European validation of the classification for the anticipated difficulty of liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate risk stratification for the difficulty of liver transplantation (LT) is essential to guide the selection and acceptance of grafts and avoid morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Based on 987 LTs collected from 5 centers, perioperative outcomes were analyzed across the 3 difficulty levels. Each LT was retrospectively scored from 0 to 10. Scores of 0-2, 3-5 and 6-10 were then translated into respective difficulty levels: low, moderate and high. Complications were reported according to the comprehensive complication index (CCI). RESULTS: The difficulty level of LT in 524 (53%), 323 (32%), and 140 (14%) patients was classified as low, moderate and high, respectively. The values of major intraoperative outcomes, such as cold ischemia time (p = 0.04) and operative time (p < 0.0001) increased gradually with statistically significant values among difficulty levels. There was a corresponding increase in CCI (p = 0.04), severe complication rates (p = 0.05) and length of ICU (p = 0.01) and hospital (p = 0.004) stays across the different difficulty levels. CONCLUSION: The LT difficulty classification has been validated.

Comparing indications, complexity and outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection between centers with and without a liver transplant program: a French nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: There are no data to evaluate the difference in populations and impact of centers with liver transplant programs in performing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). METHODS: This was a multicenter study including patients undergoing LLR for benign and malignant tumors at 27 French centers from 1996 to 2018. The main outcomes were postoperative severe morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 3154 patients were included, and 14 centers were classified as transplant centers (N = 2167 patients, 68.7 %). The transplant centers performed more difficult LLRs and more resections for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who more frequently had cirrhosis. A higher rate of performing the Pringle maneuver, a lower rate of blood loss and a higher rate of open conversion (all p < 0.05) were observed in the transplant centers. There was no association between the presence of a liver transplant program and either postoperative severe morbidity (<10 % in each group; p = 0.228) or mortality (1 % in each group; p = 0.915). CONCLUSIONS: Most HCCs, difficult LLRs, and cirrhotic patients are treated in transplant centers. We show that all centers can achieve comparable safety and quality of care in LLR independent of the presence of a liver transplant program.

Multi-visceral resection for left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a multicenter retrospective analysis from European countries.

BACKGROUND: Due to delayed diagnosis and a lower surgical indication rate, left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often associated with a poor prognosis in comparison to pancreatic head tumors. Multi-visceral resections (MVR) associated with distal pancreatectomy could be proposed for patients presenting with locally infiltrating disease. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a multi-centric cohort of left-sided PDAC patients operated on from 2009 to 2020. Thirteen European high-volume HPB centers participated in this study. We analyzed patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy (DP) associated with MVR and compared them to standard DP patients. RESULTS: Among 258 patients treated curatively for PDAC of the body and tail, 28 patients successfully underwent MVR. A longer operative time was observed in the MVR group (295 min +/- 74 vs. 250 min +/- 96, p= 0.248). The post-operative complication rate was comparable between the two groups (46.4% in the MVR group vs. 62.2% in the control group, p= 0.108). The incidence of positive margin (R1) was similar between the two groups (28.6% vs. 26.6%; p=0.827). After a median follow-up of 25 (9-111) months, overall survival was comparable between the two groups (p= 0.519). CONCLUSIONS: Multi-visceral resection in left-sided pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is safe and feasible and should be considered in selected cases as it seems to provide acceptable surgical and oncological outcomes.

Treatment strategies to resectable metachronous colorectal liver metastases after adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for primary colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: outcome of patients who develop resectable metachronous colorectal liver metastases (CLM) after adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for Stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) is not well defined and the value of preoperative chemotherapy is controversial. METHODS: From 2006 to 2013, all patients undergoing liver resection for Class I metachronous CLM after adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for CRC, across 32 French academic centers, were included. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients with an average of 2 ± 1 CLM were included. Thirty-two (52%) patients received preoperative chemotherapy. There was no significant difference in the characteristics of CLM between patients with or without preoperative chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 29 months, 3-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 79.8% and 34.6%, respectively. The median disease-free survival was not different in patients with or without preoperative chemotherapy (17 vs. 35 months respectively, p = 0.112). In multivariate analysis, only CEA level > 200 ng/ml was associated with the risk of recurrence (p = 0.027; OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 1.2-18.7). CONCLUSION: Liver resection provides a good outcome in patients with limited metachronous CLM after adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for CRC. The interest of preoperative chemotherapy is not obvious and should be tested in a prospective controlled study.

