Venous resection for adenocarcinoma of head of pancreas: Does extent of portal vein resection affect outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Venous resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) increases resectability rates in patients with adenocarcinoma of head of pancreas. The effect of extent of portal vein resection on perioperative morbidity and mortality is less clear. This retrospective cohort study compares results of PD with and without venous resection and explores the influence of extent of vein resection on perioperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Total 96 patients underwent standard PD (PD) and 20 patients had en bloc venous resections (VR). VR group was divided into segmental (VR-S) (6/20 patients) and tangential (VR-T) (14/20 patients) groups based on segmental or tangential type of venous resections. The groups were compared for morbidity, mortality and survival. RESULTS: PD and VR groups had comparable perioperative morbidity (p = 0.140) and mortality (p = 0.358) with a significantly higher operative time in VR (p < 0.001). Perioperative morbidity and mortality were similar in VR-S and VR-T groups (p = 0.690 and p = 0.157 respectively). Operative time and estimated blood loss were significantly higher in VR-S group over VR-T (p = 0.019 and p = 0.002 respectively). Median survival was similar for PD and VR (15 and 15.5 moths respectively; p = 0.278) and VR-S and VR-T groups (17 and 12.5 months respectively; p = 0.550). Expected blood loss and operative time were found to be independent predictors of morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Venous resection with PD is associated with morbidity, mortality and overall survival comparable to that after standard resection. The extent of venous resection does not seem to affect perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Proximal spleno-renal shunt with retro-aortic left renal vein in a patient with extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction: first case report.

BACKGROUND: Presence of retro-aortic left renal vein poses special challenge in creating spleno-renal shunt potentially increasing the chance of shunt failure. The technical feasibility and successful outcome of splenectomy with proximal spleno-renal shunt (PSRS) with retro-aortic left renal vein is presented for the first time. The patient was treated for portal hypertension and hypersplenism due to idiopathic extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction. CASE PRESENTATION: A twenty year old male suffering from idiopathic extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction presented with bleeding esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, asymptomatic portal biliopathy and symptomatic hypersplenism. As variceal bleeding did not respond to endoscopic and medical treatment, surgical portal decompression was planned. On preoperative contrast enhanced computed tomography retro-aortic left renal vein was detected. Splenectomy with proximal splenorenal shunt with retro-aortic left renal vein was successfully performed by using specific technical steps including adequate mobilisation of retro-aortic left renal vein and per-operative pressure studies. Perioperative course was uneventful and patient is doing well after 3 years of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: PSRS is feasible, safe and effective procedure when done with retro-aortic left renal vein for the treatment of portal hypertension related to extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction provided that attention is given to key technical considerations including pressure studies necessary to ensure effective shunt. Present case provides the first evidence that retro-aortic left renal vein can withstand the extra volume of blood flow through the proximal shunt with effective portal decompression so as to treat all the components of extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction without causing renal venous hypertension.

Effect of patient and diagnostic intervals on the risk of advanced stage in Indian patients with seven types of gastrointestinal cancers: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Advanced stage is linked to prolonged patient and diagnostic interval for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. However, objective evidence of this fact is not so forthcoming. Our aim was to study the effect of these intervals on the risk of advanced stage for GI cancers. METHODS: We performed this retrospective cohort study to analyse the effect of patient and diagnostic intervals on final stage in seven types of GI cancers, during 2013 and 2022. Two groups of stage: early (TNM- 0, I, II) and advanced (TNM- III, IV), were formed. Outcome studied was interdependence between patient and diagnostic intervals and incidence of advanced stage. Binary logistic regression was applied to calculate odds ratio of having an advanced versus early stage as a function of duration of these delays, in the whole cohort. We used restricted cubic splines with five knots to study flexible and non-monotonic pattern of association between these delays and stage. RESULTS: In whole cohort of 1859 patients, median patient and diagnostic intervals of early and advanced cancers were 21 and 26 days and 120 and 45 days, respectively. There was a positive association between patient interval and advanced stage (odds ratio [OR], 1.04, confidence interval [CI], 1.035 to 1.045; P < 0.001) and negative association between diagnostic interval and advanced stage (odds ratio, 0.98, CI, 0.976 to 0.998; P-0.017), among all gastrointestinal cancers combined. Increased risk of advanced stage started from day one of patient interval and for diagnostic interval there was an initial decrease followed by subsequent increase in the risk of advanced stage beyond 26 days of diagnostic interval. CONCLUSIONS: Longer patient and diagnostic intervals increase the risk of advanced stage in gastrointestinal cancers.

