Comparing iodized oil with polyvinyl alcohol for portal vein embolization in promoting liver remnant increase before partial hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacy and safety of iodized oil versus polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles in portal vein embolization (PVE) before partial hepatectomy. METHODS: From October 2016 to December 2021, 86 patients who planned to undergo hepatectomy after PVE were enrolled, including 61 patients post-PVE with PVA particles + coils and 25 patients post-PVE with iodized oil + coils. All patients underwent CT examination before and 2-3 weeks after PVE to evaluate the future liver remnant (FLR). The intercohort comparison included the degree of liver volume growth, changes in laboratory data, and adverse events. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the resection rate between the iodized oil group and the PVA particle group (68 % vs. 70 %, p = 0.822). In terms of the degree of hypertrophy (9.52 % ± 13.47 vs. 4.03 % ± 10.55, p = 0.047) and kinetic growth rate (4.07 % ± 5.4 vs. 1.55 % ± 4.63, p = 0.032), the iodized oil group was superior to the PVA group. The PVE operation time in the PVA particle group was shorter than that in the iodized oil group (121. 72 min ± 34.45 vs. 156. 2 min ± 71.58, p = 0.029). There was no significant difference in the degree of hypertrophy between the high bilirubin group and the control group (5.32 % ± 9.21 vs. 6.1 % ± 14.79, p = 0.764). Only 1 patient had a major complication. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PVA particles, iodized oil PVE can significantly increase liver volume and the degree of hypertrophy without any significant difference in safety.

EORTC 1409 GITCG/ESSO 01 - A prospective colorectal liver metastasis database for borderline or initially unresectable diseases (CLIMB): Lessons learnt from real life. From paradigm to unmet need.

AIM: Multidisciplinary management of metastatic colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is still challenging. To assess postoperative complications in initially unresectable or borderline resectable CRLM, the prospective EORTC-1409 ESSO 01-CLIMB trial capturing 'real-life data' of European centres specialized in liver surgery was initiated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 219 patients were registered between May 2015 and January 2019 from 15 centres in nine countries. Eligible patients had borderline or initially unresectable CRLM assessed by pre-operative multidisciplinary team discussion (MDT). Primary endpoints were postoperative complications, 30-day and 90-days mortality post-surgery, and quality indicators. We report the final results of the 151 eligible patients that underwent at least one liver surgery. RESULTS: Perioperative chemotherapy with or without targeted treatment were administered in 100 patients (69.4%). One stage resection (OSR) was performed in 119 patients (78.8%). Two stage resections (TSR, incl. Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS)) were completed in 24 out of 32 patients (75%). Postoperative complications were reported in 55.5% (95% CI: 46.1-64.6%), 64.0% (95% CI: 42.5-82%), and 100% (95% CI: 59-100%) of the patients in OSR, TSR and ALPPS, respectively. Post-hepatectomy liver failure occurred in 6.7%, 20.0%, and 28.6% in OSR, TSR, and ALPPS, respectively. In total, four patients (2.6%) died after surgery. CONCLUSION: Across nine countries, OSR was more often performed than TSR and tended to result in less postoperative complications. Despite many efforts to register patients across Europe, it is still challenging to set up a prospective CRLM database.

Significance of Skeletal Muscle Loss in Liver Hypertrophy in Patients Undergoing Portal Vein Embolization Before Major Hepatectomy: Assessment With Body Composition and Nutritional Indicators.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The relationship between body composition including skeletal muscle and liver hypertrophy initiated by portal vein embolization (PVE) for major hepatectomy has not been clarified. This study aimed to investigate the effects of skeletal muscle, body adipose, and nutritional indicators on liver hypertrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients who underwent PVE scheduled for major right-sided hepatectomy were included. The skeletal muscle area of L3 as skeletal muscle index was calculated. The relationship between skeletal muscle loss and clinical variables was assessed. We also evaluated the relationship between >30% liver growth or >12% liver growth/week after PVE. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle loss was observed in 39 patients (66.1%) and associated with zinc deficiency, visceral adipose index, liver growth rate, and liver growth rate/week. Multivariate analysis indicated that future liver volume and skeletal muscle index were associated with >30% liver growth, and functional future liver volume and skeletal muscle index were associated with >12% liver growth/week. CONCLUSION: Loss of skeletal muscle, and a small future remnant liver volume, attenuates liver hypertrophy initiated by PVE. Strength building and nutritional supplementation may have positive effects on liver hypertrophy after PVE.

