Surgical strategies for chronic pancreatitis in a 1,327- patient Scandinavian Baltic pancreatic Club (SBPC) register.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) may cause intermittent or continuous pain and complications requiring invasive interventions. No specific recommendations for surgical interventions have been presented. Our aim was to determine the surgical treatment strategies for the treatment of CP in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. METHODS: This multi-centre cross sectional study included 1327 CP patients from eight centres. The data was gathered from the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club (SBPC) database. Patients who underwent pancreatic surgery were analysed. The baseline CP population from the eight centres was used as a reference. The information registered included comorbidities, pancreatic function, previous interventions, time and type of surgery and the EORTC-30 quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 95/1327 (7%) patients underwent pancreatic surgery. Fifty-one (54%) of these underwent pancreatic surgery for chronic pain (PSCP) and formed the final study group. Median follow-up time was two (range 0-8) years after surgery and seven (1-46) years after diagnosis. The most common surgical procedures were pancreatic resection combined with drainage (54%) followed by pancreatic resections (32%) and drainage procedures (14%). Postoperatively, 47% of the patients were pain free with or without pain medication while 16% had chronic pain episodes, this did not differ from the base CP population. In QOL questionnaires, PSCP patients reported the same QOL but worse social functioning and more symptoms compared to the CP population. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic surgery for CP is rare: surgical procedures were performed on only 7% of the CP patients in the SBPC database. In half of the patients the indication was pain. Most of these patients underwent endoscopic procedures before surgery. Half of the patients reported being pain-free after surgery.

Exocrine pancreas insufficiency in chronic pancreatitis - Risk factors and associations with complications. A multicentre study of 1869 patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is scarce information about risk factors for exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI) in chronic pancreatitis (CP), and how it associates with other complications. The aim of the present study was to examine risk factors for EPI and associations to procedures and other CP related complications in a large, Northern European cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrieved cross-sectional data on demographics, status on EPI, aetiological risk factors for CP, CP related complications as well as surgical and endoscopic treatment from the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club Database. Associations were assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: We included 1869 patients with probable or definitive CP in the study. Exocrine pancreas insufficiency was present in 849 (45.4%) of patients. In multivariate analyses, EPI associated with smoking aetiology (OR 1.47 (1.20-1.79), p < 0.001), and nutritional/metabolic aetiology (OR 0.52 (0.31-0.87), p = 0.01) to CP. Pancreatic or common bile duct stenting procedure and pancreatic resection were both associated with EPI (ORs 1.44 (1.15-1.80), p = 0.002 and 1.54 (1.02-2.33), p = 0.04, respectively). The presence of diabetes mellitus (OR 2.45 (1.92-3.15), p < 0.001), bile duct stenosis (OR 1.48 (1.09-2.00), p = 0.02) and underweight (2.05 (OR 1.40-3.02), p < 0.001) were all associated with presence of EPI. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, bile duct stenosis, previous stenting and resection procedures are all associated with EPI in patients with CP. Presence of EPI were also associated with malnutrition and diabetes mellitus. Hence, intensive nutritional surveillance is needed in these patients.

Implementation and training with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: 23-year experience from a high-volume center.

BACKGROUND: Distal pancreatectomy is the most common procedure in minimally-invasive pancreatic surgery. Data in the literature suggest that the learning curve flattens after performing up to 30 procedures. However, the exact number remains unclear. METHODS: The implementation and training with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) in a high-volume center were studied between 1997 and 2020. Perioperative outcomes and factors related to conversion were assessed. The individual experiences of four different surgeons (pioneer and adopters) performing LDP on a regular basis were examined. RESULTS: Six hundred forty LDPs were done accounting for 95% of all distal pancreatectomies performed throughout the study period. Conversion was needed in 14 (2.2%) patients due to intraoperative bleeding or tumor adherence to the major vasculature. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 35 and 0.6%, respectively. Intra- and postoperative outcomes did not change for any of the surgeons within their first 40 cases. Operative time significantly decreased after the first 80 cases for the pioneer surgeon and did not change afterwards although the proportion of ductal adenocarcinoma increased. Tumor size increased after the first 80 cases for the first adopter without affecting the operative time. CONCLUSIONS: In this nearly unselected cohort, no significant changes in surgical outcomes were observed throughout the first 40 LDPs for different surgeons. The exact number of procedures required to overcome the learning curve is difficult to determine as it seems to depend on patient selection policy and specifics of surgical training at the corresponding center.

