The multi-societal European consensus on the terminology, diagnosis and management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases: an E-AHPBA consensus in partnership with ESSO, ESCP, ESGAR, and CIRSE.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases is complex. The aim of this project was to provide a practical framework for care of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases with a focus on terminology, diagnosis and management. METHODS: This project was a multi-organisational, multidisciplinary consensus. The consensus group produced statements which focused on terminology, diagnosis and management. Statements were refined during an online Delphi process and those with 70% agreement or above were reviewed at a final meeting. Iterations of the report were shared by electronic mail to arrive at a final agreed document comprising twelve key statements. RESULTS: Synchronous liver metastases are those detected at the time of presentation of the primary tumour. The term "early metachronous metastases" applies to those absent at presentation but detected within 12 months of diagnosis of the primary tumour with "late metachronous metastases" applied to those detected after 12 months. Disappearing metastases applies to lesions which are no longer detectable on MR scan after systemic chemotherapy. Guidance was provided on the recommended composition of tumour boards and clinical assessment in emergency and elective settings. The consensus focused on treatment pathways including systemic chemotherapy, synchronous surgery and the staged approach with either colorectal or liver-directed surgery as first step. Management of pulmonary metastases and the role of minimally invasive surgery was discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations of this contemporary consensus provide information of practical value to clinicians managing patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases.

Clinical Outcomes After Total Pancreatectomy: A Prospective Multicenter Pan-European Snapshot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes among patients undergoing total pancreatectomy (TP) including predictors for complications and in-hospital mortality. BACKGROUND: Current studies on TP mostly originate from high-volume centers and span long time periods and therefore may not reflect daily practice. METHODS: This prospective pan-European snapshot study included patients who underwent elective (primary or completion) TP in 43 centers in 16 European countries (June 2018-June 2019). Subgroup analysis included cutoff values for annual volume of pancreatoduodenectomies (<60 vs ≥60).Predictors for major complications and in-hospital mortality were assessed in multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 277 patients underwent TP, mostly for malignant disease (73%). Major postoperative complications occurred in 70 patients (25%). Median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR 9-18) and 40 patients were readmitted (15%). In-hospital mortality was 5% and 90-day mortality 8%. In the subgroup analysis, in-hospital mortality was lower in patients operated in centers with ≥60 pancreatoduodenectomies compared <60 (4% vs 10%, P = 0.046). In multivariable analysis, annual volume <60 pancreatoduodenectomies (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.18-12.16, P = 0.026), age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14, P = 0.046), and estimated blood loss ≥2L (OR 11.89, 95% CI 2.64-53.61, P = 0.001) were associated with in-hospital mortality. ASA ≥3 (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.56-5.26, P = 0.001) and estimated blood loss ≥2L (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.25-9.90, P = 0.017) were associated with major complications. CONCLUSION: This pan-European prospective snapshot study found a 5% inhospital mortality after TP. The identified predictors for mortality, including low-volume centers, age, and increased blood loss, may be used to improve outcomes.

The Cost of Postoperative Complications and Economic Validation of the Comprehensive Complication Index: Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) via an assessment of its relation to postoperative costs. BACKGROUND: The CCI summarizes all the postoperative complications graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) on a numerical scale. Its relation to hospital costs has not been validated to date. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study, including all patients undergoing surgery at a general surgery service during the 1-year study period. All complications graded with the CDC and CCI and related to the initial admission, or until discharge if the patient was readmitted within 90 days of surgery, were included. The surgeries were classified according to their Operative Severity Score (OSS) and in 4 groups of homogeneous surgeries. All postoperative costs were recorded. RESULTS: In all, 1850 patients were included, of whom 513 presented complications (27.7%). The CDC and the CCI were moderately to strongly correlated with overall postoperative costs (OPCs) in all OSS groups (rs = 0.444-0.810 vs 0.445-0.820; P < 0.001), homogeneous surgeries (rs = 0.364-0.802 vs 0.364-0.813; P < 0.001), prolongation of postoperative stay (rs = 0.802 vs 0.830; P < 0.001), and initial operating room costs (rs = 0.448 vs 0.451; P < 0.001). This correlation was higher in emergency surgery. With higher CDC grades, the OPC tended to increase an upward trend. In the multivariate analysis, CDC, CCI, age, and duration of surgery were all associated with OPC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our environment, the CCI presented associations with OPC. This demonstration of its economic validity enhances its clinical validity.