Parenchyma-Sparing Liver Resection or Regenerative Liver Surgery: Which Way to Go?

Liver resection for malignant tumors should respect oncological margins while ensuring safety and improving the quality of life, therefore tumor staging, underlying liver disease and performance status should all be attentively assessed in the decision process. The concept of parenchyma-sparing liver surgery is nowadays used as an alternative to major hepatectomies to address deeply located lesions with intricate topography by means of complex multiplanar parenchyma-sparing liver resections, preferably under the guidance of intraoperative ultrasound. Regenerative liver surgery evolved as a liver growth induction method to increase resectability by stimulating the hypertrophy of the parenchyma intended to remain after resection (referred to as future liver remnant), achievable by portal vein embolization and liver venous deprivation as interventional approaches, and portal vein ligation and associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy as surgical techniques. Interestingly, although both strategies have the same conceptual origin, they eventually became caught in the never-ending parenchyma-sparing liver surgery vs. regenerative liver surgery debate. However, these strategies are both valid and must both be mastered and used to increase resectability. In our opinion, we consider parenchyma-sparing liver surgery along with techniques of complex liver resection and intraoperative ultrasound guidance the preferred strategy to treat liver tumors. In addition, liver volume-manipulating regenerative surgery should be employed when resectability needs to be extended beyond the possibilities of parenchyma-sparing liver surgery.

A case of Vp4 hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis extending into the confluence of the splenic/portal vein achieved a good prognosis with emergent hepatectomy and postoperative adjuvant therapy with lenvatinib.

In this report, we describe a case of highly advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis extending into the main portal vein of the pancreas that was successfully treated with adjuvant lenvatinib after right hepatic resection with thrombectomy. A 70-year-old woman was referred from the clinic because of elevated hepatobiliary enzymes. The patient was positive for the hepatitis B virus antigen at our hospital. The tumor markers were highly elevated with alpha-fetoprotein (14.5 U/mL) and protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKAII) (1545 ng/mL), suggesting hepatocellular carcinoma. Dynamic abdominal computed tomography showed an early enhanced tumor approximately 6 cm in size and portal vein tumor thrombosis filling the main portal vein, but not extending into the splenic or superior mesenteric vein (SMV). On magnetic resonance imaging 1 week after CT, portal vein tumor thrombosis had extended to the confluence of the splenic vein with the SMV, indicating rapid tumor growth. Thus, we performed emergent right hepatectomy with tumor thrombectomy. Postoperatively, we treated the patient with lenvatinib for a tumor reduction surgery. Fortunately, the patient was alive 2 years postoperatively without recurrence. This case report suggests that a favorable outcome may be achieved with multidisciplinary treatment including resection and postoperative treatment with lenvatinib.

Predicting pathologic venous invasion before pancreatectomy with venous resection: When does radiology tell the truth?