Tailored surgery in chronic pancreatitis after implementation of a multidisciplinary team assessment; a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Optimal management of chronic pancreatitis involves several specialties. Selection of patients for surgery may benefit from evaluation by a multidisciplinary team (MDT), similar to cancer care. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes in patients selected for surgery after MDT decision. METHODS: A prospective, observational study of consecutive patients operated for pain due to chronic pancreatitis after implementation of a MDT. The main outcome was Quality of life (QoL) assessed by EORTC-QLQ C30 and pain relief in patients followed >3 months. Complications were registered and predictive factors for pain relief analyzed. RESULTS: Of 269 patients evaluated by the MDT, 60 (22%) underwent surgery. Postoperative surgical complications occurred in five patients (8.3%) and reoperation within 30 days in two. There was no 90-days mortality. Complete or partial pain relief was achieved in 44 of 50 patients followed >3 months (88%). Preoperative duration of pain predicted lower probability of success. Postoperative improvement in QoL was most prominent for pain, appetite and nausea. CONCLUSIONS: After MDT evaluation, one in five patients was selected for surgery. Pain relief was obtained in a majority of patients with improved QoL. A tailored approach through a MDT seems warranted and efficient.

Aetiological risk factors are associated with distinct imaging findings in patients with chronic pancreatitis: A study of 959 cases from the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club (SBPC) imaging database.

OBJECTIVES: The relation between aetiology and structural changes of the pancreas in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) is not fully understood. Earlier studies are limited by focusing on selected factors in studies of limited sample size. We aimed to use a large dataset to explore associations between aetiology and pancreatic morphology in CP. METHODS: Subjects with definite or probable CP according to the M-ANNHEIM diagnostic criteria were included in this multicentre cross-sectional observational study and assessed using a standardized and validated CP imaging system. We performed multivariate logistic regression to analyse if aetiological factors adjusted for covariates were independently associated with morphological pancreatic features. RESULTS: We included 959 patients (66% males). Mean (SD) age was 55 (14) years. Pancreatic structural changes were found in 94% of the subjects: 67% had calcifications, 59% main pancreatic duct dilatation, 33% pseudo-cysts and 22% pancreatic atrophy. Alcohol abuse was independently associated with pancreatic calcifications (odds ratio (OR, [95% CI]); 1.61, [1.09, 2.37]) and focal acute pancreatitis (OR; 2.13, [1.27, 3.56]), whereas smoking was independently associated with more severe calcifications (OR; 2.09, [1.34, 3.27]) and involvement of the whole gland (OR; 2.29, [1.61, 3.28]). Disease duration was positively associated with calcifications (OR; (per year) 1.05 [1.02, 1.08]) and pancreatic atrophy (OR; 1.05 [1.02, 1.08]) and negatively associated with focal acute pancreatitis (OR 0.91, [0.87, 0.95] and pseudo cysts (OR; 0.96, [0.93, 0.98]). CONCLUSION: In this large-scale study, etiological risk factors and disease duration in CP were independently associated with specific structural pancreatic imaging changes.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in patients with poor physical status.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is advantageous over open surgery in the treatment of benign pancreatic lesions and low-grade malignancies. Yet the evidence on the relationship between comorbidities and the outcomes of LDP remains scarce. METHODS: Patients who had undergone LDP for all indications between April 1997 and December 2019 were included. Preoperative physical status was defined according to the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) criteria. Perioperative outcomes were compared between the patients with high (ASA III-IV) and low/moderate anesthetic risk (ASA I-II). RESULTS: A total of 605 patients were eligible for analysis including 190 with ASA III-IV and 415 with ASA I-II. The former was associated with older age, male gender, preexisting medical conditions, greater total number of comorbidities and red blood cell transfusion. The rate of medical complications was significantly higher in high-risk patients. Multivariable analysis identified ASA III-IV and operative time as independent predictors for medical complications. Overall/severe morbidity, surgical complications and mortality rates were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Poor physical status defined as ASA grades III-IV predicts medical complications, but has a limited impact on surgical complications and severe morbidity of LDP. Thus, it should not be considered as a contraindication for LDP.

