Egyptian Society of Liver Cancer Recommendation Guidelines for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer. The prevalence of this pathology, which has been on the rise in the last 30 years, has been predicted to continue increasing. HCC is the most common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in Egypt and is also the most common cancer in males. Chronic liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis C, which is a primary health concern in Egypt, are considered major risk factors for HCC. However, HCC surveillance is recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and liver cirrhosis; those above 40 with HBV but without cirrhosis; individuals with hepatitis D co-infection or a family history of HCC; and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients exhibiting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis. Several international guidelines aid physicians in the management of HCC. However, the availability and cost of diagnostic modalities and treatment options vary from one country to another. Therefore, the current guidelines aim to standardize the management of HCC in Egypt. The recommendations presented in this report represent the current management strategy at HCC treatment centers in Egypt. Recommendations were developed by an expert panel consisting of hepatologists, oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists working under the umbrella of the Egyptian Society of Liver Cancer. The recommendations, which are based on the currently available local diagnostic aids and treatments in the country, include recommendations for future prospects.

Incidence and Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Patients with more severe cases of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) may be at greater risk for developing acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of our study was to analyze incidence and outcomes of AKI in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Our study prospectively followed about 198 patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), Al Adan Hospital, Kuwait, for developing AKI and outcomes. Age, gender, nationality, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, bronchial asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were analyzed. The need for mechanical ventilation (MV), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, inotropes, and medications was recorded. Causes of AKI, indication of dialysis, dialysis modality, dialysis outcomes, and mortality were analyzed. Our study reported that61 out of 198 (30.8%) ICU patients positive for COVID-19, developed AKI according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definition of AKI. Forty-eight out of 61 (79%) patients need continuous renal replacement therapy using continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Thirty-seven (61%) out of 61 patients were with severe sepsis syndrome. The most common cause of AKI was sepsis, cytokine storm, hypovolemia, heart failure, MV, and nephrotoxic drugs. Twenty-four patients (39%) out of 61 patients died, and the most common cause of death was sepsis, cytokine storm with respiratory failure, heart failure, and AKI. The outcome of AKI was as follows: six patients (10%) had complete recovery, five patients had partial recovery (8%), and 26 (43%) patients became dialysis dependent. Incidence of AKI is high in ICU COVID-19 patients and is associated with poor outcomes and high mortality. Early detection and specific therapy of kidney changes, including adequate hemodynamic support and avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, may help to improve critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Fibrin glue as a sealant in stentless laparoscopic pyeloplasty: A randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the value of adding fibrin glue, as a sealant material, to the anastomotic line during stentless laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LPP). Patients and methods: In all, 92 patients with pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO), scheduled for LPP, were randomised into two groups (46 in each group). Group A, underwent transperitoneal stentless LLP sealed with fibrin glue, whilst Group B underwent the same procedure without fibrin glue. Results: Both groups were similar for patient demographics and presentation. Despite that, we found a significant statistical difference between the groups for operative time and blood loss. The total number of patients that had a urinary leak was 10 and 24 patients, in groups A and B respectively (P = 0.002). A prolonged leak lasting for >5 days, which stopped spontaneously occurred in three patients (7.14%) in Group A and six (14.3%) in Group B (P = 0.265). A persistent 14-day leak that needed intervention developed in two patients (4.3%) in Group A and five (10.9%) in Group B (P = 0.434). One patient in Group B developed urinoma 1 week after discharge, and another patient in the same group developed deep venous thrombosis. There was no significant difference between the groups for postoperative complications in the early 3-month period. The success rate was 39 (92.86%) and 36 patients (85.7%), in groups A and B respectively (P = 0.265). Conclusion: Adding fibrin glue to seal the anastomosis decreased urinary leakage but did not have a significant impact on outcomes. Abbreviations: CONSORT: Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials; DTPA: diethylene-triamine-penta-acetic acid; LPP: laparoscopic pyeloplasty; PUJO: PUJ obstruction; T½: clearance halftime (renogram).

Bismuth paste injection for empyema thoracis: a 100-year-old method revisited.

Bismuth paste injection into the pleural cavity used to be a treatment for chronic empyema thoracis. This method, however, was long forgotten and scarcely practiced due to advanced surgical techniques and antibiotic therapy. We report a 50-year-old man with chronic empyema thoracis who was successfully treated with bismuth paste injection after a failed surgical decortication and a long-term chest drainage. This case highlights a trial of a 100-year-old method of bismuth paste injection which proved effective after standard measures had failed.

Thyroxine as a stimulator of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy: an experimental animal study.

Twenty six male albino rats were divided into a control group (6rats) (G) exposed to Sham operation and two experimental groups (G1 & G2) of 10 rats each. 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) was performed in G1 and T4 was administered orally in a dose of 4 mg/kg 10 days prior to PH in G2. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours following PH and Sham operation. Liver sections were immunohistochemically stained for anti-cyclin D1 & anti-VEGF antibodies. Positive reaction was in the nuclei of hepatocytes and in lining of hepatic blood sinusoids respectively. The morphometric determination of the count of cyclin D1 positive nuclei and area % VEGF positive lining of the blood sinusoids was performed in the different groups. Multiple cyclin D1 positive nuclei were detected in liver sections of rats receiving thyroxine prior to PH confirmed by significant increase in the mean count of immuno-positive nuclei as compared to G & G1. VEGF positive immuno-reaction was in the lining of multiple hepatic blood sinusoids on thyroxine therapy proved morphometrically by a significant increase in mean area % in G2 versus G1. The results showed a stimulating effect of thyroxine on liver regeneration following 2/3 partial hepatectomy evidenced by increased Cyclin D and sinusoidal endothelial VEGF expression.

Efficacy and safety of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation in management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The present study is a prospective one involving 15 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from January 2003 to December 2005. Clinical and laboratory examinations, abdominal ultrasonography & spiral CT scanning were performed. All patients were subjected to intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of HCC after confirmation by core biopsy. Enhanced dynamic CT was done at 1 month postoperative and every 3 months during follow-up period. Males were 12 with age of 41-69 year (53.2 +/- 7.4). Underlying cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis was in all, and HCV was the most common (75%), and patients (85%) werecategorized in Child B classification. Serum alpha feto protein was above 400 ng/ml in 60%. 12 patients had unifocal HCC (nodules mean diameter of less than 3 cm in 6, 3 to 5 cm in 4, and more than 5 cm in 2), and 3 patients had multifocal HCC (nodules mean number of less than 3 cm in 2 and 3 to 5 cm in 1). The mean number of RF application session to achieve complete necrosis in patients with were 1.52 (unifocal) & 2.49 (multifocal HCC). The mean hospital stay was 14.9 days, with neither mortality nor major complications, but Minor complications in 30%. After one month, complete ablation of HCC nodules was achieved in 10 patients with reduction of alpha fetoprotein in 11 patients. 2/5 with partial ablation were multifocal nodules. Total mortality during follow-up in late post-operative period (1 year) was 6 out of 15 patients. 5 of them are the patients with partial ablation. 3 patients out of 9 patients developed evidence of local recurrence detected by enhanced dynamic CT & raising of serum alpha fetoprotein.