Fast-Track Liver Transplantation: Six-year Prospective Cohort Study with an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been shown to facilitate discharge, decrease length of stay, improve outcomes and reduce costs. We used this concept to design a comprehensive fast-track pathway (OR-to-discharge) before starting our liver transplant activity and then applied this protocol prospectively to every patient undergoing liver transplantation at our institution, monitoring the results periodically. We now report our first six years results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of all the liver transplants performed at our institution for the first six years. Balanced general anesthesia, fluid restriction, thromboelastometry, inferior vena cava preservation and temporary portocaval shunt were strategies common to all cases. Standard immunosuppression administered included steroids, tacrolimus (delayed in the setting of renal impairment, with basiliximab induction added) and mycophenolate mofetil. Tacrolimus dosing was adjusted using a Bayesian estimation methodology. Oral intake and ambulation were started early. RESULTS: A total of 240 transplants were performed in 236 patients (191♂/45♀) over 74 months, mean age 56.3±9.6 years, raw MELD score 15.5±7.7. Predominant etiologies were alcohol (n = 136) and HCV (n = 82), with hepatocellular carcinoma present in 129 (54.7%). Nine patients received combined liver and kidney transplants. The mean operating time was 315±64 min with cold ischemia times of 279±88 min. Thirty-one patients (13.1%) were transfused in the OR (2.4±1.2 units of PRBC). Extubation was immediate (< 30 min) in all but four patients. Median ICU length of stay was 12.7 hours, and median post-transplant hospital stay was 4 days (2-76) with 30 patients (13.8%) going home by day 2, 87 (39.9%) by day 3, and 133 (61%) by day 4, defining our fast-track group. Thirty-day-readmission rate (34.9%) was significantly lower (28.6% vs. 44.7% p=0.015) in the fast-track group. Patient survival was 86.8% at 1 year and 78.6% at five years. CONCLUSION: Fast-Tracking of Liver Transplant patients is feasible and can be applied as the standard of care.

Clinical Validation of the Comprehensive Complication Index as a Measure of Postoperative Morbidity at a Surgical Department: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Using clinical outcomes, to validate the comprehensive complication index (CCI) as a measure of postoperative morbidity in all patients undergoing surgery at a general surgery department. BACKGROUND: The Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) is the most widely used system to assess postoperative morbidity. The CCI is a numerical scale based on the CDC. Once validated, it could be used universally to establish and compare the real postoperative complications of each surgical procedure. METHODS: Observational prospective cohort study. All patients who underwent surgery during the 1-year study period were included. All the complications graded with the CDC and related to the initial admission, or until discharge if the patient was readmitted within 90 days of surgery, were included. Surgical procedures were classified according to the operative severity score (OSS) as minor, moderate, major, or major+. The clinical validation of the CCI was performed by assessing its correlation with 4 different clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1850 patients were included: 513 (27.7%) presented complications and 101 (5.46%) were readmitted. In the multivariate analysis, the CCI and CDC were associated with postoperative stay, prolongation of postoperative stay, readmission, and disability in all OSS groups (P < 0.001). The CCI was superior to the CDC in all models except for prolongation of stay for OSS moderate and major+. CONCLUSIONS: The CCI can be applied in all the procedures carried out at general surgery departments. It is able to determine the morbidity and allows the comparison of the outcomes at different services.

Heridas por asta de toro, análisis de 138 casos.