A case of multiple recurrent intussusceptions due to multiple lymphomatous polyposis associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of gastrointestinal tract in a 15-year-old child: A rare case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) is a distinctive and rare entity of primary gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma characterized by polypoid lymphomatous tissue in long segments of the gut and a strong tendency for spread throughout the GI tract. Although many cases of MLP presenting as intussusceptions in adults have been reported, we report a rare case of multiple recurrent intussusceptions due to MLP associated with high-grade Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the entire GI tract in a 15-year-old child. CASE PRESENTATION: A 15-year-old child previously operated for acute intestinal obstruction, presented with intermittent abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple small bowel intussusceptions. Patient was treated by exploratory laparotomy and multiple resection anastomosis. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of MLP due to DLBCL. The patient received chemotherapy following surgery. So far, at 6 months of follow-up, Patient is doing well. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Malignant tumors of the small intestine are unusual, with non-specific clinical presentation. Although ultrasound (US), CT, FDG-PET/CT and endoscopic evaluation are essential modalities for the diagnosis of intestinal polyposis. Final diagnosis of MLP can only be confirmed after histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry studies. Surgical resection followed by appropriate chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. CONCLUSIONS: MLP due to DLBCL has rarely been described in young patients under the age of 18 years. We should keep a high index of suspicion for malignant GI lymphoma in cases of intussusception, especially in older children.

Carcinoma of the pancreas with portal vein involvement--our experience with a modified technique of resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Up to 40% of the patients with pancreatic carcinoma are not fit for curative resection due to the locally advanced nature of the disease in the form of vascular involvement. In recent years a more aggressive approach of vascular resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has resulted in the increase in resectability rate and survival in this group of patients. The most important determinant of survival in these patients is negative resection margins. The aim of the present study is to present our experience of vascular resection using a modified technique, in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective study of 48 patients who underwent portal vein/superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) resection along with PD using the modified technique of resection, during 1982-2004. The principle modification is the initial extensive retroperitoneal dissection for the assessment of the extent of tumor involvement of the superior mesenteric vessels and division of retroperitoneal margin before the division of the pancreas. All patients also underwent extended lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: The subtotal PD was done in 26 and total PD in 22 patients, with resection of the PV/SMV in all of them. The end-to-end anastomosis was possible after adequate mobilization of the PV and SMV in 40 patients. In 4 patients reconstruction was able to be done with the use of a graft. The portal vein occlusion time was 8-15 minutes. Histopathological examination showed negative margins in all the resected specimens. Postoperative complications occurred in 16.66% with reoperation rate of 8.33%, and mortality of 6.25%. After a mean follow-up of 110 months, mean survival was 40 months with the range of 18-250 months. The five-year and 10-year survival was 18% and 10% respectively. The venous patency rate was 100% at three years. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, PD with en bloc resection of the PV/SMV confluence can safely be done with morbidity and mortality similar to that of standard PD. The survival advantage is directly related to the attainment of negative resection margins. The modified technique is a useful way of doing vascular resection with the least amount of bowel congestion and securing negative resection margins.

Recent advances in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

Liver metastases are the major cause of death coloroctal resection for cancer. Colorectal liver metastases are unique because of the potential for cure. Presently surgical resection is the gold standard of treatment. Complete R0 resection gives 5-year survival of up to 24-44%. Over the years there have been extensive efforts in devising new modalities of treatment for this disease. These include methods to increase the resectability such as portal after vein emolization & two-stage surgery, py with newer drugs and methods such chronotherapy & hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy, newer methods of radiotherapy, local ablative therapies such as cryoablation, radiofequency ablation, microwave ablation & laser interstitial thermal therapy, and biological therapy. Biological therapy is largely investigational, but holds great promise for the future.