BACKGROUND: Patients factors in addition to radiological characteristics could predict the presence of pathologic venous invasion in patients undergoing pancreatectomy with venous resection. METHODS: We tested the predictive value of 6 radiological classification methods for predicting pathologic venous invasion-the Nakao, Ishikawa, MD Anderson, Lu, Raptopoulos, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network methods-on a cohort of 198 pancreatectomies (160 pancreaticoduodenectomies and 38 total pancreatectomies) with venous resection for pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Radiological and clinical factors determining pathologic venous invasion were identified by multivariable logistic analysis. RESULTS: Pathologic venous invasion was detected in 124 patients (63.2%). The multivariable logistic regression analysis identified Lu classification (odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval =1.34-2.35; P < .0001), elevated serum CA19-9 values (odds ratio = 1.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-3.90; P = .04), and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval = 0.18-0.79; P = .009) as independent factors associated with pathologic venous invasion. Radiological tumor-vessel contact greater than 50% of the circumference or venous wall deformity was associated with a significantly higher rate of pathological venous invasion (80% vs 52%; P < .0001), deeper (media-intima) venous invasion (47% vs 25%; P < .0001), R1 resection (58% vs 41%; P = .03), higher transfusions (84% vs 66%; P = .005), and arterial resection rates (43% vs 27%; P < .0001). Tumor-vein circumference contact of >50% and/or venous wall deformity was still associated with significantly higher rates of pathologic venous invasion, regardless of whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used or not and CA19-9 normalized or not under preoperative treatment. CONCLUSION: Preoperative radiological detection of tumor-vein circumference contact >50% and/or venous wall deformity is associated with up to 80% of cases of pathological venous invasion. The combination of radiologic features with biological (CA19-9) and clinical (presence of preoperative chemotherapy) factors could better refine preoperatively the need for venous resection.

Anlotinib followed by transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective initial treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus: A retrospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) remains a poor prognostic factor occurring in about 10%-40% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for the optimal treatment is controversial. Anlotinib is an novel small molecule inhibitor that has a broad spectrum of inhibitory activities on tumor angiogenesis and growth. However, so far, no studies have reported the use of anlotinib in the treatment of HCC patients with PVTT. Here, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of anlotinib, followed by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of patients with HCC and PVTT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 145 consecutive HCC patients who underwent TACE in combination with RFA were enrolled in the retrospective study. Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with PVTT and received anlotinib as basic treatment. The adverse events (AEs) were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for AEs Version 4.0. Time to tumor progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The most common toxicities related to anlotinib were pharyngalgia (53.6%), fatigue (42.9%), and hand-foot skin reaction (39.3%). The median OS was 13 months (range: 3-18 months) with 1-year OS rate of 64.3%. The median TTP was 7 months (range: 1-12 months) with 6-month rate of 46.4%. CONCLUSION: Anlotinib followed by TACE and RFA is a safe and effective initial treatment modality for HCC patients with PVTT. Anlotinib may be a promising therapeutic option for relieving and/or stabilizing HCC with PVTT.

Clinical management of type C hepatic encephalopathy.

Type-C hepatic encephalopathy is a complex neurological syndrome, characteristic of patients with liver disease, causing a wide and complex spectrum of nonspecific neurological and psychiatric manifestations, ranging from a subclinical entity, minimal hepatic encephalopathy, to a deep form in which a complete alteration of consciousness can be observed: overt hepatic encephalopathy. Overt hepatic encephalopathy occurs in 30-40% of patients. According to the time course, hepatic encephalopathy is subdivided into episodic, recurrent and persistent. Diagnostic strategies range from simple clinical scales to more complex psychometric and neurophysiological tools. Therapeutic options may vary between episodic hepatic encephalopathy, in which it is important to define and treat the precipitating factor and hepatic encephalopathy and secondary prophylaxis, where the standard of care is non-absorbable disaccharides and rifaximin. Grey areas and future needs remain the therapeutic approach to minimal hepatic encephalopathy and issues in the design of therapeutic studies for hepatic encephalopathy.

