Laparoscopic repeat liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicentre propensity score-based study.

BACKGROUND: In the absence of randomized controlled data and even propensity-matched data, indications for, and outcomes of, laparoscopic repeat liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain uncertain. This study aimed to clarify the current indications for laparoscopic repeat liver resection for HCC, and to evaluate outcomes. METHODS: Forty-two liver surgery centres around the world registered patients who underwent repeat liver resection for HCC. Patient characteristics, preoperative liver function, tumour characteristics, surgical method, and short- and long-term outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Analyses showed that the laparoscopic procedure was generally used in patients with relatively poor performance status and liver function, but favourable tumour characteristics. Intraoperative blood loss (mean(s.d.) 254(551) versus 748(1128) ml; P < 0·001), duration of operation (248(156) versus 285(167) min; P < 0·001), morbidity (12·7 versus 18·1 per cent; P = 0·006) and duration of postoperative hospital stay (10·1(14·3) versus 11·8(11·8) days; P = 0·013) were significantly reduced for laparoscopic compared with open procedures, whereas survival time was comparable (median 10·04 versus 8·94 years; P = 0·297). Propensity score matching showed that laparoscopic repeat liver resection for HCC resulted in less intraoperative blood loss (268(730) versus 497(784) ml; P = 0·001) and a longer operation time (272(187) versus 232(129); P = 0·007) than the open approach, and similar survival time (12·55 versus 8·94 years; P = 0·086). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repeat liver resection is feasible in selected patients with recurrent HCC.

ANTECEDENTES: Dado que no existen ensayos clínicos controlados ni estudios de datos emparejados por puntaje de propensión, todavía hay dudas sobre las indicaciones y los resultados de la resección iterativa laparocópica de un carcinoma hepatocelular (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). Este estudio tuvo como objetivo esclarecer las indicaciones actuales y los resultados de la resección hepática laparoscópica iterativa del HCC. MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron los pacientes de 42 centros de cirugía hepática a nivel mundial en los que se había realizado una resección hepática iterativa por HCC. Se analizaron las características del paciente, la función hepática preoperatoria, las características del tumor, el abordaje quirúrgico y los resultados a corto y largo plazo. RESULTADOS: El análisis demostró que la vía laparoscópica generalmente se utilizaba en pacientes con carácteristicas tumorales favorables, pero con estado funcional y función hepatica relativamente peores. La pérdida de sangre intraoperatoria (254,3 ± 551,2 versus 748,0 ± 1127,7 mL, P < 0,001), la duración de la intervención (247,6 ± 155,8 versus 285,1 ± 167,0 minutos, P < 0,001), la morbilidad (12,7 versus 18,1%, P = 0,005) y la estancia hospitalaria postoperatoria (10,07 ± 14,29 versus 11,80 ± 11,79 días, P = 0,010) fueron significativamente menores para los pacientes tratados por via laparoscópica en comparacion con la vía abierta, mientra que el tiempo de supervivencia fue comparable (mediana 10,04 versus 8,94 años, P = 0,297). El estudio de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión mostró que la resección hepática iterativa por vía laparoscópica de un HCC (frente a la vía abierta) conllevaba una menor pérdida sanguínea intraoperatoria (268,0 ± 730,2 versus 496,5 ± 784,2 mL, P = 0,01), una mayor duración de la intervención (272,1 ± 187,2 versus 231,8 ± 129,1 minutos , P = 0,07) y un tiempo de supervivencia similar (mediana 12,55 versus 8,94 años, P = 0,0855). CONCLUSIÓN: La resección hepática iterativa por vía laparoscópica es factible en pacientes seleccionados con HCC recidivado.