Progression of AFP SCORE is a Preoperative Predictive Factor of Microvascular Invasion in Selected Patients Meeting Liver Transplantation Criteria for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Microvascular invasion (MVI) is one of the main prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT), but its occurrence is unpredictable before surgery. The alpha fetoprotein (AFP) model (composite score including size, number, AFP), currently used in France, defines the selection criteria for LT. This study's aim was to evaluate the preoperative predictive value of AFP SCORE progression on MVI and overall survival during the waiting period for LT. Data regarding LT recipients for HCC from 2007 to 2015 were retrospectively collected from a single institutional database. Among 159 collected cases, 34 patients progressed according to AFP SCORE from diagnosis until LT. MVI was shown to be an independent histopathological prognostic factor according to Cox regression and competing risk analysis in our cohort. AFP SCORE progression was the only preoperative predictive factor of MVI (OR = 10.79 [2.35-49.4]; p 0.002). The 5-year overall survival in the progression and no progression groups was 63.9% vs. 86.3%, respectively (p = 0.001). Cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence was significantly different between the progression and no progression groups (Sub-HR = 4.89 [CI 2-11.98]). In selected patients, the progression of AFP SCORE during the waiting period can be a useful preoperative tool to predict MVI.

Liver transplantation for iatrogenic bile duct injury during cholecystectomy: a French retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Major bile duct injuries (BDI) following cholecystectomy require complex reconstructive surgery. The aim was to collect the liver transplantations (LT) performed in France for major BDI following cholecystectomy, to analyze the risk factors and to report the results. METHODS: National multicenter observational retrospective study. All the patients who underwent a LT in France between 1994 and 2017, for BDI following cholecystectomy, were included. RESULTS: 30 patients were included. 25 BDI occurred in non hepato-biliary expert centers, 20 were initially treated in these centers. Median time between injury and LT was 3 years in case of an associated vascular injury (11 injuries), versus 11.7 years without vascular injury (p = 0.006). Post-transplant morbidity rate was 86.7%, mortality 23.5% at 5 years. CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic BDI remains a real concern with severe cases, associated with vascular damages or leading to cirrhosis, with no solution but LT. It is associated with high morbidity and not optimal results. This enlights the necessity of early referral of all major BDI in expert centers to prevent dramatic outcome. Decision to perform transplantation should be taken before dismal infectious situations or biliary cirrhosis and access to graft should be facilitated by Organ Sharing Organizations.

The Oncologic Impact of Pancreatic Fistula After Distal Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Body and the Tail: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) on patient disease-specific survival and recurrence after curative distal pancreatectomy (DP) for pancreatic cancer. DESIGN: This was a retrospective case-control analysis. METHODS: We examined the data of adult patients with a diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) of the body and tail of the pancreas undergoing curative DP, over a 10-year period in 12 European surgical departments, from a prospectively implemented database. RESULTS: Among the 382 included patients, 283 met the strict inclusion criteria; 139 were males (49.1%) and the median age of the entire population was 70 years (range 37-88). A total of 121 POPFs were observed (42.8%), 42 (14.9%) of which were CR-POPFs. The median follow-up period was 24 months (range 3-120). Although poorer in the POPF group, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) did not differ significantly between patients with and without CR-POPF (p = 0.224 and p = 0.165, respectively). CR-POPF was not significantly associated with local or peritoneal recurrence (p = 0.559 and p = 0.302, respectively). A smaller percentage of patients benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy after POPF (76.2% vs. 83.8%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.228). CONCLUSIONS: CR-POPF is a major complication after DP but it did not affect the postoperative therapeutic path or long-term oncologic outcomes. CR-POPF was not a predictive factor for disease recurrence and was not associated with an increased incidence of peritoneal or local relapse. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04348084.

One-shot side-to-side anastomosis (OSSSA) with stapler for cavo-cavostomy in liver transplantation: the first step towards a fully mechanized liver transplant?

BACKGROUND: In literature, a variety of caval reconstruction techniques for liver transplantation have been reported. The piggyback technique preserves the recipient's caval vein which is directly anastomosed to donor's inferior vena cava (IVC) allowing for the reduction of hemodynamic compromise during liver transplantation. METHODS: Herein, we present our standardized step-by-step technique for the realization of a caval one-shot side-to-side anastomosis (OSSSA) using a linear stapler. A Satinsky vascular clamp is placed in a top down direction to realize a longitudinal partial clamping of the recipient IVC. A 1-cm venotomy is then performed on the anterior wall of the recipient IVC to permit the easy introduction of the vascular stapler arm in order to perform the mechanical anastomosis. Portal vein, hepatic artery, and biliary anastomosis are then completed in standard fashion. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the manual one, this mechanical anastomosis permits to reduce operative time, caval and portal vein clamping, warm ischemia time, and visceral congestion. RESULTS: In our opinion, this is a rapid, easy, safe, and reproducible technique to perform the side-to-side cavocaval anastomosis during liver transplantation in selected patients when a manual anastomosis may be technically challenging.

