Predicted Impact of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease 3.0 in a Region Suffering Severe Organ Shortage

Background@#The model for end-stage liver disease 3.0 (MELD3.0) is expected to address the flaws of the current allocation system for deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). We aimed to validate MELD3.0 in the Korean population where living donor liver transplantation is predominant due to organ shortages. @*Methods@#Korean large-volume single-centric waitlist data were merged with the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) data. The 90-day mortality was compared between MELD and MELD3.0 using the C-index in 2,353 eligible patients registered for liver transplantation. Patient numbers and outcomes were compared based on changes in KONOS-MELD categorization using MELD3.0. Possible gains in MELD points and reduced waitlist mortality were analyzed. @*Results@#MELD3.0 performed better than MELD (C-index 0.893 for MELD3.0 vs. 0.889 for MELD). When stratified according to the KONOS-MELD categories, 15.9% of the total patients and 35.2% of the deceased patients were up-categorized using MELD3.0 versus MELD categories. The mean gain of MELD points was higher in women (2.6 ± 2.1) than men (2.1 ± 1.9, P < 0.001), and higher in patients with severe ascites (3.3 ± 1.8) than in controls (1.9 ± 1.8, P< 0.001); however, this trend was not significant when the MELD score was higher than 30. When the possible increase in DDLT chance was calculated via up-categorizing using MELD3.0, reducible waitlist mortality was 2.7%. @*Conclusion@#MELD3.0 could predict better waitlist mortality than MELD; however, the merit for women and patients with severe ascites is uncertain, and reduced waitlist mortality from implementing MELD3.0 is limited in regions suffering from organ shortage, as in Korea.

Laparoscopic Excision of a Retroperitoneal Solitary Fibrous Tumor: A Case Report

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors mainly originating in the pleura. Since complete resection is the most important prognostic factor, typical surgical approach has been open laparotomy. In this report, we present a unusual case of large retropancreatic SFT that was successfully treated via laparoscopic resection. A 22-year-old female was diagnosed with a 8×7 cm-sized well-demarcated mass with multiple loculating and enhancing solid portions on the left adrenal fossa. The mass showed no definite invasion of adjacent organs and laparoscopic resection was planned. Using blunt dissection and individual vessel ligation, the operation was successful. The operative time was 220 minutes, and the amount of intraoperative blood loss was estimated to be within 100 ml. The patient recovered without complications. Laparoscopic excision of large retroperitoneal SFTs can be safe and feasible if there is no evidence of local invasion or malignancy on preoperative radiologic images.

Renal autotransplantation in open surgical repair of suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm

Although the standard treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm has shifted from open surgery to endovascular repair, open surgery has remained the standard of care for complex aneurysms involving the visceral arteries and in patients unsuitable for endovascular aneurysm repair. Postoperative renal insufficiency may occur after open surgical repair of suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods of minimizing renal ischemic injury include aortic cross-clamping and renal reconstruction techniques. This report describes the use of renal autotransplantation for renal reconstruction during open surgical repair of a suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. This technique was successful, suggesting its feasibility for open suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, minimizing renal ischemic injury and optimizing postoperative renal function.