Impact of cirrhosis in patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection in a nationwide multicentre survey.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to analyse the impact of cirrhosis on short-term outcomes after laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) in a multicentre national cohort study. METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing LLR in 27 centres between 2000 and 2017. Cirrhosis was defined as F4 fibrosis on pathological examination. Short-term outcomes of patients with and without liver cirrhosis were compared after propensity score matching by centre volume, demographic and tumour characteristics, and extent of resection. RESULTS: Among 3150 patients included, LLR was performed in 774 patients with (24·6 per cent) and 2376 (75·4 per cent) without cirrhosis. Severe complication and mortality rates in patients with cirrhosis were 10·6 and 2·6 per cent respectively. Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) developed in 3·6 per cent of patients with cirrhosis and was the major cause of death (11 of 20 patients). After matching, patients with cirrhosis tended to have higher rates of severe complications (odds ratio (OR) 1·74, 95 per cent c.i. 0·92 to 3·41; P = 0·096) and PHLF (OR 7·13, 0·91 to 323·10; P = 0·068) than those without cirrhosis. They also had a higher risk of death (OR 5·13, 1·08 to 48·61; P = 0·039). Rates of cardiorespiratory complications (P = 0·338), bile leakage (P = 0·286) and reoperation (P = 0·352) were similar in the two groups. Patients with cirrhosis had a longer hospital stay than those without (11 versus 8 days; P = 0·018). Centre expertise was an independent protective factor against PHLF in patients with cirrhosis (OR 0·33, 0·14 to 0·76; P = 0·010). CONCLUSION: Underlying cirrhosis remains an independent risk factor for impaired outcomes in patients undergoing LLR, even in expert centres.

ANTECEDENTES: El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto de la cirrosis en los resultados a corto plazo después de la resección hepática laparoscópica (laparoscopic liver resection, LLR) en un estudio de cohortes multicéntrico nacional. MÉTODOS: Este estudio retrospectivo incluyó todos los pacientes sometidos a LLR en 27 centros entre 2000 y 2017. La cirrosis se definió como fibrosis F4 en el examen histopatológico. Los resultados a corto plazo de los pacientes con hígado cirrótico (cirrhotic liver CL) (pacientes CL) y los pacientes con hígado no cirrótico (non-cirrhotic liver, NCL) (pacientes NCL) se compararon después de realizar un emparejamiento por puntaje de propension del volumen del centro, las características demográficas y del tumor, y la extensión de la resección. RESULTADOS: Del total de 3.150 pacientes incluidos, se realizó LLR en 774 (24,6%) pacientes CL y en 2.376 (75,4%) pacientes NCL. Las tasas de complicaciones graves y mortalidad en el grupo de pacientes CL fueron del 10,6% y 2,6%, respectivamente. La insuficiencia hepática posterior a la hepatectomía (post-hepatectomy liver failure, PHLF) fue la principal causa de mortalidad (55% de los casos) y se produjo en el 3,6% de los casos en pacientes CL. Después del emparejamiento, los pacientes CL tendieron a tener tasas más altas de complicaciones graves (razón de oportunidades, odds ratio, OR 1,74; i.c. del 95% 0,92-0,41; P = 0,096) y de PHLF (OR 7,13; i.c. del 95% 0,91-323,10; P = 0,068) en comparación con los pacientes NCL. Los pacientes CL estuvieron expuestos a un mayor riesgo de mortalidad (OR 5,13; i.c. del 95% 1,08-48,6; P = 0,039) en comparación con los pacientes NCL. Los pacientes CL presentaron tasas similares de complicaciones cardiorrespiratorias graves (P = 0,338), de fuga biliar (P = 0,286) y de reintervenciones (P = 0,352) que los pacientes NCL. Los pacientes CL tuvieron una estancia hospitalaria más larga (11 versus 8 días; P = 0,018) que los pacientes NCL. La experiencia del centro fue un factor protector independiente de PHLF (OR 0,33; i.c. del 95% 0,14-0,76; P = 0,010) pacientes CL. CONCLUSIÓN: La presencia de cirrosis subyacente sigue siendo un factor de riesgo independiente de peores resultados en pacientes sometidos a resección hepática laparoscópica, incluso en centros con experiencia.

Multicentre study of perioperative versus adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable colorectal liver metastases.

Background: It is not known whether perioperative chemotherapy, compared with adjuvant chemotherapy alone, improves disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with upfront resectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM). The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) on DFS in patients with upfront resectable CLM. Methods: Consecutive patients who presented with up to five resectable CLM at two Japanese and two French centres in 2008-2015 were included in the study. Both French institutions favoured perioperative FOLFOX, whereas the two Japanese groups systematically preferred upfront surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Cox regression multivariable models were used to adjust for confounding. The primary outcome was DFS. Results: Some 300 patients were included: 151 received perioperative chemotherapy and 149 had upfront surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. The weighted 3-year DFS rate was 33·5 per cent after perioperative chemotherapy compared with 27·1 per cent after upfront surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio (HR) 0·85, 95 per cent c.i. 0·62 to 1·16; P = 0·318). For the subgroup of 165 patients who received adjuvant FOLFOX successfully (for at least 3 months), the adjusted effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not significant (HR 1·19, 0·74 to 1·90; P = 0·476). No significant effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was observed in multivariable regression analysis. Conclusion: Compared with adjuvant chemotherapy, perioperative FOLFOX does not improve DFS in patients with resectable CLM, provided adjuvant chemotherapy is given successfully.