Pain and aetiological risk factors determine quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis, but a brick in the puzzle is missing.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a debilitating fibro-inflammatory disease with a profound impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). We investigated determinants of QOL in a large cohort of CP patients. METHODS: This was a multicentre study including 517 patients with CP. All patients fulfilled the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Questionnaire responses were compared to results obtained from a general reference population (n = 11,343). Demographic characteristics, risk factors (smoking and alcohol consumption), pain symptoms, disease phenotype (complications) and treatments were recorded. A multivariable regression model was used to identify factors independently associated with QOL scores. RESULTS: Included patients had a mean age of 56.3 ± 12.8 years, 355 (69%) were men and 309 (60%) had alcohol aetiology. Compared to the reference population, patients with CP had lower global health status (50.5 vs. 66.1; p < 0.001) as well as reduced scores for all functional scales (all p < 0.001). Additionally, CP patients reported a higher burden for all symptom items, with pain being the most prominent complaint (all p < 0.001). Constant pain (coefficient -11.3; p = 0.02), opioid based pain treatment (coefficient -19.7; p < 0.001) and alcoholic aetiology (coefficient -5.1; p = 0.03) were independently associated with lowered global health status. The final multivariable model explained 18% of the variance in global health status. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CP have significantly lower QOL compared to a population-based reference population. Factors independently associated with a lowered QOL are constant pain, opioid based pain treatment and alcohol aetiology. However, these factors only explain a fraction of QOL and additional factors need identification.

Patient reported exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse are associated with pain and other complications in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Smoking and alcohol abuse are established risk factors for chronic pancreatitis (CP). Few studies have examined how exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse act as risk factors for complications in CP. Our aim was to examine associations between patient reported exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse and complications in CP in a large cohort of patients from the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. METHODS: We retrieved data on demographics, CP related complications and patients' histories of exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse from the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club database. Associations were investigated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A complete history of smoking and alcohol exposure was available for 932 patients. In multivariate regression analyses, the presence of pain and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency were both significantly associated with history of smoking (OR 1.94 (1.40-2.68), p < 0.001 and OR 1.89 (1.36-2.62), p < 0.001, respectively) and alcohol abuse (OR 1.66 (1.21-2.26), p = 0.001 and 1.55 (1.14-2.11), p = 0.005, respectively). Smoking was associated with calcifications (OR 2.89 (2.09-3.96), p < 0.001), moderate to severe ductal changes (OR 1.42 (1.05-1.92), p = 0.02), and underweight (OR 4.73 (2.23-10.02), p < 0.001). History of alcohol abuse was associated with pseudocysts (OR 1.38 (1.00-1.90) p = 0.05) and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.44 (1.03-2.01), p = 0.03). There were significantly increased odds-ratios for several complications with increasing exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse. CONCLUSION: Smoking and alcohol abuse are both independently associated with development of complications in patients with CP. There seems to be a dose-dependent relationship between smoking and alcohol abuse and complications in CP.

Association of multiple patient and disease characteristics with the presence and type of pain in chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pain is the primary symptom of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and associates with a number of patient and disease characteristics. However, the complex interrelations of these parameters are incompletely understood, and pain treatment remains unsatisfactory in a large proportion of patients. The aim of this study is to investigate multiple pain risk factors in a large population of CP patients, with a special emphasis on patients' patterns of smoking and alcohol use. METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study including 1384 patients with CP. Patient demographics and disease characteristics, as well as current patterns of smoking and alcohol use, were compared for patients with pain (n = 801) versus without pain (n = 583). Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to assess the variables associated with the presence and type of pain (constant vs intermittent pain). RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 52.1 ± 14.6 years, and 914 (66%) were men. Active smoking (odds ratio 1.6 [95% confidence interval 1.1-2.2], P = 0.005) and alcohol consumption (odds ratio 1.8 [95% confidence interval 1.1-3.0], P = 0.03) were independently associated with the presence of pain. In addition, patients' age at diagnosis, pancreatic duct pathology, and the presence of pseudocysts, duodenal stenosis, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency were confirmed as pain risk factors (all P ≤ 0.01). Constant pain, as opposed to intermittent pain, was more frequently reported by smokers (P = 0.03), while alcohol consumption was associated with intermittent pain (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Multiple patient and disease characteristics, including patterns of smoking and alcohol consumption, associate with the presence and type of pain in patients with CP.

