[Surgical Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer for Over 90-Year-Old Patients in Our Hospital].

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term outcomes of surgery for colorectal cancer(CRC)in the elderly aged over 90 years old. We retrospectively analyzed 1,043 patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅳ CRC who underwent curative surgery in our institutions between 2013 and 2022. The patients were divided into the super older(aged ≥90 years, 20 patients) and non-super older groups(aged 80-89 years, 243 patients). The short-term outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in tumor location, stage, surgical approach, duration of operation and blood loss. The incidence of severe postoperative complications did not differ between the 2 groups. In conclusion, our study suggested that surgery for colorectal cancer could be as safely performed in super elderly patients as in non-super elderly patients.

[Laparoscopic Surgery for Delayed Chylous Ascites in Unresectable Gastric Cancer Patient-A Case Report].

Chylous ascites is a rare post operative complication after gastrectomy, which commonly occurs in early postoperative period. Here, we successfully treated a patient with unresectable gastric cancer who occurred chylous ascites 9 months after first surgery and underwent laparoscopic surgery for chylous ascites. Since prolonged chylous ascites may cause malnutrition, surgical treatment should be considered for refractory chylous ascites.

[A Case of an Advanced Gastric Cancer Patient with Outlet Obstruction and Malnutrition Who Successfully Underwent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Enteral Nutrition].

We reported a case of an advanced gastric cancer patient with gastric outlet obstruction and malnutrition who successfully underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with enteral feeding. The patient is a 72-year-old man. The diagnosis was advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis. Both decompression and enteral nutrition was performed with a W-ED®. Chemotherapy was markedly effective and nutritional status improved. He underwent robot-assisted distal gastrectomy(D2)and Billroth Ⅱ reconstruction under good nutritional status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with intragastric decompression and nutritional management using a W-ED® tube. W-ED® tube is a useful tool for the proper nutritional management of patients with advanced gastric cancer who have pyloric stenosis by adequate decompression and enteral feeding.

[Safety and Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy(UDON: 5-FU, Docetaxel, and Nedaplatin)for Esophageal Cancer].

We investigated the safety and efficacy of UDON(5-FU, docetaxel and nedaplatin), a similar DCF therapy, as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer. Twelve patients who underwent radical esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer at our department from June 2021 to December 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. One patient had Grade Ⅲ or higher neutropenia(8%)and 2 patients had anorexia(15%)as adverse events, but they could be safely treated. Nutritional status and ADL were maintained in all patients, and surgery was performed after 2-3 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The median postoperative hospital stay was 14 days, and no severe postoperative complications were observed. The histological effect to chemotherapy was Grade 3 in 3 patients(23%). UDON therapy is a safe and effective treatment.

[Mediastinoscopic Radical Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer in a Patient with Chronic Pulmonary Infection].

Mediastinoscopic esophagectomy(ME)is a minimally invasive approach without thoracotomy and pulmonary atelectasis during surgery. Here, we report the case of a 67-year-old patient who was successfully treated with thoracic esophageal cancer and severe chronic pulmonary infection using ME and home enteral nutrition therapy. Esophageal cancer patients with severe lung dysfunction have a risk of postoperative pneumoniae. ME could be a promising procedure for patients with severe lung dysfunction. We highlight the usefulness of ME as a safe approach to avoid pulmonary complications.

Impact of Machine Perfusion on Sinusoid Microcirculation of Liver Graft Donated After Cardiac Death.

BACKGROUND: The present study examined the impact of oxygenated machine perfusion on preservation of liver grafts donated after cardiac death by measuring sinusoidal endothelial injury and microcirculatory disturbances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen porcine livers were retrieved 60 min after warm ischemia and allocated into three groups as follows: (1) CS group: static cold storage, (2) HMP group: oxygenated hypothermic perfusion preservation, (3) SNMP group: oxygenated subnormothermic perfusion preservation. The liver grafts donated after cardiac death were preserved for 4 h in different treatment conditions mentioned previously, then subject to ex vivo reperfusion for 2 h using diluted allogeneic blood. The hemodynamic parameters, liver function tests, tissue adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, and immunohistochemical findings were investigated. RESULTS: The number of sinusoidal epithelial cells and trabecular structures were maintained after 4 h of preservation in the CS, HMP, and SNMP group. Liver tissue ATP levels after 4 h of preservation in the HMP and SNMP groups were significantly higher compared with that in the CS group. The sinusoidal epithelial cells were significantly exfoliated to a more severe extent in the CS group than in the HMP and SNMP groups. Intrasinusoidal platelet aggregation occurred more frequently in the CS group than in the HMP and SNMP groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that oxygenated machine perfusion preservation was important to prevent the depletion of tissue ATP and maintain sinusoidal homeostasis regardless of the perfusate temperature. Our findings suggest oxygenated machine perfusion preservation as an effective alternative to static cold storage.