Endovascular balloon occlusion during reconstruction of portal vein injury.

PURPOSE: Repair of portal vein injury in a hostile abdomen can be very challenging, complicated by massive hemorrhage or stenosis. It can seldom be successfully carried out, even by experienced hepatobiliary surgeons. The ideal venous clamping technique is often not feasible and increases the risk of lethal portal vein laceration. The common mistake being the forceful use of clamps around the vein in the attempt to obtain vascular control, resulting in additional injuries. METHODS: We provide a descriptive report of two cases detailing a careful step-by-step technique for the management of portal vein injury by inserting an endovascular balloon inflated with serum to control bleeding and repair the vein. RESULTS: In patients who required this technique, no bleeding recurrence, nor portal vein thrombosis or stenosis was detected by CT-scan during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The endovascular balloon occlusion technique for the reconstruction of portal vein injuries in hostile abdomen is a safe and life-saving procedure that should be part of the armamentarium of visceral surgeons.

Are the recommendations for post-operative antibiotics in patients with grade I or II acute calculous cholecystitis being applied in clinical practice?

BACKGROUND: There is a level-1 evidence indicating that postoperative antibiotics are unnecessary following cholecystectomy for grade I or II acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC). We wanted to evaluate the applications of this recommendation in clinical practice four years after the original publication in ABCAL-participating centers. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients operated for grade I or II ACC from January to December 2016 in ABCAL-participating centers was performed. Inclusion criteria were the same as for the ABCAL-study. The primary endpoint was the postoperative antibiotic administration rate. The secondary endpoints were postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 283 patients included, 64% received postoperative antibiotics. Only 19% received antibiotics after POD1. The perioperative outcomes were similar between those that did or did not receive antibiotics after POD1. The median [range] length of stay was significantly shorter in patients who did not receive postoperative antibiotics (4 days [1-20]) compared to the others (6 days [1-50], p > 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite strong recommendations included in the Tokyo 2018 guidelines, the results of the ABCAL-study are poorly applied even if the absence of postoperative antibiotics has no impact on morbidity. It is important to stress that postoperative antibiotics are not necessary after cholecystectomy for grade I or II ACC.

Integration of an Addiction Team in a Liver Transplantation Center.

Up to 50% of liver transplantation (LT) recipients with known or clandestine alcohol-use disorder (AUD) before surgery return to alcohol use after LT. However, only severe alcohol relapse, which varies in frequency from 11% to 26% of patients, has an impact on longterm survival and significantly decreases survival rates after 10 years. Therefore, it is crucial to identify patients with the highest risk of severe relapse in order to arrange specific, standardized monitoring by an addiction team before and after LT. The aims of this study were to describe the effects of combined management of AUD on the rate of severe alcohol relapse and to determine the risk factors before LT that predict severe relapse. Patients transplanted between January 2008 and December 2014 who had met with the LT team's addiction specialist were included in the study. Patients who exhibited alcohol-related relapse risk factors received specific addiction follow-up. A total of 235 patients were enrolled in the study. Most of them were men (79%), and the mean age at the time of the LT was 55.7 years. Severe relapse occurred in only 9% of the transplant recipients. Alcohol-related factors of severe relapse were a pretransplant abstinence of 6 months and family, legal, or professional consequences of alcohol consumption, whereas the nonalcohol-related factors were being single and being eligible for a disability pension. In conclusion, the integration of an addiction team in a LT center may be beneficial. The addiction specialist can identify patients at risk of severe relapse in the pretransplantation period and hence arrange for specific follow-up.