OBJECTIVE: Bull-horn injuries (BHI) are unique and there is reduced published literature about it. We present an analysis of a 11-year BHI case series. METHOD: Study of 138 cases developed during a 11-year period with hospitalization admission greater than 24 hours with diagnosis of BHI/contusion. We classified patients in two groups: group A, patients undergoing procedures under general anaesthesia and group B undergoing procedures under local anaesthesia. Variables: age, sex, date, hospitalization length, main region affected, Comprehensive complication index (CCI, ISS, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, stay and mortality. Statistical analysis: t-Student test, ANOVA, χ2 and linear or logistic regression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: ISS was related to hospital stay, CCI, ICU admission and type of treatment applied. The comparative statistical analysis of variables between both groups determined a significant difference in age, ISS and hospitalization length, being greater in those belonging to group A. There is a more risk of undergoing surgery by increasing age, ISS and presenting the wounds in thorax-abdomen-pelvis area. CCI may be a good method of quantifying postoperatory morbidity in polytraumatized patients or in other areas besides the abdomen.

OBJETIVO: Las heridas por asta de toro (HAT) poseen características únicas y existe literatura escasa en esta área. Presentamos un análisis de 11 años de pacientes con HAT. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo y analítico de 138 casos durante un periodo de 11 años, de pacientes ingresados durante más de 24 horas por HAT. Clasificamos a los pacientes en dos grupos: grupo A, sometidos a procedimientos bajo anestesia general, y grupo B, sometidos a procedimientos bajo anestesia local. Variables recogidas: edad, sexo, mes del suceso, hospitalización (días), región afectada, Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), Injury Severity Score (ISS), ingreso y estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y mortalidad. Análisis estadístico: t de Student, ANOVA, χ2, regresión lineal y logística. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: El ISS se relaciona directamente con la estancia hospitalaria, el CCI, el ingreso en UCI y el tratamiento recibido. Entre ambos grupos se evidenció una diferencia significativa en edad, ISS y estancia hospitalaria, siendo mayores en el grupo A. Existe un mayor riesgo de necesitar cirugía conforme aumentan la edad, el ISS y las heridas en tórax, abdomen o pelvis. El CCI puede ser un buen método para cuantificar la morbilidad posoperatoria en pacientes politraumatizados o con lesiones en otras áreas distintas del abdomen.

Pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático, una entidad de difícil diagnóstico / Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver: a condition hard to diagnose

RESUMEN El pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático es una lesión muy infrecuente, sin una etiología ni patogenia claras. Su diagnóstico preoperatorio no es habitual pero, en caso de realizarse, puede evitar la cirugía. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven, con antecedente de lupus cutáneo que, tras debutar con una pancreatitis aguda, presenta episodios de colangitis y cuyos hallazgos radiológicos no permiten descartar la presencia de un colangiocarcinoma, por lo que se realiza hepatectomía izquierda, siendo el diagnóstico histológico final de pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático.

ABSTRACT Inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver are rare and lack clear etiology and pathogenesis. The preoperative diagnosis is seldom made but it avoids unnecessary surgery. We report the case of a young male patient with a history of cutaneous lupus and episodes cholangitis after an acute pancreatitis. As the imaging tests could not rule out cholangiocarcinoma, a left liver resection was performed, and the final histologic diagnosis was inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver.

Revisión histórico - narrativa del ALPPS / ALPPS: a historical review

RESUMEN Las resecciones hepáticas en dos tiempos se desarrollaron para aumentar la resecabilidad de los tumo res hepáticos en pacientes con futuro remanente hepático insuficiente. El ALPPS, descripto en 2011, ha representado un gran avance en el mundo de la cirugía hepatobiliopancreática. Esta técnica acelera la hipertrofia del futuro remanente hepático y reduce el intervalo de tiempo entre las dos cirugías en comparación con las técnicas clásicas. El ALPPS ha ganado popularidad rápidamente, con más de 1200 pacientes incluidos en el registro mundial. Los comités internacionales de expertos se han reunido en dos ocasiones con el fin de emitir recomendaciones, principalmente sobre las indicaciones, selección de pacientes y estandarización de la técnica quirúrgica. Aunque ha demostrado ser superior en términos de resecabilidad (entre el 80-100% frente al 60-90% de la hepatectomía en dos tiempos), su rápida implementación ha sido penalizada con alta morbi mortalidad en las series publicadas, que llega a alcanzar el 40% y el 9%, respectivamente. Además, la evidencia actual sobre los posibles beneficios y desventajas se basa mayoritariamente en estudios observacionales. Presentamos una revisión histórica, describiendo las diferentes modificaciones técnicas que se han lle vado a cabo desde su inicio y realizando una revisión rigurosa en términos de morbilidad, mortalidad y resultados oncológicos.