Antecedentes: Se desconoce si la quimioterapia perioperatoria en comparación con la quimioterapia adyuvante sola mejora la supervivencia libre de enfermedad (disease­free survival, DFS) en pacientes con metástasis hepáticas de origen colorrectal (colorectal liver metastases, CLM) resecables de inicio. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar el impacto de la neoadyuvancia con 5­fluorouracilo, leucovorina y oxaliplatino (FOLFOX) sobre la DFS en pacientes con CLM resecables desde el principio. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos que presentaban hasta cinco CLM resecables en dos centros japoneses y dos centros franceses entre 2008 a 2015. Ambas instituciones francesas favorecían FOLFOX perioperatorio, mientras que los dos grupos japoneses utilizaban sistemáticamente la cirugía de entrada y quimioterapia adyuvante. Se utilizaron la probabilidad inversa del tratamiento ponderado (Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting, IPTW) y el modelo multivariable de regresión de Cox para ajustar por factores de confusión. El resultado primario fue la DFS. Resultados: Se incluyeron 300 pacientes (grupo de quimioterapia perioperatoria n = 151 y grupo de cirugía de entrada más quimioterapia adyuvante n = 149). La DFS a los 3 años ponderada fue del 33% después de quimioterapia perioperatoria versus 27% tras cirugía de entrada (cociente de riesgos instantáneos, hazard ratio HR: 0,85; i.c. del 95% (0,62­1,16); P = 0,32). Cuando se consideró el subgrupo de pacientes que (n = 165) de manera efectiva (al menos 3 meses) recibieron FOLFOX adyuvante, el efecto ajustado de la quimioterapia neoadyuvante no fue significativo (HR: 1,19 (0,74­1,90); P = 0,48). No se observó un efecto significativo de la quimioterapia neoadyuvante en el análisis de regresión multivariable. Conclusión: En comparación con la quimioterapia adyuvante, el FOLFOX perioperatorio no mejora la DFS en CLM resecables siempre y cuando la quimioterapia adyuvante se administre de forma efectiva.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy response influences outcomes in non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Indications for surgical resection of non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine (NCNNE) liver metastases are unclear. This study analysed the influence of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of extrahepatic disease (EHD) on outcomes. METHODS: Patients who underwent hepatic resection for NCNNE liver metastases and who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy at a single centre between 1982 and 2016 were analysed retrospectively. Patients were classified as having no EHD, controlled EHD or non-controlled EHD. RESULTS: Hepatic resection was performed in 199 patients (81·2 per cent) after partial or complete response to chemotherapy or disease stabilization, and 46 patients (18·8 per cent) after tumour progression. Patients with progressive disease after chemotherapy had worse overall survival than those without (23 versus 50·4 per cent at 5 years; P = 0·004). Median survival was 63·6 (range 31·1-94·8) months for patients without EHD, 34·8 (19·2-49·2) months for those with controlled EHD and 7·2 (1·2-13·2) months for patients with non-controlled EHD (P = 0·004). In multivariable analysis, EHD (P = 0·004), response to chemotherapy (P = 0·004) and resection margins (P = 0·002) were all independent predictors of overall survival, regardless of primary tumour site. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with NCNNE liver metastases is influenced by preoperative chemotherapy and resectability.

Large hepatocellular carcinoma: Does fibrosis really impact prognosis after resection?