Chronic Pancreatitis Is Characterized by Distinct Complication Clusters That Associate With Etiological Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by several disease-related complications and multiple etiological risk factors. Past studies of associations between complications and risk factors have mostly been limited to single complications or highly focused on single etiologies. Using an objective data-driven approach (cluster analysis), we characterized complication clusters and their associations with etiological risk factors in a large cohort of patients with CP. METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study including 1,071 patients with CP from the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. Complications to CP were classified according to the M-ANNHEIM system, and treelet transform was used to derive complication clusters. Cluster complication frequencies were analyzed for their association with main etiological risk factors (smoking and alcohol). RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 57 years and 66% were men. Alcohol (55%) and smoking (53%) were the most common etiological risk factors and seen in combination in 36% of patients. Cluster analysis identified 3 distinct complication clusters characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and pancreatic insufficiencies. An independent association between inflammatory complications and alcoholic etiology was seen (odds ratio [OR] 2.00 [95% CI [confidence interval], 1.38-2.90], P < 0.001), whereas smoking was associated with fibrosis-related complications (OR 2.23 [95% CI, 1.56-2.3.20], P < 0.001) and pancreatic insufficiencies (OR 1.42 [95% CI, 1.00-2.01], P = 0.046). DISCUSSION: Three distinctive clusters of complications to CP were identified. Their differing associations with alcoholic and smoking etiology indicate distinct underlying disease mechanisms.

Pancreatic calcifications associate with diverse aetiological risk factors in patients with chronic pancreatitis: A multicentre study of 1500 cases.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic calcifications is a common finding in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), but the underlying pathophysiology is incompletely understood. Past studies for risk factors of calcifications have generally been focused on single parameters or limited by small sample sizes. The aim of this study was to explore several patient and disease characteristics and their associations with pancreatic calcifications in a large cohort of CP patients with diverse aetiological risk factors. METHODS: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study including 1509 patients with CP. Patient and disease characteristics were compared for patients with calcifications (n = 912) vs. without calcifications (n = 597). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the parameters independently associated with calcifications. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53.9 ±â€¯14.5 years and 1006 (67%) were men. The prevalence of calcifications was 60.4% in the overall patient cohort, but highly variable between patients with different aetiological risk factors (range: 2-69%). On multivariate analysis, alcoholic aetiology (OR 1.76 [95% CI, 1.39-2.24]; p < 0.001) and smoking aetiology (OR 1.77 [95% CI, 1.39-2.26], p < 0.001) were positively associated with the presence of calcifications, while an autoimmune aetiology was negatively associated with calcifications (OR 0.15 [95% CI, 0.08-0.27], p < 0.001). Patients with pancreatic calcifications were more likely to have undergone pancreatic duct stenting (OR 1.59 [95%CI, 1.16-2.19], p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The presence of pancreatic calcifications is associated with diverse aetiological risk factors in patients with CP. This observation attest to the understanding of CP as a complex disease and may have implications for disease classification.

Trends in management and outcome of cystic pancreatic lesions - analysis of 322 cases undergoing surgical resection.

Background: Several guidelines for the management of cystic pancreatic lesions (CPL) exists. From 2013, Oslo University Hospital adapted the European consensus guidelines (ECG) in the decision-making as to whether patients should be advised to have resection or observation for CPL. The aims of the study were to assess changes over time in the workup and diagnostic accuracy of resected CPL, and the short-term surgical outcome. Methods: Preoperative radiological workup, clinicopathological characteristics, and perioperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed in three consecutive time periods (early: 2004-2008, intermediate: 2009-2012, late: 2013-2016). The rate of concordance between the ECG recommendations for resection (ECG+) or observation (ECG-) and the final histological diagnosis were assessed. Results: A total of 322 consecutive patients underwent resection for CPL (early: n = 89, intermediate: n = 108, late: n = 125). The most common diagnoses were intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN, 36.0%), serous cystic neoplasm (SCN, 23.9%), mucinous cystic neoplasm (10.6%), pseudocyst (9.6%), solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (7.8%), and cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (5.3%). The proportion of ECG+ CPL undergoing surgery increased significantly (42.7% vs. 60.7% vs. 70.4%, p < .001). The relative proportion of patients undergoing resection for SCN decreased (38.2% vs. 21.3% vs. 16.0%), whereas it increased for IPMN (31.5% vs. 30.6% vs. 44.0%). The use of magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasound increased. There were no differences in postoperative severe complications (23.0% vs. 23.6%) or 90-day mortality (2.3% vs. 0.8%) between ECG+ and ECG- patients. Conclusion: Several changes in the management of CPL were revealed during time. Adherence to guidelines is important in order to avoid unnecessary surgery for CPL.