Reappraisal of a method of reconstruction after pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: After pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), pancreatic leak and the functional pancreatic and gastrointestinal disorders are the most important complications. Still there is no single method which takes care of all of them. After identifying the various reasons behind these complications, the senior author started performing the present method in the 1980s. Since then we have been able to bring these complications to a very low incidence. The present study is designed to substantiate the claims of various advantages of this method of PD and reconstruction and to explain the rationale behind this method. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective study of 225 consecutive PD procedures done for periampullary cancers, during the period of 1993-2004. The shortterm and long-term results assessed were mortality rate, morbidity rate, early reoperation, survival, steatorrhea, pancreatic enzyme supplementation requirement, occurrence of bile gastritis, dumping, new onset of diabetes, marginal ulcers, cholangitis, postoperative weight trends and frequency of hospital readmission for symptom management. Follow-up was done 6 monthly in all the patients with the aim of diagnosis of recurrence and assessment of long-term gastrointestinal and pancreatic function and nutritional status. In addition, in 15 patients, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) with gastric and jejunal biopsy, 99Tc-HIDA scan, determination of fecal fat loss after a standard 100-g fat diet for three days, fecal elastase-1 measurement (ELISA) and MRCP were done to objectively document the changes in gastrointestinal and pancreatic function. The data were compared with the results available in the literature. RESULTS: The mean age was 56 years with a range of 27-85 years. There were 130 males and 95 females. Preoperatively 18 patients had diabetes and preoperative weight loss varied from 5-30 kilograms with a mean of 12 kilograms. Of all the PD cases 57 were for ampullary, 70 were for lower end cholangiocarcinoma and 98 were for pancreatic head cancer. The postoperative complications occurred in the form of intra-abdominal bleed (5), pancreaticojejunostomy leak (12), intra-abdominal abscess (4) and pneumonia (5). Delayed gastric emptying was not seen in any of the patients. In 8/12 patients with PJ leak the closure was achieved with the conservative treatment. The 30-day mortality was 6/225 (2.66%). The causes were sepsis in 3, intra-abdominal bleed in 2 and pulmonary embolism in 1 patient. There was no mortality related to PJ leak. The median follow-up was of 36 months. The overall 5-year survival for ampullary, lower end cholangio- and pancreatic head carcinoma were 65%, 25% and 20% respectively. After surgery none of the patients had clinical evidence of steatorrhea, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, cholangitis, dumping and there was no new case of diabetes. After 6-12 months 80% of the patients gained weight similar to their preoperative levels. UGIE with gastric and jejunal biopsies, 99Tc-HIDA scan, fecal fat loss estimation, fecal elastase estimation and MRCP were done in 15 patients and were found to be normal. CONCLUSIONS: Our method of PD and reconstruction produces encouraging results with respect to PJ leak, mortality, DGE, malabsorption, bile gastritis, dumping, marginal ulcers and diabetes. We recommend this technique as a safe and effective method even to the low volume centers.

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas--past, present and future.

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas has always been a disease with a dismal prognosis. Almost every patient with this cancer dies of the tumor. Over the years there has been extensive advancement in the understanding of etiology, molecular biology, diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Presently, surgical resection is the only potentially curative option available for these patients. It is now clear that surgery alone cannot increase the survival of these patients. With the understanding of molecular biology of pancreatic cancer new management strategies are under a preclinical stage of development. These new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities hopefully will improve the outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Treatment of appendiceal mass: prospective, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Appendiceal mass may be treated in several ways. However, no randomized trial has been conducted to find the best option. OBJECTIVE: To compare the three most commonly used methods for treating appendiceal mass. METHODS: Over a three-year period, 60 consecutive patients with appendiceal mass were randomly allocated to three groups: Group A--initial conservative treatment followed by interval appendectomy six weeks later; Group B--appendectomy as soon as appendiceal mass resolved using conservative means; Group C--conservative treatment alone. Short-term outcome measures included operative time, operative difficulty, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and duration of time away from work. Long-term outcome measures were: number of hospital visits made, presence of severe incisional pain, scar appearance, and patients with recurrent appendicitis. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable in the three groups. In patients in Group A, operative time was less, adhesions were encountered less frequently, the incision had to be extended less often and post-operative complications were fewer, as compared to Group B. Patients in Group C had the shortest hospital stay and duration of work-days lost; only 2 of 20 patients in this group developed recurrent appendicitis during a follow-up period of 24-52 (median 33.5) months. CONCLUSION: Of the three treatment modalities compared, conservative treatment without subsequent appendectomy appears to be the best.

