Liver regeneration after portal and hepatic vein embolization improves overall survival compared with portal vein embolization alone: mid-term survival analysis of the multicentre DRAGON 0 cohort.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare 3-year overall survival after simultaneous portal (PVE) and hepatic vein (HVE) embolization versus PVE alone in patients undergoing liver resection for primary and secondary cancers of the liver. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective study, all DRAGON 0 centres provided 3-year follow-up data for all patients who had PVE/HVE or PVE, and were included in DRAGON 0 between 2016 and 2019. Kaplan-Meier analysis was undertaken to assess 3-year overall and recurrence/progression-free survival. Factors affecting survival were evaluated using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: In total, 199 patients were included from 7 centres, of whom 39 underwent PVE/HVE and 160 PVE alone. Groups differed in median age (P = 0.008). As reported previously, PVE/HVE resulted in a significantly higher resection rate than PVE alone (92 versus 68%; P = 0.007). Three-year overall survival was significantly higher in the PVE/HVE group (median survival not reached after 36 months versus 20 months after PVE; P = 0.004). Univariable and multivariable analyses identified PVE/HVE as an independent predictor of survival (univariable HR 0.46, 95% c.i. 0.27 to 0.76; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Overall survival after PVE/HVE is substantially longer than that after PVE alone in patients with primary and secondary liver tumours.

Effect of Sarcopenia on the Increase in Liver Volume and Function After Portal Vein Embolization.

PURPOSE: Sarcopenia is associated with a decreased kinetic growth rate (KGR) of the future liver remnant (FLR) after portal vein embolization (PVE). However, little is known on the increase in FLR function (FLRF) after PVE. This study evaluated the effect of sarcopenia on the functional growth rate (FGR) after PVE measured with hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS). METHODS: All patients who underwent PVE at the Amsterdam UMC between January 2005 and August 2017 were analyzed. Functional imaging by HBS was used to determine FGR. Liver volumetry was performed using multiphase contrast computed tomography (CT). Muscle area measurement to determine sarcopenia was taken at the third lumbar level (L3). RESULTS: Out of the 95 included patients, 9 were excluded due to unavailable data. 70/86 (81%) patients were sarcopenic. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, sarcopenia (p = 0.009) and FLR volume (FRLV) before PVE (p = 0.021) were the only factors correlated with KGR, while no correlation was found with FGR. 90-day mortality was similar across the sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic group (4/53 [8%] versus 1/11 [9%]; p = 1.000). The resection rates were also comparable (53/70 [75%] versus 11/16 [69%]; p = 0.542). CONCLUSION: FGR after PVE as measured by HBS appears to be preserved in sarcopenic patients. This is in contrast to KGR after PVE as measured by liver volumetry which is decreased in sarcopenic patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3b, cohort and case control studies.

12Fr-Pigtail Versus 14Fr-Balloon Percutaneous Radiologic Gastrostomy (PRG), Retrospective Evaluation of Outcomes and Complications; A Maastricht University Medical Centre Study.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively compare tube and placement related results of a 12Fr-pigtail and a 14Fr-balloon gastrostomy tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) between January 2016 and June 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective single-center analysis. Follow-up for all patients was 180 days. Mortality after 30 days, technical success, days to first complication within 180 days, reason of unexpected visit (tube, anchor or pain related), and tube specific complications (obstruction, pain, luxation, leakage) were taken as outcome measures. Data were obtained from both PACS software and electronic health records. RESULTS: A total of 247 patients were enrolled (12Fr-pigtail: n = 139 patients and 14Fr-balloon: n = 108 patients). 30-day mortality was very low in both groups and never procedure related. Technical success was 99% in both groups. The average number of complications within 180 days after initial PRG placement was significantly higher in the 12Fr-pigtail group (12Fr-pigtail: 0.93 vs. 14Fr-balloon: 0.64, p = 0.028). Time to first complication within 180 days was significantly longer in the 14Fr-balloon group (12Fr-pigtail: 29 days vs. 14Fr-balloon: 53 days, p = 0.005). In the 14Fr-balloon group, the rate of tube-related complications (luxation and obstruction) was significantly lower compared to 12Fr-pigtail (29% vs. 45%, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: 14Fr-balloon gastrostomy tubes have significantly lower (tube-related) complications rates and longer time to first complication compared to 12Fr-pigtail tubes. No procedure-related mortality was observed in either group. Technical success was very high in both groups. Level of Evidence Level 3, non-controlled retrospective cohort study.

The Effect of Microwave and Radiofrequency Ablation (MWA/RFA) on Liver Volume in Patients with Primary and Secondary Liver Tumours: A Retrospective Analysis.