Future liver remnant growth after various portal vein embolization regimens: a quantitative comparison.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of right portal vein embolization using ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH-PVE) compared to other embolic agents and surgical right portal vein ligation (PVL).Material and methods: Patients with right sided liver malignancies scheduled for extensive surgery and receiving induction of liver hypertrophy via right portal vein embolization/ligature between 2010-2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Treatments included were ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx®, EVOH-PVE), ethiodized oil (Lipiodol®, Lipiodol/PVA-PVE), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-PVE) or surgical ligature (PVL). Liver segments S2/3 were used to assess hypertrophy. Primary outcome was future liver remnant growth in ml/day.Results: Forty-one patients were included (EVOH-PVE n = 11; Lipiodol/PVA-PVE n = 10; PVA-PVE n = 8; PVL n = 12), the majority presenting with cholangiocarcinoma and colorectal metastases (n = 11; n = 27). Pre-interventional liver volumes were comparable (p = .095). Liver hypertrophy was successfully induced in all but one patient receiving Lipiodol/PVA-PVE. Liver segment S2/3 growth was largest for EVOH-PVE (5.38 ml/d) followed by PVA-PVE (2.5 ml/d), with significantly higher growth rates than PVL (1.24 ml/d; p < .001; p = .007). No significant difference was evident for Lipiodol/PVA-PVE (1.43 ml/d, p = .809).Conclusions: Portal vein embolization using EVOH demonstrates fastest S2/3 growth rates compared to other embolic agents and PVL, potentially due to its permanent portal vein embolization and induction of hepatic inflammation.

Resection might be a meaningful choice for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: According to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, the presence of portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is considered to indicate an advanced stage of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with nearly no cure. Hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) have recently been recommended for treatment of HCC with PVTT. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to compare the overall survival between patients with HCC and PVTT undergoing hepatectomy, TACE or conservative treatment including sorafenib chemotherapy. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. All relevant studies were considered. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for comparison of the cumulative overall survival. Ten retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. RESULTS: Overall survival was not higher in the hepatectomy group than TACE group. But survival rate was higher in hepatectomy group than conservative group. The subgroup analysis demonstrated that hepatectomy was superior in patients without PVTT in the main trunk than in patients with main portal vein invasion. In patients without main PVTT, hepatectomy has showed more benefit than TACE. However, there has been no significant difference between the hepatectomy and TACE groups among patients with main PVTT. CONCLUSION: For patients with resectable HCC and PVTT, hepatectomy might be more effective in patients without PVTT in the main trunk than TACE or conservative treatment.

[Pure laparoscopic DP-CAR procedure with portal vein resection]. / Polnost'yu laparoskopicheskaya dp-car s rezektsiei vorotnoi veny (klinicheskoe nablyudenie).

OBJECTIVE: To improve short- and long-term outcomes of locally advanced pancreatic body-tail cancer followed by major vessels invasion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case report of pure laparoscopic DP-CAR procedure with portal vein resection for locally advanced pancreatic body-tail cancer followed by severe abdominal pain in a 49-year-old patient is presented. RESULTS: Liver or stomach ischemia was not observed. Portal wall resection wasn't associated with any complication and resulted R0-resection. Postoperative period was complicated by Grade B pancreatic fistula. Preoperative abdominal pain completely disappeared after surgery. Surgery time was 330 min, intraoperative blood loss - 300 ml. The patient is currently undergoing FOLFIRINOX adjuvant chemotherapy. CT in 90 days after surgery confirmed no progression of disease or liver/stomach blood supply congestion. CONCLUSION: Modern technologies provide the opportunity to perform pure laparoscopic advanced surgical procedures with major vessels resection. Pure laparoscopic DP-CAR procedure with portal vein resection is effective and safe procedure that can be performed with all principles of open surgery and is associated with acceptable short- and long-term results.

Significance of hepatic resection and adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus in the first branch of portal vein and the main portal trunk: a project study for hepatic surgery of the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus in the major portal vein (PV) is extremely poor. The purpose of this study was to clarify the impact of hepatic resection for HCC with tumor thrombus in the major PV. PATIENTS: Four hundred patients undergoing macroscopic curative resection for HCC involving the first branch or trunk of the PV between 2001 and 2010 at the 22 institutions were enrolled. We examined the effect of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) on prognosis and validated the prognostic index consisting of ascites, prothrombin activity, and maximal tumor diameter. RESULTS: Median survival time (MST) and 5-year overall survival rate were 21.5 months and 25.7%. MST of HAIC group was longer than that of non-HAIC group (28.1 months vs. 18.7 months, P = 0.0024). Significant prognostic factors for overall survival were PIVKA-II, tumor diameter, and adjuvant HAIC. MST for patients with prognostic index 0, 1, 2, and 3 was 39.0, 21.1, 18.9, and 5.7 months, respectively (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Macroscopic curative resection with adjuvant HAIC might provide better survival outcome. Furthermore, the prognostic index was useful to select adequate treatment modalities for patients with HCC with tumor thrombosis in the major PV.

Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX for locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: An intention to treat analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical and pathologic efficacy of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX for locally advanced (LAPC) and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). METHODS: Patients receiving neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX for LAPC and BRPC treated between 2014 and 2017 were identified. Post-treatment patients achieving resectability were referred for surgery, whereas unresectable patients continued chemotherapy. Clinical and pathological data were retrospectively compared with control group consisting of 47 consecutive patients with BRPC undergoing pancreatic and portal vein resection between 2008 and 2017. RESULTS: Thirty LAPC and 23 BRPC patients were identified. Reasons for unresectability included disease progression (70%), locally unresectable disease (18%), and poor performance status (11%). Three patients (10%) with LAPC, and 20 (87%) with BRPC underwent curative surgery. Compared with control group, perioperative complication rate (4.3% versus 28.9%, p = 0.016), and pancreatic fistula rate (0 versus 14.8%, p = 0.08) were lower. Peripancreatic fat invasion (52.2% vs 97.8%, p = 0.001), lymph node involvement (22% vs 54.3%, p = 0.01), and surgical margin involvement (0 vs 17.4%, p = 0.04) were higher in the control group. Median survival was 34.3 months in BRPC patients operated after FOLFIRINOX and 26.1 months in the control group (p = 0.07). Three patients (13%) with complete pathological response are disease-free after mean follow-up of 19 months. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX rarely achieves resectability in patients with LAPC (10%), most BRPC undergo resection (87%). Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX leads to complete pathological response in 13% of cases, tumor downstaging, and a trend towards improved survival compared with patients undergoing up-front surgery.

Bioenergetic adaptations of the human liver in the ALPPS procedure - how liver regeneration correlates with mitochondrial energy status.

BACKGROUND: The Associating Liver Partition and Portal Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy (ALPPS) depends on a significant inter-stages kinetic growth rate (KGR). Liver regeneration is highly energy-dependent. The metabolic adaptations in ALPPS are unknown. AIMS: i) Assess bioenergetics in both stages of ALPPS (T1 and T2) and compare them with control patients undergoing minor (miHp) and major hepatectomy (MaHp), respectively; ii) Correlate findings in ALPPS with volumetric data; iii) Investigate expression of genes involved in liver regeneration and energy metabolism. METHODS: Five patients undergoing ALPPS, five controls undergoing miHp and five undergoing MaHp. Assessment of remnant liver bioenergetics in T1, T2 and controls. Analysis of gene expression and protein content in ALPPS. RESULTS: Mitochondrial function was worsened in T1 versus miHp; and in T2 versus MaHp (p < 0.05); but improved from T1 to T2 (p < 0.05). Liver bioenergetics in T1 strongly correlated with KGR (p < 0.01). An increased expression of genes associated with liver regeneration (STAT3, ALR) and energy metabolism (PGC-1α, COX, Nampt) was found in T2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Metabolic capacity in ALPPS is worse than in controls, improves between stages and correlates with volumetric growth. Bioenergetic adaptations in ALPPS could serve as surrogate markers of liver reserve and as target for energetic conditioning.

[Endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds strand and portal vein stenting followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined therapy with sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of portal vein stenting and endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds strand followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with or without sorafenib in patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT). METHODS: A total of 53 patients with HCC complicated by MPVTT who received portal vein stenting and endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds strand followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined without (group A, n=38) or with (group B, n=15) sorafenib in Affiliated Yancheng Hospital of Southeast University Medical College during January 2010 and August 2015 were analyzed retropectively.Overal survival, progress free survival and procedure-related adverse event were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100% for placement of (125)I seeds strand and stent in the obstructed main portal vein.No serious procedure-related adverse events occurred. Median survival time of group A and B were 12.1 and 14.8 months, respectively (P=0.037). Additionally, Median progress free survival time of group A and B were 2.8 and 4.0 months, respectively (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular implantation of iodine-125 seeds strand and portal vein stenting followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with sorafenib could improve the survival time, the progress free survival time of patients with HCC complicated by MPVTT.