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy remains the standard treatment for large hepatocellular carcinoma (LHCC) ≥5cm. Fibrosis may constitute a contraindication for resection because of high risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure, but its impact on patient outcome and cancer recurrence remains ill defined. Our aim was to compare predictors of survival in patients with and without cirrhosis following hepatectomy for LHCC. METHODS: The data on consecutive patients undergoing hepatectomy for LHCC in two tertiary centres between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed. The outcomes of cirrhotic (F4) and non-cirrhotic (F0-F3) patients were compared. Patients with perioperative medical (sorafenib) or radiological (transarterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency) treatments were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included. Preoperative and intraoperative features were identical between both groups. Cirrhotics (n=15) presented more satellite nodules on specimens (73% vs. 44%; P=0.073) but better differentiated lesions than non-cirrhotics (P=0.041). The median overall survival of cirrhotics was 34 vs. 29months for non-cirrhotics (P=0.8), and their disease-free survival was 14 versus 18 months (P=0.9). Fibrosis stage did not impact overall (P=0.2) nor disease-free survivals (P=0.6). CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy for LHCC in cirrhotics can achieve acceptable oncological results when compared to non-cirrhotic patients. Curative resection of LHCC should be attempted if liver function is acceptable, whatever the fibrosis stage.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for initially unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Locoregional extension of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) at the time of diagnosis results in a low resectability rate and poor prognosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced ICC. METHODS: All consecutive patients with ICC between 2000 and 2013 were included prospectively in a single-centre database and analysed retrospectively. Patients with locally advanced ICC considered as initially unresectable received primary chemotherapy, followed by surgery in those with secondary resectability. Results of patients who underwent surgery for locally advanced ICC were compared with those of patients with initially resectable ICC treated by surgery alone. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients were included in the study. Of 74 patients with locally advanced ICC, 39 (53 per cent) underwent secondary resection after a median of six chemotherapy cycles. Patients in this group were younger (P = 0·030) and had more advanced disease than those who had surgery alone, and presented more frequently with lymphadenopathy (P = 0·010) and vascular invasion (P = 0·010). Postoperative morbidity and mortality were no different between the groups. The median survival of patients who had surgery after chemotherapy was 24·1 months, and that of patients who had surgery alone was 25·7 months (P = 0·391). CONCLUSION: Patients with locally advanced ICC treated by surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy had similar short- and long-term results to patients with initially resectable ICC who had surgery alone. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for locally advanced ICC may be an effective downstaging option, facilitating secondary resectability in patients with initially unresectable disease.

Outcomes of surgical shunts and transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic stent shunts for complicated portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic stent shunt (TIPSS), instead of surgical shunt, has become the standard treatment for patients with complicated portal hypertension. This study compared outcomes in patients who underwent TIPSS or surgical shunting for complicated portal hypertension. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all consecutive patients who received portasystemic shunts from 1994 to 2014 at a single institution. Patients who underwent surgical shunting were compared with those who had a TIPSS procedure following one-to-one propensity score matching. The primary study endpoints were overall survival and shunt failure, defined as major variceal rebleeding, relapse of refractory ascites, irreversible shunt occlusion, liver failure requiring liver transplantation, or death. RESULTS: A total of 471 patients received either a surgical shunt or TIPSS. Of these, 334 consecutive patients with cirrhosis who underwent elective surgical shunting (34) or TIPSS (300) for repeated variceal bleeding or refractory ascites were evaluated. Propensity score matching yielded 31 pairs of patients. There were no between-group differences in morbidity and 30-day mortality rates. However, shunt failure was less frequent after surgical shunting than TIPSS (6 of 31 versus 16 of 31; P = 0·016). The 5-year shunt failure-free survival (77 versus 15 per cent; P = 0·008) and overall survival (93 versus 42 per cent; P = 0·037) rates were higher for patients with surgical shunts. Multivariable analysis revealed that a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score exceeding14 and TIPSS were independently associated with shunt failure. In patients with MELD scores of 14 or less, the 5-year overall survival rate remained higher after surgical shunting than TIPSS (100 versus 40 per cent; P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: Surgical shunting achieved better results than TIPSS in patients with complicated portal hypertension and low MELD scores.

Long-term outcomes of radiofrequency ablation combined with hepatectomy compared with hepatectomy alone for colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Combining radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with hepatectomy may enable treatment with curative intent for patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). However, the oncological outcomes in comparison with resection alone remain to be clarified. METHODS: Patients who underwent a first hepatectomy between 2001 and 2012 for CRLM were enrolled. Short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent hepatectomy plus RFA were compared with those of patients who had hepatectomy alone using propensity score matching. RESULTS: Of a total of 553 patients, hepatectomy + RFA and hepatectomy alone were performed in 37 and 516 respectively. Before matching, patients in the hepatectomy + RFA group were characterized primarily by a larger tumour burden. After matching of 31 patients who underwent hepatectomy + RFA with 93 who had hepatectomy alone, background characteristics were well balanced. In the matched cohort, overall and disease-free survival in the hepatectomy + RFA group were no different from those among patients who had hepatectomy alone (5-year overall survival rate 57 versus 61 per cent, P = 0·649; 5-year disease-free survival rate 19 versus 17 per cent, P = 0·865). Local recurrence at the ablated site was observed in four of 31 patients (13 per cent). Although overall local recurrence (ablated site and/or cut surface) was more frequent in the hepatectomy + RFA group (9 of 31 (29 per cent) versus 11 of 93 (12 per cent); P = 0·032), there was no difference in intrahepatic disease-free survival between the two groups (P = 0·705). CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy + RFA achieved outcomes comparable to hepatectomy alone. Combining RFA with hepatectomy should be considered as an option to achieve cure.