PURPOSE: It is known that thermal liver ablation can induce liver hypertrophy. However, exact impact in liver volume remains unclear. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of radiofrequency or microwave ablation (RFA/MWA) on liver volume in patients with primary and secondary liver lesions. Findings can be relevant in assessing the potential extra benefit of thermal liver ablation in preoperatively performed liver hypertrophy inducing procedures, such as portal vein embolization (PVE). METHODS: Between January 2014-May 2022, 69 invasive treatment naïve patients with primary (n = 43) or secondary/metastatic (n = 26) liver lesions (in all segments, except in segments II/III) treated percutaneously by RFA/MWA were included. Total liver volume (TLV), segment II + III volume (serving as "distant liver volume"), ablation zone volume and absolute liver volume (ALV, calculated by subtracting the ablation zone volume from the TLV) were the study outcomes. RESULTS: ALV in patients with secondary liver lesions increased to a median percentage of 106.87% (IQR = 99.66-113.03%, p = 0.016), volume of segments II/III increased to a median percentage of 105.81% (IQR = 100.06-115.65%, p = 0.003). ALV and segments II/III in patients with primary liver tumours remained stable, with a median percentage of 98.72% (IQR = 92.99-108.35%, p = 0.856) and 100.43% (IQR = 92.85-109.41%, p = 0.699), respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with secondary liver tumours, ALV and segments II/III increased after MWA/RFA by an average of approximately 6%, while ALV in patients with primary liver lesions remained unchanged. Besides the curative intent, these findings indicate the potential added benefit of thermal liver ablation on FLR hypertrophy inducing procedures in patients with secondary liver lesions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, non-controlled retrospective cohort study.

Influence of cholestasis on portal vein embolization-induced hypertrophy of the future liver remnant.

PURPOSE: In the pre-clinical setting, hepatocellular bile salt accumulation impairs liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy. Here, we study the impact of cholestasis on portal vein embolization (PVE)-induced hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR). METHODS: Patients were enrolled with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) or colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) undergoing PVE before a (extended) right hemihepatectomy. Volume of segments II/III was considered FLR and assessed on pre-embolization and post-embolization CT scans. The degree of hypertrophy (DH, percentual increase) and kinetic growth rate (KGR, percentage/week) were used to assess PVE-induced hypertrophy. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients (31 CRLM, 19 pCCA) were included. After PVE, the DH and KGR were similar in patients with CRLM and pCCA (5.2 [3.3-6.9] versus 5.7 [3.2-7.4] %, respectively, p = 0.960 for DH; 1.4 [0.9-2.5] versus 1.9 [1.0-2.4] %/week, respectively, p = 0.742 for KGR). Moreover, pCCA patients with or without hyperbilirubinemia had comparable DH (5.6 [3.0-7.5] versus 5.7 [2.4-7.0] %, respectively, p = 0.806) and KGR (1.7 [1.0-2.4] versus 1.9 [0.8-2.4] %/week, respectively, p = 1.000). For patients with pCCA, unilateral drainage in FLR induced a higher DH than bilateral drainage (6.7 [4.9-7.9] versus 2.7 [1.5-4.2] %, p = 0.012). C-reactive protein before PVE was negatively correlated with DH (ρ = - 0.539, p = 0.038) and KGR (ρ = - 0.532, p = 0.041) in patients with pCCA. CONCLUSIONS: There was no influence of cholestasis on FLR hypertrophy in patients undergoing PVE. Bilateral drainage and inflammation appeared to be negatively associated with FLR hypertrophy. Further prospective studies with larger and more homogenous patient cohorts are desirable.

Resectability of bilobar liver tumours after simultaneous portal and hepatic vein embolization versus portal vein embolization alone: meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with bi-lobar liver tumours are not eligible for liver resection due to an insufficient future liver remnant (FLR). To reduce the risk of posthepatectomy liver failure and the primary cause of death, regenerative procedures intent to increase the FLR before surgery. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the available literature and outcomes on the effectiveness of simultaneous portal and hepatic vein embolization (PVE/HVE) versus portal vein embolization (PVE) alone. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to September 2022. The primary outcome was resectability and the secondary outcome was the FLR volume increase. RESULTS: Eight studies comparing PVE/HVE with PVE and six retrospective PVE/HVE case series were included. Pooled resectability within the comparative studies was 75 per cent in the PVE group (n = 252) versus 87 per cent in the PVE/HVE group (n = 166, OR 1.92 (95% c.i., 1.13-3.25)) favouring PVE/HVE (P = 0.015). After PVE, FLR hypertrophy between 12 per cent and 48 per cent (after a median of 21-30 days) was observed, whereas growth between 36 per cent and 67 per cent was reported after PVE/HVE (after a median of 17-31 days). In the comparative studies, 90-day primary cause of death was similar between groups (2.5 per cent after PVE versus 2.2 per cent after PVE/HVE), but a higher 90-day primary cause of death was reported in single-arm PVE/HVE cohort studies (6.9 per cent, 12 of 175 patients). CONCLUSION: Based on moderate/weak evidence, PVE/HVE seems to increase resectability of bi-lobar liver tumours with a comparable safety profile. Additionally, PVE/HVE resulted in faster and more pronounced hypertrophy compared with PVE alone.