Microvascular invasion is a major prognostic factor after pancreatico-duodenectomy for adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular invasion (MVI) has been proved to be poor prognostic factor in many cancers. To date, only one study published highlights the relationship between this factor and the natural history of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of MVI, on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), after pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma. Secondarily, we aim to demonstrate that MVI is the most important factor to predict OS after surgery compared with resection margin (RM) and lymph node (LN) status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2015 and December 2017, 158 PD were performed in two hepato-bilio-pancreatic (HBP) centers. Among these, only 79 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study. Clinical-pathological data and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS: Of the 79 patients in the cohort, MVI was identified in 35 (44.3%). In univariate analysis, MVI (P = .012 and P < .0001), RM (P = .023 and P = .021), and LN status (P < .0001 and P = .0001) were significantly associated with DFS and OS. A less than 1 mm margin clearance did not influence relapse (P = .72) or long-term survival (P = .48). LN ratio > 0.226 had a negative impact on OS (P = .044). In multivariate analysis, MVI and RM persisted as independent prognostic factors of DFS (P = .0075 and P = .0098, respectively) and OS (P < .0001 and P = .0194, respectively). Using the likelihood ratio test, MVI was identified as the best fit to predict OS after PD for ductal adenocarcinomas compared with the margin status model (R0 vs R1) (P = .0014). CONCLUSION: The MVI represents another major prognostic factor determining long-term outcomes.

A retrospective multicenter analysis on redo-laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery: conservative or conversion fundoplication?

BACKGROUND: Nearly 20% of patients who undergo hiatal hernia (HH) repair and anti-reflux surgery (ARS) report recurrent HH at long-term follow-up and may be candidates for redo surgery. Current literature on redo-ARS has limitations due to small sample sizes or single center experiences. This type of redo surgery is challenging due to rare but severe complications. Furthermore, the optimal technique for redo-ARS remains debatable. The purpose of the current multicenter study was to review the outcomes of redo-fundoplication and to identify the best ARS repair technique for recurrent HH and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: Data on 975 consecutive patients undergoing hiatal hernia and GERD repair were retrospectively collected in five European high-volume centers. Patient data included demographics, BMI, techniques of the first and redo surgeries (mesh/type of ARS), perioperative morbidity, perioperative complications, duration of hospitalization, time to recurrence, and follow-up. We analyzed the independent risk factors associated with recurrent symptoms and complications during the last ARS. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism® and R software®. RESULTS: Seventy-three (7.49%) patients underwent redo-ARS during the last decade; 71 (98%) of the surgeries were performed using a minimally invasive approach. Forty-two (57.5%) had conversion from Nissen to Toupet. In 17 (23.3%) patients, the initial Nissen fundoplication was conserved. The initial Toupet fundoplication was conserved in 9 (12.3%) patients, and 5 (6.9%) had conversion of Toupet to Nissen. Out of the 73 patients, 10 (13%) underwent more than one redo-ARS. At 8.5 (1-107) months of follow-up, patients who underwent reoperation with Toupet ARS were less symptomatic during the postoperative period compared to those who underwent Nissen fundoplication (p = 0.005, OR 0.038). Patients undergoing mesh repair during the redo-fundoplication (21%) were less symptomatic during the postoperative period (p = 0.020, OR 0.010). The overall rate of complications (Clavien-Dindo classification) after redo surgery was 11%. Multivariate analysis showed that the open approach (p = 0.036, OR 1.721), drain placement (p = 0.0388, OR 9.308), recurrence of dysphagia (p = 0.049, OR 8.411), and patient age (p = 0.0619, OR 1.111) were independent risk factors for complications during the last ARS. CONCLUSIONS: Failure of ARS rarely occurs in the hands of experienced surgeons. Redo-ARS is feasible using a minimally invasive approach. According to our study, in terms of recurrence of symptoms, Toupet fundoplication is a superior ARS technique compared to Nissen for redo-fundoplication. Therefore, Toupet fundoplication should be considered in redo interventions for patients who initially underwent ARS with Nissen fundoplication. Furthermore, mesh repair in reoperations has a positive impact on reducing the recurrence of symptoms postoperatively.

2018 Annual Report of the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) - 50-year evolution of liver transplantation.

The purpose of this registry study was to provide an overview of trends and results of liver transplantation (LT) in Europe from 1968 to 2016. These data on LT were collected prospectively from 169 centers from 32 countries, in the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) beginning in 1968. This overview provides epidemiological data, as well as information on evolution of techniques, and outcomes in LT in Europe over more than five decades; something that cannot be obtained from only a single center experience.

