Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Immunohistochemical Assessment of Markers of Cancer Cell Metabolism.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been associated to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to investigate the immunoexpression of several glycolytic metabolism-associated markers in patients with HCC associated to NAFLD and associate these factors to their clinical-pathological characteristics. METHODS: We evaluated 35 HCC specimens from 21 patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) undergoing liver resection (12 patients), liver transplantation (8 patients), or both (1 patient). Histological features, clinical aspects, demographic and biochemical data, as well as the immunohistochemical reactivity for monocarboxylate transporters 1, 2, and 4; their chaperone CD147; carbonic anhydrase IX; and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) were assessed. RESULTS: Metabolic-associated cirrhosis was present in 12 of the 21 patients (8 child A and 4 child B scores). From 9 patients without cirrhosis, 3 presented NASH F3 and 6 NASH F2. Sixteen (76%) had diabetes mellitus, 17 (81%) arterial hypertension, and 19 (90%) body mass index above 25 kg/m2; 8 (38%) had dyslipidemia. From 35 nodules, steatosis was found in 26, ballooning in 31 nodules, 25 of them diagnosed as steatohepatitic subtype of HCC. MCT4 immunoexpression was associated with extensive intratumoral fibrosis, advanced clinical stages, and shorter overall survival. GLUT1 was noticeable in nodules with extensive intratumoral steatosis, higher intratumoral fibrosis, and advanced clinical stages. Immunohistochemical expression of the metabolic biomarkers MCT4 and GLUT1 was higher in patients with Barcelona-clinic liver cancer B or C. GLUT1 correlated with higher degree of steatosis, marked ballooning, intratumoral fibrosis, and higher parenchymal necroinflammatory activity. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the expression of the glycolytic phenotype of metabolic markers, especially GLUT1 and MCT4, correlates with a more severe course of HCC occurring in NASH patients.

Fellows perspective of HPB training in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Currently, no standards for HPB training exist in Latin America. The aim of this work is to evaluate fellows' experience of HPB training and the areas of opportunity to improve. METHODS: A 35 points survey was developed and distributed among fellows from dedicated HPB training programs in Latin America. The survey was applied by direct phone call (37%) or web based (63%), to fellows graduated between 2010 and 2014, from 7 different programs. RESULTS: Thirty-nine fellows from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and México were considered with a response rate of 82% (32/39). Most fellows (90%) shared cases with more than one co-fellow. Scrubbing with chief residents ocurred to 60% of fellows; only 14% of fellows noted having a primary surgeon role in more than 70% of cases. Median number of major hepatectomies during training was 15 (1-100), Whipple procedures 6 (1-40), and major bile duct repair 20 (1-80). Limited funding was the main reason to avoid HPB programs outside the country of origin. CONCLUSION: HPB training in Latin America requires more operative volume and autonomy. Financial burden is the main limitation to pursue training overseas. A multinational fellowship that takes advantage of each center may overcome differences in volume and type of cases.

COMPARING THE ENZYME REPLACEMENT THERAPY COST IN POST PANCREATECTOMY PATIENTS DUE TO PANCREATIC TUMOR AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

BACKGROUND: Among late postoperative complications of pancreatectomy are the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiencies. The presence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency imposes, as standard treatment, pancreatic enzyme replacement. Patients with chronic pancreatitis, with intractable pain or any complications with surgical treatment, are likely to present exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or have this condition worsened requiring adequate dose of pancreatic enzymes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the required dose of pancreatic enzyme and the enzyme replacement cost in post pancreatectomy patients with and without chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study. In the first half of 2015 patients treated at the clinic of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, who underwent pancreatectomy for at least 6 months and in use of enzyme replacement therapy were included in this series. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of chronic pancreatitis prior to pancreatic surgery. For this study, P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The annual cost of the treatment was R$ 2150.5 ± 729.39; R$ 2118.18 ± 731.02 in patients without pancreatitis and R$ 2217.74 ± 736.30 in patients with pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in the cost of treatment of enzyme replacement post pancreatectomy in patients with or without chronic pancreatitis prior to surgical indication.

