and was relieved in 1 to 2 weeks after the sirolimus administration. In 10 patients, the cholestasis associated with chronic rejection was sharply reduced after the introduction of sirolimus. No increase in vascular thrombosis and/or poor wound healing were reported. CONCLUSION: Sirolimus given alone or in combination with CNIs appears to be an effective primary immunosuppressant regimen for OLT patients. However, in the late postoperative period (>3 months) the drug is associated with a relatively high rate of side effects.

Continuous infusion of local anesthesia after living donor nephrectomy: a comparative analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Today local anesthetic wound infiltration is widely recognized as a useful adjunct in a multimodality approach to postoperative pain management. The effectiveness of continuous wound infusion of ropivacaine for postoperative pain relief after laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy was analyzed in this retrospective, comparative analysis. METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing living donor nephrectomy were divided into two groups: standard analgesic therapy (n=10) and ropivacaine continuous infusion group (n = 10). RESULTS: We observed a significant difference in term of visual analogue scale scores, use of morphine, hospital stay, and bowel recovery in favor of the ropivacaine group. The cost analysis demonstrated an overall savings of 985 Euros/patient. DISCUSSION: Surgical wound infusion with ropivacaine was safe and seemed to improve pain relief and accelerate recovery and discharge, reducing the overall costs of care. Postoperative pain control in the donor is of primary importance for better patient compliance and greater perceived quality of health care service.

Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation as a bridge to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of laparoscopic thermoablation (LTA) as a neoadjuvant therapy prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Between January 2008 and January 2009, 12 consecutive patients, including 10 males and 2 females with unresectable HCC within liver cirrhosis, were treated with LTA under ultrasound (US) guidance. Most patients were in Child-Pugh class B (54.1%) with a mean age of 60.7 +/- 7.74 years (range, 45-69; median, 60). RESULTS: The LTA procedure was completed in all patients with thermoablation of 23 HCC nodules. LTA identified 4 new malignant lesions (20%) undetected by preoperative imaging (<0.5 cm). The mean length of surgery was 96 minutes (range, 45-118). Six procedures were performed in 4 patients. No postoperative hepatic insufficiency was reported. The mean hospital stay was 4.5 days; no postoperative morbidity was reported. Complete tumor necrosis was achieved in 19/23 thermoablated nodules (82.6%) as evidenced computed tomography (CT) scan by at 3 weeks after the treatment. All patients underwent OLT without complications. The histology of the native liver showed complete necrosis in 17/23 (74%) treated nodules. DISCUSSION: There is currently no convincing evidence that LTA allows one to expand the current selection criteria for OLT, nor that LTA decreases dropout rates on the waiting list. However, LTA does not increase the risk of postoperative complications. There is insufficient evidence that LTA offers any benefit when used prior to OLT either for early or for advanced HCC.

Incisional hernia repair after liver transplantation: role of the mesh.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) show a high risk of developing an incisional hernia. The aim of this retrospective study was to establish the incidence and the factors influencing the outcomes of this complication. METHODS: We reviewed 450 consecutive OLT performed in 422 adult recipient between January 2000 and December 2005. Herniae were analysed with aspect to localization, classification, repair technique, and recurrence. All treated herniae were followed for a median of 50.5 months. RESULTS: Incisional herniae occurred in 36 patients (8.5%, Group 1). Their mean age OLT was 51.4 years with 94.4% male subjects. No significant difference was observed between affects and unaffected individuals for age, OLT indication, Child-Pugh score, albumin, comorbidities, operative time, transfusions, immunosuppressant regimen, and graft rejection episodes as well as for the incisional approach and hospital stay. Gender, body mass index (BMI), preoperative ascites, and pulmonary complications after OLT were significantly different (P < .01). Herniae were small (<5 cm; n = 12), medium (5-10 cm; n = 28), or large (> 10 cm; n = 2). Herniorrhaphy techniques included primary suture repair in 5 (13.9%) and mesh repair in 31 (86.1%) cases. In 3 patients with a primary repair and 1 patient with a mesh repair there were recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative ascites, gender, BMI, and pulmonary complications after OLT seemed to have significant influences on the formation of incisional herniae. Polypropylene mesh may be a first choice for the surgical treatment of there transplant recipients.