Peritonitis and fulminant sepsis due to spontaneous rupture of iliopsoas abscess.

We report a 25-year-old woman who presented with features of peritonitis. At laparotomy, the cause of the pyoperitoneum was found to be a left-sided ilio-psoas abscess. This was drained, but the patient continued to deteriorate with sepsis, and died on the fourth post-operative day.

Debakey forceps crushing technique for hepatic parenchymal transection in liver surgery: a review of 100 cases and ergonomic advantages.

Introduction and Objective. Bleeding is an important complication in liver transections. To determine the safety and efficacy of Debakey forceps for liver parenchymal transection and its ergonomic advantages over clamp crushing method we analysed our data. Methods. We used Debakey crushing technique in 100 liver resections and analysed data for transection time, transfusion rate, morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, influence of different types of liver conditions, and ergonomi features of Debakey forceps. Results. Mean age, transection time and hospital stay of 100 patients were 52.38 ± 17.44 years, 63.36 ± 33.4 minutes, and 10.27 ± 5.7 days. Transection time, and hospital stay in patients with cirrhotic liver (130.4 ± 44.4 mins, 14.6 ± 5.5 days) and cholestatic liver (75.8 ± 19.7 mins, 16.5 ± 5.1 days) were significantly greater than in patients with normal liver (48.1 ± 20.1 mins, 6.7 ± 1.8 days) (P < 0.01). Transection time improved significantly with experience (first fifty versus second fifty cases-70.2 ± 31.1 mins versus 56.5 ± 34.5 mins, P < 0.04). Qualitative evaluation revealed that Debakey forceps had ergonomic advantages over Kelly clamp. Conclusions. Debakey forceps crushing technique is safe and effective for liver parenchymal transection in all kinds of liver. Transection time improves with surgeon's experience. It has ergonomic advantages over Kelly clamp and is a better choice for liver transection.

Hepatic hydatid: PAIR, drain or resect?

STUDY BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease of the liver is endemic in India and is a common health problem. Although various treatment options have been described ranging from pharmacotherapy to radiological interventions and surgical procedures (both conservative and radical), the best treatment option in an individual case continues to be debated. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of patients with hydatid disease of the liver who were managed at our centre between January 2000 and December 2009. All cysts were classified as per the Gharbi's classification. The various treatment options used to treat hydatid cysts of the liver included percutaneous aspiration, injection and reaspiration (PAIR) or PAIR with drainage (PAIR-D) and surgery (both conservative and radical). The immediate and long-term outcomes following such management were analysed. RESULTS: During the study period, 128 patients with hydatid cyst of the liver were managed with PAIR/PAIR-D (n = 52), radical/excisional surgery (n = 61) and conservative surgery (n = 33). In ten patients, the PAIR procedure was abandoned due to either bile or pultaceous material aspirated after the initial puncture and these patients subsequently underwent surgical management. The PAIR was unsuccessful in eight of the 42 patients in whom it was attempted and these subsequently underwent surgery. The mean intraoperative blood loss and the duration of surgery were comparable in patients who underwent either conservative or radical surgery (p = 0.35 and 0.19, respectively). Postoperative bile leaks and cavity abscesses were significantly higher in patients who underwent conservative surgery (p = 0.032 and p = 0.001, respectively). Five patients (one following a radical operation and four following a conservative surgery, p = 0.05) developed recurrence in a mean follow-up period of 28 months and these were managed medically. CONCLUSION: Several treatment options are available for the management of hydatid disease of the liver and the treatment modality chosen should be tailored to the individual patient. While percutaneous drainage (with PAIR/PAIR-D) is reserved for more favourable cases of type I and II cysts, the others are best managed surgically. Complete excision (cystopericstectomy or resection) of the hydatid cyst is the preferred approach and 61 of the 94 patients who were managed surgically were suitable for it. Although excisional surgery minimizes the risk of long-term recurrence and cavity-related complications, it may be hazardous in cysts located close to major biliovascular channels. In these cases (considering that it is benign disease), a drainage operation is preferable. Both conservative and radical surgery can be safely performed laparoscopically.