Survival Impact of Primary Tumor Lymph Node Status and Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the survival impact of primary tumor nodal status (N0/N+) in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM), and to determine the value of circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs) in this setting. METHODS: In this prospective study of patients undergoing resection of CLM from 2008 to 2011, peripheral blood was analyzed for CTCs using the CellSearch System®, and bone marrow was sampled for DTC analyses just prior to hepatic resection. The presence of one or more tumor cells was scored as CTC/DTC-positive. Following resection of the primary tumor, the lymph nodes (LNs) were examined by routine histopathological examination. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were included in this study; 38 patients (27.1%) were negative at the primary colorectal LN examination (N0). CTCs were detected in 12.1% of all patients; 5.3% of patients in the N0 group and 14.7% of patients in the LN-positive (N+) group (p = 0.156), with the LN-positive group (N+) consisting of both N1 and N2 patients. There was a significant difference in recurrence-free survival (RFS) when analysing the N0 group versus the N+ group (p = 0.007) and CTC-positive versus CTC-negative patients (p = 0.029). In multivariate analysis, CTC positivity was also significantly associated with impaired overall survival (OS) [p = 0.05], whereas DTC positivity was not associated with survival. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of resectable CLM patients, 27% had primary N0 colorectal cancer. Assessment of CTC in addition to nodal status may contribute to improved classification of patients into high- and low-risk groups, which has the potential to guide and improve treatment strategies.

Validation of clinical risk scores for laparoscopic liver resections of colorectal liver metastases: A 10-year observed follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate clinical risk scores in patients underwent laparoscopic resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) with 5 years follow-up or more, and assess 5- and 10-year actual survival in this group. METHODS: A total of 516 laparoscopic liver resections were performed in 406 patients with CLM between February 1998 and September 2015. A follow-up of 5 and 10 years could be assessed in 144 and 29 patients, respectively. The Fong score, pre- and postoperative Basingstoke Predictive Index (BPI), Nordlinger score, and Iwatsuki score were validated. RESULTS: Five- and ten-year cancer-related actual survival was 54% and 32%, respectively. The Fong score, pre- and postoperative BPI and the Nordlinger score divided patients into risk groups with significant difference in survival between the groups. However, predicted 5-year survival rates were lower than the actual 5-year survival (mean difference in 17%,13%, 20%, and 30%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The Fong score, pre- and postoperative BPI and the Nordlinger score systems can be used to predict survival for laparoscopically operated patients in the era of multimodal-treatment after adjusting of survival rates. The actual five- and 10-year survival after laparoscopic resection of CLM is similar to results previously published for open liver resection. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:757-763. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Severity of Acute Cholecystitis and Risk of Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injury During Cholecystectomy, a Population-Based Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis is a common complication to gallstone disease. The relation between the severity of acute cholecystitis and risk of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy has not yet been addressed and is the main focus of this study. METHODS: All cases with iatrogenic bile duct injury during cholecystectomy, within the Lake Mälaren region, Sweden, were identified through ICD procedure codes for biliary reconstruction within the Swedish Inpatient Register and matched to non-injured cholecystectomized controls. Information regarding perioperative variables was collected through medical record review. RESULTS: After review, 158 cases and 623 controls remained for analyses. Adjusted risk of bile duct injury was doubled among patients with acute cholecystitis (OR 1.97 95 % CI 1.05-3.72), whereas a mild acute cholecystitis (Tokyo grade I) did not affect the risk of bile duct injury (OR 0.96 95 % CI 0.41-2.25), a moderate (Tokyo grade II) more than doubled the risk (OR 2.41 95 % CI 1.21-4.80). Severe cholecystitis (Tokyo grade III) had a close to significant eightfold increase in risk (OR 8.43 95 % CI 0.97-72.9). The intention to use intraoperative cholangiography reduced injury risk by 52 % (OR 0.48, 95 % CI 0.29-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with on-going acute cholecystitis had twice the risk of sustaining a biliary lesion compared to patients without acute cholecystitis. There was a relation between the Tokyo guidelines severity grading of acute cholecystitis and injury risk and the intention to use intraoperative cholangiography halved the risk of reconstructed bile duct injury during cholecystectomy.

Circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal liver metastasis predict impaired survival.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the prognostic and predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow (BM) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis referred to surgery. BACKGROUND: A total of 194 patients were included. Treatment of the patients was decided in a multidisciplinary team. METHODS: BM aspirates and blood samples were collected at surgery, or in local anesthesia in nonresectable patients. CTCs were disclosed with CellSearch System, DTC with immunocytology. RESULTS: Liver resection was completed in 153 patients. Forty-one patients were nonresectable, 22 preoperatively and 19 intraoperatively. The median follow-up was 22 (range 1-61) months. Relapse was diagnosed in 103 of the resected patients. Totally, 67 patients died of cancer. CTCs were detected in 19.6% of the patients. CTC positivity was significantly higher in nonresectable (46%) than in resectable patients (11.7%), P < 0.001. 13.8% of the patients had 2 or more CTCs, 31% of the nonresectable and 9.1% of the resectable patients (P = 0.001). Patients with 2 or more CTCs experienced reduced time to relapse/progression, both analyzing all patients (P = 0.002) and analyzing resectable patients (P < 0.001). Two or more CTCs was a strong predictor of progression and mortality in all subgroups of patients, together with more than 3 liver metastases, R1 resection, and extrahepatic disease. DTCs were detected in 9.9% of the patients, but not associated with clinical outcome in resectable patients. CONCLUSIONS: CTCs predict nonresectability and impaired survival. CTC analysis should be considered as a tool for decision-making before liver resection in these patients.

Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells at Surgery and at Follow-Up Assessment to Predict Survival After Two-Stage Liver Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases.

BACKGROUND: The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is negatively associated with survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM). The current study aimed to determine the prognostic value of CTCs and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) at the time of surgery and the prognostic value of CTCs at follow-up assessment, for patients scheduled to undergo two-stage hepatectomy with portal vein embolization (PVE) for CLM. METHODS: Samples were collected at surgery (blood and bone marrow) and at follow-up assessment (blood) for the period 2008 through 2011. In this study, CTCs were detected with the CellSearch system, and DTCs were detected using standard immunocytochemical analysis. RESULTS: Of 24 patients, 18 completed both stages, and no patients were lost to follow-up. The median overall survival (OS) was 37 months, and the median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 7 months. At surgery, CTCs were found in nine patients (38 %), and their presence was associated with reduced OS (p < 0.001) and RFS (p = 0.006). Follow-up CTC status was available for 11 patients. All eight patients with positive CTC status experienced recurrence. Two of three patients with negative CTC status remained recurrence free. In seven patients (32 %), DTCs were detected but were not associated with OS or RFS. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of CTCs at surgery is associated with worse OS and RFS for patients undergoing two-stage hepatectomy with PVE for CLM. Analysis of CTCs should be explored further for their potential to assist in treatment decisions and monitoring for CLM patients.

Single-incision versus conventional laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a single-institution case-control study.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is becoming increasingly established at specialized surgical institutions worldwide. The purpose of this study was to compare single-incision laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (panLESS) with conventional laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (panLAP) to assess feasibility and 30-day morbidity. METHODS: Eight consecutive patients who underwent panLESS were matched with patients who underwent panLAP in the same time period. Matching criteria were age, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score. Feasibility was based on tumor size, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, resection status, and hospital stay. Thirty-day morbidity was defined by the revised Accordion Classification system and the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula definition. RESULTS: Over a 19-month period, 8 and 16 patients were identified for panLESS and panLAP, respectively. There were no significant differences in tumor size, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, resection status, and hospital stay between the two groups. Surgical complications developed in four panLESS patients and five panLAP patients, and out of which, two patients from each group developed a postoperative pancreatic fistula (grade B). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that panLESS is comparable to panLAP in terms of feasibility. More experience is needed to define what role single-incision distal pancreatectomy should have in minimal invasive pancreatic surgery.

Pancreatoduodenectomy after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: Single-center experience and literature review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgery with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is widely used to treat morbid obesity and present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in patients with pancreatic and periampullary tumors. The aim of this study was to describe diagnostic tools and challenges in performing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) on patients with altered anatomy after RYGB. METHODS: Patients undergoing PD after RYGB from April 2015 to June 2022 at a tertiary referral center were identified. Preoperative workup, operative techniques, and outcomes were reviewed. A literature search was performed to identify articles reporting PD in post-RYGB patients. RESULTS: Of a total of 788 PDs, six patients had previous RYGB. The majority were women (n = 5), and median age was 59 years. The patients most commonly presented with pain (50%) and jaundice (50%) with a median of 5.5 years after RYGB. The gastric remnant was resected in all cases, and reconstruction of the pancreatobiliary drainage was achieved using the distal part of the pre-existing pancreatobiliary limb in all patients. Median follow-up was 60 months. The Clavien-Dindo grade ⩾3 complications occurred in two patients (33.3%), and 90 days mortality occurred in one patient (16.6%). The literature search revealed 9 articles reporting a total of 122 cases, specifically addressing PD after RYGB. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction after PD in post-RYGB patients may be challenging. Resection of the gastric remnant and use of the pre-existing biliopancreatic limb may be a safe strategy, but surgeons should be prepared for other reconstruction options for creation of a new pancreatobiliary limb.