Hyperammonemia in ornithine transcarbamylase-deficient recipients following living donor liver transplantation from heterozygous carrier donors.

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is a urea cycle disorder of X-linked inheritance, affecting the detoxification of excess nitrogen and leading to hyperammonemia (hyper-NH3 ). Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been applied for the treatment of OTCD. This case series retrospectively reviewed two OTCD patients who experienced hyper-NH3 following LDLT. The first case was a 5-year-old girl who had onset of OTCD at 2 years of age. Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) enzyme activity was 62% for the donor and 15% for the recipient. The patient suffered from recurrence of hyper-NH3 within 2 months following LDLT. The second case was a 5-year-old girl who had onset of OTCD at 3 years of age. OTC enzyme activity was 42.6% for the donor and 9.7% for the recipient. The patient suffered hyper-NH3 for 12 days starting on the date of surgery. Both of the patients transiently required continuous veno-venous hemodialysis; however, they are currently doing well without intensive medical treatment. The use of asymptomatic OTCD heterozygous donors in LDLT has been accepted with careful examination. However, an OTCD heterozygous carrier donor should be avoided if there is another donor candidate, due to the potentially fatal condition of hyper-NH3 following LDLT.

Successful resumption of peritoneal dialysis following living donor liver transplantation in children with end-stage renal disease.

Children with ESRD in need of RRT are commonly managed by PD due to difficulty with vascular access for HD and the relatively large extracorporeal blood volume required. Major abdominal surgery may result in injury to the peritoneum and consequent adhesion, thereby resulting in a reduction in the anatomical capacity and transport capability across the peritoneal membrane. Here, we report successful resumption of PD after LDLT in two pediatric patients. The causes of ESRD were PH1 and juvenile nephronophthisis, respectively. Both patients were managed by PD prior to LDLT. PD was converted to HD starting three days before LDLT and was continued postoperatively until resumption of PD on days 13 and 28, respectively. The PD weekly Kt/V urea was maintained before and after LDLT. The patients continued to do well on PD without complications. Meticulous intra-operative techniques during LDLT allow postoperative PD resumption by preservation of peritoneal integrity with effective transport capability and without added risk of peritonitis.

Reno- and splenoportal anastomosis for a retransplant patient with situs inversus.

PV thrombosis following pediatric LT is a serious complication that may lead to graft loss. LDLT poses limitations with regard to the availability of vein grafts for complex PV reconstructions. We herein report a unique reconstruction of the PV inflow in a one-yr-old boy with situs inversus undergoing re-LDLT. The inflow was derived from the SPV and the RRV. A common channel was created utilizing a donor IMV and the recipient explant LHV as vascular conduits. With the application of innovative surgical reconstructions, pre-existing portomesenteric thrombosis may be amenable to re-LDLT in the pediatric population.

Living donor domino liver transplantation using a maple syrup urine disease donor: A case series of three children - The first report from Japan.

As the priority of LD-Domino LT is the safety of the first recipient, limitations and technical difficulties in the second recipient often occur. The most technically challenging part of LD-Domino LT is the reconstruction of the vessels. For the reconstruction of HVs, the native HVs were exteriorized as far as possible using a CUSA because longer extensive HVs are essential for facilitating the reconstruction. At the back table, the HVs of the domino graft were sutured together, and the single cuff of the HVs was anastomosed to the IVC by joining the orifices. The HAs, the presence of insufficient length, and multiple vessels in the whole liver rendered the reconstruction more difficult. We determined the dividing sites of the vessels according to the preoperative 3D-CT findings obtained in two institutions. This is the first case series using grafts in DLT obtained from LDLT for patients with MSUD between two institutions. In conclusion, LD-Domino LT is a safe and feasible therapeutic option to expand the donor pool by technical refinement in the reconstruction of the second recipient. Further studies with a greater accumulation of patients and a longer follow-up will be necessary to establish LD-Domino LT using an MSUD donor.

Chemotherapy-induced B-cell depletion in hepatoblastoma patients undergoing ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation.