Comparing the enzyme replacement therapy cost in post pancreatectomy patients due to pancreatic tumor and chronic pancreatitis

ABSTRACT Background - Among late postoperative complications of pancreatectomy are the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiencies. The presence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency imposes, as standard treatment, pancreatic enzyme replacement. Patients with chronic pancreatitis, with intractable pain or any complications with surgical treatment, are likely to present exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or have this condition worsened requiring adequate dose of pancreatic enzymes. Objective - The aim of this study is to compare the required dose of pancreatic enzyme and the enzyme replacement cost in post pancreatectomy patients with and without chronic pancreatitis. Methods - Observational cross-sectional study. In the first half of 2015 patients treated at the clinic of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, who underwent pancreatectomy for at least 6 months and in use of enzyme replacement therapy were included in this series. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of chronic pancreatitis prior to pancreatic surgery. For this study, P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results - The annual cost of the treatment was R$ 2150.5 ± 729.39; R$ 2118.18 ± 731.02 in patients without pancreatitis and R$ 2217.74 ± 736.30 in patients with pancreatitis. Conclusion - There was no statistically significant difference in the cost of treatment of enzyme replacement post pancreatectomy in patients with or without chronic pancreatitis prior to surgical indication.

RESUMO Contexto - Dentre as complicações pós-operatórias tardias da pancreatectomia estão as insuficiências pancreáticas exócrina e endócrina. O reconhecimento da presença de insuficiência pancreática exócrina impõe, como tratamento padrão, a reposição de enzimas pancreáticas. Pacientes portadores de pancreatite crônica, com dor clinicamente intratável ou com alguma complicação com indicação de tratamento cirúrgico, podem vir a apresentar insuficiência pancreática exócrina ou ter essa condição agravada requerendo adequação de dose de enzimas pancreáticas. Objetivo - O objetivo deste estudo é comparar a dose necessária de enzima pancreática e o custo do tratamento de reposição enzimática em pacientes pancreatectomizados, com e sem pancreatite crônica. Métodos - Estudo transversal observacional. No primeiro semestre de 2015 pacientes acompanhados no ambulatório de Cirurgia do Aparelho Digestivo do HC-FMUSP, submetidos a pancreatectomia há pelo menos 6 meses e em terapia de reposição enzimática foram incluídos nessa casuística. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com a presença ou ausência de pancreatite crônica prévia à cirurgia pancreática. Para este estudo, P<0,05 foi considerado como estatisticamente significante. Resultados - O custo anual do tratamento foi R$ 2150,51 ± 729,39; R$ 2118,18 ± 731,02 em pacientes sem pancreatite crônica e R$ 2217,74 ± 736,30 em pacientes com pancreatite crônica. Conclusão - Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante no custo do tratamento de reposição enzimática entre pacientes pancreatectomizados com ou sem pancreatite crônica prévia à indicação cirúrgica.

Silkclasy: a simple way for liver transection during anatomic hepatectomies.

BACKGROUND: Parenchymal transection is the most important step of liver resection, and during this phase, blood loss may lead to morbidity and mortality. Liver parenchyma can be transected by different ways such as finger fracture, clamp crushing, or instrument-based techniques. METHODS: A simple and cost-efficient method has been developed for liver transection using a technique based on silk crushing of the liver substance. RESULTS: We have successfully employed this technique in 278 consecutive liver resections from July 2001 to March 2006. The average duration of hepatic transection varied according to the type of liver resection: 22 min (range 15-42), 19 min (range 11-37), and 12 min (range 7-21) for right hepatectomy, left hepatectomy, and bisegmentectomy 2-3, respectively. The mean transection speed was 6.9 +/- 2.3 cm(2)/min. Blood transfusions were necessary in 42 patients (15.1%), and there were three operative deaths (1.1%). Morbidity rate was 20.9% (58 patients). CONCLUSIONS: This technique allows a safe and quick liver transection without the use of expensive hemostatic devices, and also precludes the use of inflow occlusion maneuvers. We recommend the use of this technique in centers with low economic resources.

An alternative linear stapling technique for performing Roux-en-Y anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: The use of stapling devices for performing gastrointestinal anastomosis has gained wide acceptance in the last decade. Linear cutting devices have been used routinely during gastrointestinal operations in our hospital since 1992. However, we still have shortage of stapling devices due to cost reduction politics. METHODS: We propose a modification of the standard technique in order to reduce the number of devices used. Our technique employs a single stapled including the section of the jejunum and the side-to-side jejunoanastomosis. RESULTS: We have used this technique for 1 year without complications related to the stapled anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: This technique may reduce the time of reconstruction of Roux-en-Y anastomosis without interfering in its final result. This modified technique may be useful in hospitals with reduced economic resources.