Liver transplantation for "very early" intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: International retrospective study supporting a prospective assessment.

UNLABELLED: The presence of an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) in a cirrhotic liver is a contraindication for liver transplantation in most centers worldwide. Recent investigations have shown that "very early" iCCA (single tumors ≤2 cm) may have acceptable results after liver transplantation. This study further evaluates this finding in a larger international multicenter cohort. The study group was composed of those patients who were transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma or decompensated cirrhosis and found to have an iCCA at explant pathology. Patients were divided into those with "very early" iCCA and those with "advanced" disease (single tumor >2 cm or multifocal disease). Between January 2000 and December 2013, 81 patients were found to have an iCCA at explant; 33 had separate nodules of iCCA and hepatocellular carcinoma, and 48 had only iCCA (study group). Within the study group, 15/48 (31%) constituted the "very early" iCCA group and 33/48 (69%) the "advanced" group. There were no significant differences between groups in preoperative characteristics. At explant, the median size of the largest tumor was larger in the "advanced" group (3.1 [2.5-4.4] versus 1.6 [1.5-1.8]). After a median follow-up of 35 (13.5-76.4) months, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative risks of recurrence were, respectively, 7%, 18%, and 18% in the very early iCCA group versus 30%, 47%, and 61% in the advanced iCCA group, P = 0.01. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year actuarial survival rates were, respectively, 93%, 84%, and 65% in the very early iCCA group versus 79%, 50%, and 45% in the advanced iCCA group, P = 0.02. CONCLUSION: Patients with cirrhosis and very early iCCA may become candidates for liver transplantation; a prospective multicenter clinical trial is needed to further confirm these results. (Hepatology 2016;64:1178-1188).

Outcome after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy and conventional two-stage hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Although associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) has been increasingly adopted by many centres, the oncological outcome for colorectal liver metastases compared with that after two-stage hepatectomy is still unknown. METHODS: Between January 2010 and June 2014, all consecutive patients who underwent either ALPPS or two-stage hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases in a single institution were included in the study. Morbidity, mortality, disease recurrence and survival were compared. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable in terms of clinicopathological characteristics. ALPPS was completed in all 17 patients, whereas the second-stage hepatectomy could not be completed in 15 of 41 patients. Ninety-day mortality rates for ALPPS and two-stage resection were 0 per cent (0 of 17) versus 5 per cent (2 of 41) (P = 0·891). Major complication rates (Clavien grade at least III) were 41 per cent (7 of 17) and 39 per cent (16 of 41) respectively (P = 0·999). Overall survival was significantly lower after ALPPS than after two-stage hepatectomy: 2-year survival 42 versus 77 per cent respectively (P = 0·006). Recurrent disease was more often seen in the liver in the ALPPS group. Salvage surgery was less often performed after ALPPS (2 of 8 patients) than after two-stage hepatectomy (10 of 17). CONCLUSION: Although major complication and 90-day mortality rates of ALPPS were similar to those of two-stage hepatectomy, overall survival was significantly lower following ALPPS.

Nomogram for prediction of prognosis in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Although recent advances in surgery and chemotherapy have increasingly enabled hepatectomy in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), not all such patients benefit from surgery. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram to predict survival after hepatectomy for initially unresectable CRLM. METHODS: Patients with initially unresectable CRLM treated with chemotherapy followed by hepatectomy between 1990 and 2012 were included in the study. A nomogram to predict survival was developed based on a multivariable Cox model. The predictive performance of the model was assessed according to the C-statistic, Kaplan-Meier curve and calibration plots. RESULTS: Of a total of 439 patients, liver and globally completed surgery was achieved in 380 (86·6 per cent) and 335 (76·3 per cent) patients respectively. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 39·9 and 10·0 per cent respectively. Based on the Cox model, the following five factors were selected for the nomogram and assigned specific scores: node-positive primary, 5; more than six metastases at hepatectomy, 7; carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level at hepatectomy above 37 units/ml, 10; disease progression during first-line chemotherapy, 9; and presence of extrahepatic disease, 4. The model achieved relatively good discrimination and calibration, with a C-statistic of 0·66. The overall survival rate for patients with a score greater than 16 was significantly worse than that for patients with a score of 16 or less (5-year survival rate 4 versus 46·3 per cent respectively; P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: The nomogram facilitates personalized assessment of prognosis for patients with initially unresectable CRLM treated with chemotherapy and with planned resection.