ABSTRACT Two-stage liver resections were described to increase the resectability of liver tumors in patients with insufficient future liver remnant. The ALPPS procedure, described in 2011, has represented a breakthrough in the field of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. This technique accelerates the hypertrophy of the future liver remnant and reduces the interval between the two surgeries compared with previous techniques. ALPPS has gained popularity rapidly, with more than 1200 patients included in the world registry. Recommendations about indications, patient selection and surgical standardization have been discussed twice in international expert meetings. Although ALPPS has proven to be superior in terms of resectability (80-100% versus 60-90% of two-stage hepatectomy), its rapid implementation has been punished with high morbidity and mortality reaching up to 40% and 9%, respectively, in the published series. The current evidence on the possible benefits and disadvantages is mainly based on observational studies. We present a historical review, describing the different technical modifications that have been carried out since its description, with a rigorous review in terms of morbidity, mortality, and oncological outcomes.

Ascitis quilosa en el posoperatorio de hepatectomía derecha / Chylous ascites after right liver resection

La ascitis quilosa posoperatoria (AQP) se debe a acumulación de líquido rico en triglicéridos en la cavidad peritoneal tras una lesión en la cisterna del quilo o en sus afluentes. Es infrecuente verla después de una hepatectomía. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 44 años con adenocarcinoma a 16 cm del margen anal T3N1, con metástasis que ocupaba casi la totalidad del lóbulo hepático derecho. Luego de quimioterapia se realizó hepatectomía derecha, observándose al cuarto día postoperatorio líquido del drenaje endotorácico de aspecto lechoso, con triglicéridos 223 mg/dL y 77 mg/dL de triglicéridos séricos. Se inició dieta sin grasas, hiperproteica, con ácidos grasos de cadena media y octreótide (100 microgramos subcutáneos cada 8 horas), con resolución del cuadro. En conclusión, la complicación quilosa puede tratarse exitosamente con un abordaje menos agresivo, sin suprimir la ingesta oral, utilizando octreótide subcutáneo, dieta exenta de grasas, suplementada con proteínas y ácidos grasos de cadena media.

Postoperative chylous ascites is an intraperitoneal collection of lymphatic fluid enriched with long-chain triglycerides that results from injury of the cisterna chyli or its main tributaries. This complication is rare after liver resections. Here, we report on the case of a 44 year-old man with a T3N1 rectal adenocarcinoma 16 cm above the anal margin, with metastatic compromise of almost the entire right liver lobe. Following chemotherapy, he underwent right liver resection. On postoperative day four, the thoracic drain evidenced milky fluid containing triglyceride 223 mg/dL with serum triglycerides 77 mg/dL. A fat-free diet was indicated with fat-free protein supplements, medium chain triglycerides and octreotide (100 μg subcutaneously every 8 hours), with complete resolution. In conclusion, postoperative chylous complications may be treated successfully by a less aggressive approach, with oral diet, subcutaneous octreotide, fat-free diet supplemented with proteins and medium chain fatty acids.

Review of the treatment of liver hydatid cysts.