LT from ABO-I donors requires preconditioning regimens to prevent postoperative catastrophic AMR. NAC for HBL is known to cause myelosuppression leading to a reduction in the number and function of lymphocytes. We investigated this chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in HBL patients listed for LT from ABO-I donors with reference to the kinetics of B, T cells, and anti-ABO blood type isoagglutinin titers. Between 2005 and 2015, of the 319 patients who underwent LDLT at our institute, 12 were indicated for unresectable HBL. Three patients with unresectable HBL who underwent LDLT from ABO-I donors are included in this study. Immunosuppression consisted of a standard regime of tacrolimus and low-dose steroids as in ABO compatible/identical LDLT. No additional preoperative therapies for B-cell depletion were used. Absolute lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte subsets (including CD20+ B cells, CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells), and anti-ABO blood type isoagglutinin titers were measured before LDLT and postoperatively. The median age at diagnosis was 19 months (range, 3-31 months). The median follow-up was seven months (range, 6-15 months). The median interval from the last NAC to LDLT was 33 days (range, 25-52 days). The median interval from LDLT to adjuvant chemotherapy was 28 days (range, 22-36 days). The counts of CD20+ B cells before LDLT were depleted to median 5 cells/mm(3) (range, 0-6 cells/mm(3)). There was a transient rebound in the CD20+ B cell counts on day seven (maximum of 82 cells/mm(3)) followed by a decline starting at 14 days after LDLT that was sustained for the duration of adjuvant chemotherapy. Anti-ABO blood type isoagglutinin titers were lowered to between 1:1 and 1:16 before LDLT and remained low for the duration of follow-up in this study. All of the three patients remained in good health without either acute cellular or AMR after LDLT. The B-cell depletion that occurs after cisplatin-based chemotherapy for HBL may help accomplish safe ABO-I LDLT in children without the use of additional conditioning regimens for prevention of AMR.

Evaluation of the immune function assay in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

The immune function (ImmuKnow) assay is a measure of cell-mediated immunity based on the peripheral CD4+ T cell ATP activity. The efficacy of ImmuKnow in pediatric LDLT is not well documented. The aim of this study was to assess the correlations between the ImmuKnow and the clinical status in pediatric LDLT recipients. A total of 716 blood samples were obtained from 60 pediatric LDLT recipients (one month to 16 yr of age). The recipient's status was classified as follows: stable, infection, or rejection. The ImmuKnow values in the pediatric LDLT recipients with a clinically stable status had a lower immune response (IQR 85-297 ATP ng/mL) than that previously reported in adults. Meanwhile, the ImmuKnow values of the stable patients were not correlated with age. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the ImmuKnow values between the bacterial or fungal infection and stable groups, but not between the CMV or EBV infection and stable groups. The ImmuKnow levels in the pediatric LDLT were lower than those observed in the adult LDLT. The proposed reference value is between 85 and 297 ATP ng/mL in pediatric LDLT recipients. We conclude that the ImmuKnow assay could be helpful for monitoring pediatric LDLT recipients with bacterial or fungal infections.

A central approach to splenorenal shunt in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

The management of LSRS is a crucial problem to ensure a sufficient PV flow during pediatric LT. Although several techniques have been indicated to solve this problem, a more appropriate approach to LSRS is still needed in pediatric LT. We herein present a modified surgical approach to the ligation of LSRS via the left side of the IVC for a nine-month-old boy with severe portal hypertension and a history of Kasai portoenterostomy. LSRS was identified and exposed through the left side of the IVC and the dorsal surface of the pancreas from the superior side of the body of the pancreas. The post-operative course was uneventful with an excellent PV flow. The central approach for the ligation of LSRS is worth considering as an alternative procedure for a patient with collateral vessels and a history of multiple laparotomies.

Two-step transplantation for primary hyperoxaluria: a winning strategy to prevent progression of systemic oxalosis in early onset renal insufficiency cases.

Several transplant strategies for PH1 have been proposed, and LT is performed to correct the metabolic defects. The patients with PH1 often suffer from ESRD and require simultaneous LKT, which leads to a long wait due to the shortage of suitable organ donors. Five patients with PH1 underwent LDLT at our institute. Three of the five patients were under dialysis before LDLT, while the other two patients were categorized as CKD stage 3. An isolated LDLT was successfully performed in all but our first case, who had complicated postoperative courses and consequently died due to sepsis after retransplantation. The renal function of the patients with CKD stage 3 was preserved after LDLT. On the other hand, our second case with ESRD underwent successful LDKT six months after LDLT, and our infant case is waiting for the subsequent KT without any post-LDLT complications after the early establishment of PD. In conclusion, a two-step transplant strategy may be needed as a life-saving option for patients with PH1 and may be possible even in small infants with systemic oxalosis. While waiting for a subsequent KT, an early resumption of PD should be considered from the perspective of the long-term requirement of RRT.

Successful living domino liver transplantation in a child with protein C deficiency.