An update on laparoscopic liver resection: The French Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic Surgery Association statement.

Laparoscopic liver resection has been recognized as a safe and efficient approach since the Louisville Conference in 2008, but its use still remains confined to experienced teams in specialized centers, and may lack some standardization. The 2013 Session of French Association for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery (ACHBT) specifically focused on laparoscopic liver surgery and the particular aspects and issues arising since the 2008 conference. Our objective is to provide an update and summarize the current French position on laparoscopic liver surgery. An overview of the current practice of laparoscopic liver resections in France since 2008 is presented. The issues surrounding standardization for left lateral sectionectomy and right hepatectomy, hybrid and hand-assisted techniques are raised and discussed. Finally, future technologies and technical perspectives are outlined.

Systematic computer tomographic scans 7 days after liver transplantation surgery can lower rates of repeat-transplantation due to arterial complications.

Arterial complications are a major cause of graft lost after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of our study was to assess the clinical impact of systematic early postoperative injected computed tomographic (CT) scans after LT rather than its performance on demand in the event of abnormalities. Two series of consecutive transplantation patients in different periods (1997-1999, 231 patients versus 2008-2010, 250 patients) were analyzed. During the first period, an injected CT scan was only performed in the event of clinical, biological, or ultrasound abnormalities revealed by tests performed daily during the first week after surgery. During the second period, in addition to standard follow-up examination, an injected CT scan was performed systematically at approximately postoperative day 7. During the first (versus the more recent) period, both recipients (whose ages were 46 ± 13 years versus 50 ± 12 years; P = .004) and donors (whose ages were 42 ± 17 versus 52 ± 17 years; P = .0001) were younger and end-stage liver disease was more common (34% versus 12%; P = .0001), but hepatocellular carcinoma (7% vs 26%; P = .0001) and retransplantation (2% versus 7%; P = .01) were less frequent. Postoperative mortality was higher during the first period (14% versus 4%; P = .0003). The incidence of early arterial thrombosis (<1 month) was similar (1.3% versus 1.6%; P = .78), but that of arterial stenosis was higher with a systematic CT scan (1.7 versus 4.4; P = .07). As a consequence of the early detection and treatment of arterial abnormalities, the repeat LT rate due to late arterial thrombosis was nil in the second period and 2.1% (5/231) in the first period. In conclusion, a systematic CT angiogram at the end of the first postoperative week reduced retransplantation rates due to late hepatic artery thrombosis by detecting patients at risk who required specific treatment.

A proposed new method for assessing the pathological response to chemotherapy in resected colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Pathological response (PR) to preoperative chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) is recognised as a prognostic factor of outcome. However, the optimal system to assess this parameter is still debated. This study focuses on current methods and proposes a possibly better method for assessing PR. METHODS: Among 223 patients resected for CLM between 2004 and 2011, after more than three cycles of chemotherapy, the percentage of tumour cells, necrosis and fibrosis, and the tumour regression grade were assessed for each of 802 nodules. Pathological response was evaluated according to validated methods and their combinations. A new method combined the percentage of tumour cells and the size of all nodules as follows: , where n is each separate nodule, % is the percentage of remaining tumour cells within nodule n (%) and s is the size of nodule n (cm).The prognostic value of each method was calculated. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 47 months (3-106), the cumulative 5-year overall survival rate after liver resection was 59%. The proposed method categorised as follows: 0 residual tumour; 0.1-6-cm residual tumour; >6-cm residual tumour, and necrosis rate >50% stratified prognosis (P=0.0027; P=0.02), while the other methods did not. At multivariate analysis, our method remained an independent predictor of outcome (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combining the percentage of tumour cells multiplied by the size of each separate tumour seems to be a better method for assessing PR. External validation is required.

Totally laparoscopic full left hepatectomy for living donor liver transplantation in adolescents and adults.