UNLABELLED: A review was carried out in Medline, LILACS and the Cochrane Library. Our database search strategy included the following terms: "hydatid cyst", "liver", "management", "meta-analysis" and "randomized controlled trial". No language limits were used in the literature search. The latest electronic search date was the 7(th) of January 2014. INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: all relevant studies on the assessment of therapeutic methods for hydatid cysts of the liver were considered for analysis. Information from editorials, letters to publishers, low quality review articles and studies done on animals were excluded from analysis. Additionally, well-structured abstracts from relevant articles were selected and accepted for analysis. Standardized forms were designed for data extraction; two investigators entered the data on patient demographics, methodology, recurrence of HC, mean cyst size and number of cysts per group. Four hundred and fourteen articles were identified using the previously described search strategy. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria detailed above, 57 articles were selected for final analysis: one meta-analysis, 9 randomized clinical trials, 5 non-randomized comparative prospective studies, 7 non-comparative prospective studies, and 34 retrospective studies (12 comparative and 22 non-comparative). Our results indicate that antihelminthic treatment alone is not the ideal treatment for liver hydatid cysts. More studies in the literature support the effectiveness of radical treatment compared with conservative treatment. Conservative surgery with omentoplasty is effective in preventing postoperative complications. A laparoscopic approach is safe in some situations. Percutaneous drainage with albendazole therapy is a safe and effective alternative treatment for hydatid cysts of the liver. Radical surgery with pre- and post-operative administration of albendazole is the best treatment option for liver hydatid cysts due to low recurrence and complication rates.

Metástasis poco frecuente del carcinoma renal de células claras / Unusual metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

El ligamento falciforme es una reflexión peritoneal abdominal relacionada con la superficie anterior del hígado, que en su borde inferior libre contiene el ligamento redondo (LR); las lesiones únicas en este son infrecuentes. Presentamos un caso de metástasis única en el ligamento redondo en un paciente con antecedente de carcinoma renal de células claras. Realizamos una búsqueda bibliográfica para identificar casos similares. Nuestro paciente es un varón de 71 años con antecedente de carcinoma renal de células tratado con nefrectomía radical izquierda laparoscópica (estadio pT3a). En tomografía computarizada (TC) control a los 5 años se evidencia lesión focal en la periferia del segmento IVa, ante la sospecha de malignidad, se realiza laparotomía exploradora revisando toda la cavidad abdominal sin evidenciar otros implantes peritoneales. Se halla un nódulo de 1 cm en el ligamento redondo y se realiza su exéresis completa, con diagnóstico anatomopatológico de metástasis de células claras. El LR generalmente está afectado en casos de carcinomatosis peritoneal y solo existen dos casos publicados de metástasis únicas.

The falciform ligament is a peritoneal reflection that attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall; its lower edge contains the round ligament (RL). Single lesions in the RL are rare and usually correspond to perivascular epithelioid cell tumors. We present a case report of a single metastasis in the RL in a patient with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who underwent surgery five years ago. We conducted a literature review to identify similar cases and we found two case reports of single metastasis in the RL. Our patient was a 71-year-old man with a history of renal cell carcinoma who underwent left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (stage pT3a), laparoscopic right adrenalectomy and total thyroidectomy due to multinodular goiter. The pathological examination revealed metastases of renal cell carcinoma. A computed tomography (CT) scan performed at 5-year follow-up showed a focal lesion in segment IVa with no FDG uptake in the PET scan, but as malignancy was suspected, the patient underwent exploratory laparatomy with no evidence of peritoneal implants. A 1-cm node was found in the round ligament that was completely resected. The pathological examination revealed metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The RL is involved in cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis and only two cases of single metastasis have been reported: in one patient with papillary renal cell carcinoma pT1aN0 and another one with left breast adenocarcinoma.

Complete clinical response of liver metastasis after chemotherapy: To resect or not?

This paper aims to update the therapeutical strategies in liver metastasis with complete clinical response (CCR) after chemotherapy and to determine if surgery is always necessary after CCR. The aim of chemotherapy is to achieve a good clinical response rather than CCR of liver metastasis. The CCR of liver metastasis after chemotherapy cannot be considered synonymous with a cure. The resection of the hepatic segment where there was hepatic metastases with CCR after chemotherapy theoretically prevents recurrence, improves survival and makes it possible to confirm whether there has been a complete pathological response. However, the medical literature about this topic is scarce and sometimes contradictory.