PC is produced in the liver and inhibits blood coagulation by catalyzing active factors V and VIII. PC deficiency causes abnormal blood clotting that is difficult to regulate by anticoagulative treatments. Four reports of PC deficiency treated with LTx have been published; however, no report of DLT as a therapy for PC deficiency is available. We describe a case of a 23-month-old girl who received DLT for compound heterozygous PC deficiency. Her PC activity was below 5%. She developed intracranial lesion and frequent refractory purpura fulminans. Both her parents had heterozygous mutations of PC genes and were excluded as living donors. Furthermore, she was a low priority on the waiting list of deceased-donor transplantation. We performed living DLT using the liver from a patient with MSUD. Activated PC concentrate safely supported the perioperative period. After DLT, she maintained normal PC activities and BCAA levels. This is the first case of PC deficiency successfully treated by living DLT with MSUD. We propose that DLT using liver from patients with MSUD is a treatment option for PC deficiency.

Basiliximab treatment for steroid-resistant rejection in pediatric patients following liver transplantation for acute liver failure.

An IL-2 receptor antagonist, basiliximab, decreases the frequency of ACR in liver transplant (LT) recipients as induction therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of basiliximab against SRR as rescue therapy in pediatric LT patients with ALF. Forty pediatric ALF patients underwent LT between November 2005 and July 2013. Among them, seven patients suffering from SRR were enrolled in this study. The median age at LT was 10 months (6-12 months). SRR was defined as the occurrence of refractory rejection after more than two courses of steroid pulse therapy. Basiliximab was administered to all patients. The withdrawal of steroids without deterioration of the liver function was achieved in six patients treated with basiliximab therapy without patient mortality, although one patient developed graft loss and required retransplantation for veno-occlusive disease. The pathological examinations of liver biopsies in the patients suffering from SRR revealed severe centrilobular injuries, particularly fibrosis within one month after LT. We demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of rescue therapy consisting of basiliximab for SRR in pediatric LT recipients with ALF.

Technical refinement in living-donor liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis - a pullout technique.

We present a case of a two-yr-old boy diagnosed with HBT with complete main PVTT. HBT was located in the bilateral lobe with PVTT involving the confluence of the SMV and the SpV. Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy was delivered; main tumor shrank and AFP levels decreased to below one hundredth. However, PVTT remained in the bilateral portal branches to the main trunk of PV. We describe the technical details of the portal venous tumor thrombectomy that was succeeded by a LDLT. The patient remained healthy 2.5 yr after LDLT, showing good patency of the PV with no evidence of recurrence of tumor.

Hepatic artery reconstruction preserving the pancreaticoduodenal arcade in pediatric liver transplantation with celiac axis compression syndrome: report of a case.

CACS is rare, although it has been reported to be a potential risk factor for hepatic artery thrombosis following LT. We herein present the case of a 14-yr-old male with stenosis of the origin of the celiac trunk. Preoperative CT and color ultrasonography showed narrowing of the proximal celiac artery. The patient underwent DDLT with standard arterial reconstruction without dividing the gastroduodenal artery. His postoperative course was uneventful, with an excellent hepatic artery flow on Doppler ultrasonography. Applying a meticulous preoperative evaluation and the appropriate surgical technique is crucial in patients with CACS.

Central pontine myelinolysis following pediatric living donor liver transplantation: a case report and review of literature.

CPM is one of the most serious neurological complications that can occur after OLT and is characterized by symmetrical demyelinization in the basis pontis. The etiology of CPM remains unclear, although the rapid correction of the serum sodium and CNI concentrations may be associated with the development of CPM. With recent advances in MRI technology, early diagnosis of CPM has become possible. Here, we present the case of a five-yr-old female who developed CNI-associated CPM after undergoing LDLT. A decreased level of consciousness and dysphasia was noted one wk after LDLT, and MRI revealed findings compatible with a diagnosis of CPM. The patient fully recovered from the neurological deficits related to CPM following the switch from the CNI to sirolimus. We propose MRI to be promptly considered for patients with abnormal neurological findings, together with the substitution of CNI with an mTOR inhibitor as a management regimen for CNI-related CPM.

Reducing the thickness of left lateral segment grafts in neonatal living donor liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation is now an established treatment for children with end-stage liver disease. Left lateral segment (LLS) grafts are most commonly used in split and living donor liver transplantation in children. In very small children, LLS grafts can be too large, and further nonanatomical reduction has recently been introduced to mitigate the problem of large-for-size grafts. However, the implantation of LLS grafts can be a problem in infants and very small children because of the thickness of the grafts, and these techniques do not address problems related to thickness. We herein describe a technique for reducing the thickness of living donor left lateral grafts and successful transplantation in a 2.8-kg infant with acute liver failure.