Direct intrahepatic portocaval shunt for treatment of portal thrombosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) refers to hepatic venous outflow obstruction that in severe cases can lead to acute liver failure prompting consideration of revascularization or transplantation. Here, a 22 year old female with angiographically proven BCS secondary to JAK2/V617F positive Polycythemia vera on therapeutic warfarin presented with acute liver failure (ALF). Imaging revealed a new, near complete thrombotic occlusion of the main portal vein with extension into the superior mesenteric vein. An emergent direct intrahepatic portocaval shunt (DIPS) was created and liver function promptly normalized. She has been maintained on rivaroxaban since that time. Serial assessment over 1 year demonstrated continued shunt patency and improved flow in the mesenteric vasculature on ultrasound as well as normal liver function. DIPS is a viable alternative in the treatment of ALF from BCS when standard recanalization is not feasible. Improved blood flow may also improve portal/mesenteric clot burden. While further investigation is needed, new targeted anticoagulants may be viable as a long term anticoagulation strategy.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Resectability Status for Pancreatic Carcinoma Predicts Overall Survival.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of preoperative resectability status, as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), from the viewpoint of overall survival. METHODS: A total of consecutive 704 patients with pancreatic head carcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with upfront surgery at seven Japanese hospitals between 2001 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. According to the NCCN definition of preoperative resectability status, tumors were divided into resectable tumors without vascular contact (R group), resectable tumors with portal or superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) contact of ≦180° (R-PV group), borderline resectable(BR) tumors with PV/SMV contact of >180° (BR-PV group), and BR tumors with arterial contact (BR-A group). The relationship between the NCCN definition of preoperative resectability status and overall survival was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 704 patients, 389, 114, 145, and 56 were classified into the R group, the R-PV group, the BR-PV group, and the BR-A group, respectively. Overall survival of the BR-PV and BR-A groups was significantly worse than that of the R group and R-PV groups (P < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in overall survival between the R group and the R-PV group (P = 0.310). Multivariate analysis revealed that PV/SMV contact of >180° (P = 0.008) and arterial contact (P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of overall survival. CONCLUSION: From the viewpoint of overall survival, the NCCN definition of preoperative resectability status was valid.

Modified laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection combined with cell salvage is feasible and might reduce the need for blood transfusion.

AIM: To investigate perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing modified laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (MLSD) with intraoperative autologous cell salvage. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated outcomes in 79 patients admitted to the Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University with cirrhosis, portal hypertensive bleeding and secondary hypersplenism who underwent MLSD without (n = 46) or with intraoperative cell salvage and autologous blood transfusion, including splenic blood and operative hemorrhage (n = 33), between February 2012 and January 2014. Their intraoperative and postoperative variables were compared. These variables mainly included: operation time; estimated intraoperative blood loss; volume of allogeneic blood transfused; visual analog scale for pain on the first postoperative day; time to first oral intake; initial passage of flatus and off-bed activity; perioperative hemoglobin (Hb) concentration; and red blood cell concentration. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of duration of surgery, estimated intraoperative blood loss and overall perioperative complication rate. In those receiving salvaged autologous blood, Hb concentration increased by an average of 11.2 ± 4.8 g/L (P < 0.05) from preoperative levels by the first postoperative day, but it had fallen by 9.8 ± 6.45 g/L (P < 0.05) in the group in which cell salvage was not used. Preoperative Hb was similar in the two groups (P > 0.05), but Hb on the first postoperative day was significantly higher in the autologous blood transfusion group (118.5 ± 15.8 g/L vs 102.7 ± 15.6 g/L, P < 0.05). The autologous blood transfusion group experienced significantly fewer postoperative days of temperature > 38.0°C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative cell salvage during MLSD is feasible and safe and may become the gold standard for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertensive bleeding and hypersplenism.