In recent years different minimal access strategies have been designed in order to perform living donor liver surgery for adult recipients with less morbidity. Techniques involve shortening the length of the incision with or without previous laparoscopic mobilization of the liver. Herein we present two cases of totally laparoscopic living donor left hepatectomy, with and without removal of the middle hepatic vein, respectively. We describe in detail the anatomical and technical aspects of the procedure focusing on relevant points to enhance safety.

External validation of a simplified BCLC staging system for early hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim was to externally validate the capability of a simplified Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (s-BCLC) staging system in allocating patients to hepatic resection (HR) and the effect on survival: S-BCLC was defined by only 2 groups: AA included BCLC A1 + A2 classes with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≤ 20 ng/ml and AB included A1 + A2 with AFP > 20 ng/ml plus A3 + A4 subgroups. METHODS: This study compared a training group (TG) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) submitted to hepatic resection (HR) in Milan with another group of patients, the validation group (VG) in Creteil. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided anatomical resection (<3 segments). RESULTS: Overall survival got worse from A1 to A4 (p = 0.0271) in TG (n = 132), as well as in VG (n = 100) (p = 0.0044) with a more important overlapping of each curves. According s-BCLC classification, the survival curves of TG (p = 0.0001) and VG (p = 0.0250) showed a definitive separation in two different staging groups. The s-BCLC provided the best predictive accuracy and it also presented the highest separability index and C-statistics in both TG and VG. On the other hand, in the evaluation of discriminatory ability for death, measured by ROC curve areas, the s-BCLC system gave better results than the others. CONCLUSION: This experience stressed the high value of BCLC system in staging of HCC, but the s-BCLC system seems to be more useful for therapeutic decision making.

Hepatic artery ligation for arterial rupture following liver transplantation: a reasonable option.

Hepatic artery (HA) rupture after liver transplantation is a rare complication with high mortality. This study aimed to review the different managements of HA rupture and their results. From 1997 to 2007, data from six transplant centers were reviewed. Of 2649 recipients, 17 (0.64%) presented with HA rupture 29 days (2-92) after transplantation. Initial management was HA ligation in 10 patients, reanastomosis in three, aorto-hepatic grafting in two and percutaneous arterial embolization in one. One patient died before any treatment could be initiated. Concomitant biliary leak was present in seven patients and could be subsequently treated by percutaneous and/or endoscopic approaches in four patients. Early mortality was not observed in patients with HA ligation and occurred in 83% of patients receiving any other treatment. After a median follow-up of 70 months, 10 patients died (4 after retransplantation), and 7 patients were alive without retransplantation (including 6 with HA ligation). HA ligation was associated with better 3-year survival (80% vs. 14%; p=0.002). Despite its potential consequences on the biliary tract, HA ligation should be considered as a reasonable option in the initial management for HA rupture after liver transplantation. Unexpectedly, retransplantation was not always necessary after HA ligation in this series.

Multicentre European study of preoperative biliary drainage for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Indications for preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in the context of hepatectomy for hilar malignancies are still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate current European practice regarding biliary drainage before hepatectomy for Klatskin tumours. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent formal or extended right or left hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma between 1997 and 2008 at 11 European teaching hospitals, and for whom details of serum bilirubin levels at admission and at the time of surgery were available. PBD was performed at the physicians' discretion. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were morbidity and cause of death. The association of PBD and of preoperative serum bilirubin levels with postoperative mortality was assessed by logistic regression, in the entire population as well as separately in the right- and left-sided hepatectomy groups, and was adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 366 patients were enrolled; PBD was performed in 180 patients. The overall mortality rate was 10·7 per cent and was higher after right- than left-sided hepatectomy (14·7 versus 6·6 per cent; adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3·16, 95 per cent confidence interval 1·50 to 6·65; P = 0·001). PBD did not affect overall postoperative mortality, but was associated with a decreased mortality rate after right hepatectomy (adjusted OR 0·29, 0·11 to 0·77; P = 0·013) and an increased mortality rate after left hepatectomy (adjusted OR 4·06, 1·01 to 16·30; P = 0·035). A preoperative serum bilirubin level greater than 50 µmol/l was also associated with increased mortality, but only after right hepatectomy (adjusted OR 7·02, 1·73 to 28·52; P = 0·002). CONCLUSION: PBD does not affect overall mortality in jaundiced patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, but there may be a difference between patients undergoing right-sided versus left-sided hepatectomy.