Primary Tumor Versus Liver-First Approach for Synchronous Colorectal Liver Metastases: An Association Française de Chirurgie (AFC) Multicenter-Based Study with Propensity Score Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Multicenter studies comparing the reverse strategy (RS) with the classical strategy (CS) for the management of stage IVA liver-only colorectal cancer (CCR) are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare long-term survival and recurrence patterns following use of the CS and RS. METHOD: This retrospective multicenter review collected data from all consecutive patients with stage IVA liver-only CCR who underwent staged resection of CCR and liver metastases (LM) at 24 French hospitals between 2006 and 2013 and were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who underwent simultaneous liver and CCR resection, those with synchronous extrahepatic metastasis, and those who underwent emergent CCR resection were excluded. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates and recurrence patterns were investigated before and after propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: A total of 653 patients were included: 587 (89.9%) in the CS group and 66 (10.1%) in the RS group. Compared with the CS patients, RS patients were more likely to have rectal cancer (43.9 vs. 24.9%; p = 0.006), larger liver tumor size (52.5 ± 38.6 vs. 39.6 ± 30 mm; p = 0.01), and more positive lymph nodes (62.1 vs. 44.8%; p = 0.009). OS was not different between the two groups (75 vs. 72% at 5 years; p = 0.77), while RFS was worse in the RS group (24 vs. 33% at 5 years; p = 0.01). Time to recurrence at any site (1.8 vs. 2.4 years, p = 0.024) and intrahepatic recurrence (1.7 vs. 2.2 years, p = 0.014) were significantly shorter in the RS group than in the CS group. After PSM (63 patients in each group), no significant difference was found between the two groups in OS (p = 0.35), RFS (p = 0.62), time to recurrence at any site (p = 0.19), or intrahepatic recurrence (p = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, approximately 10% of patients with CCR and synchronous LM were offered surgery with the RS. Both strategies ensured similar oncological outcomes.

Margin Status is Still an Important Prognostic Factor in Hepatectomies for Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The width of resection margin is still a matter of debate in case of colorectal liver metastasis resection. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for R1 resection. Once risk factors had been identified, patients were matched according to Fong's prognostic criteria, in order to evaluate whether R1 resection still remained a negative prognostic factor impacting overall and disease-free survival. METHODS: A total of 1784 hepatectomies were analyzed from a multicentric retrospective cohort of hepatectomies. Patients were compared before and after a 1:1 propensity score analysis in order to compare R0 versus R1 resections according to Fong criteria. RESULTS: Primary tumor nodes found positive after colorectal resection (RR = 1.20, p = 0.02), operative time (> 240 min) (RR = 1.26, p = 0.05), synchronous liver metastasis (RR = 1.27, p = 0.02), pedicle clamping (> 40 min) (RR = 1.52, p = 0.001), lesion size larger than 50 mm (RR = 1.54, p = 0.001), rehepatectomy (RR = 1.68, p = 0.001), more than 3 lesions (RR = 1.69, p = 0.0001), and bilateral lesions (RR = 1.74, p = 0.0001) were identified as risk factors in multivariate analysis. After a 1:1 PSM according to Fong criteria, R1 resection still remained a negative prognostic factor impacting overall and disease-free survival, with 1-, 3-, 5-year OS at 94, 81, and 70% in R0 and 92, 75, and 58% in R1, respectively, (p = 0.008), and disease-free survival (DFS) with 1-, 3-, 5-year survival at 64, 41, and 28% in R0 versus 51, 28, and 18% in R1 (p = 0.0002), respectively. CONCLUSION: Even after using PSM as an oncological prognostic criterion, R1 resection still impacts overall and disease-free survival negatively.

Major Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases in Patients Aged Over 80: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of major hepatectomies for metastasis in elderly colorectal cancer patients, for whom limited data exist in the literature. METHODS: From January 2006 to January 2013, 3,034 patients underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis in 32 French surgical centers. Repeat hepatectomies were excluded from the study. Based on a 1: 4 propensity score matching model, 42 patients aged ≥80 (OG) were matched with 168 patients <80 years (YG) in order to obtain 2 well-balanced and homogeneous groups with regards to therapy and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The unmatched cohort consisted of 744 patients (OG: n = 42; YG: n = 702). After PS matching, there was no difference in terms of general morbidity, rates of Dindo-Clavien score ≥III (OG: 16% vs. YG: 21%, p = 0.663), surgical morbidity (OG: 16% vs. YG: 21%, p = 0.663), reoperation (OG:10% vs. YG: 5%, p = 0.263), 90-day mortality (OG: 0% vs. YG:2%, p = 1), and total median hospital stay (OG: 12 vs. YG: 12, p = 0.972). Both groups experienced similar 3- and 5-year overall survival (82 and 82% OG vs.78 and 67% YG) and disease-free survival (40 and 35% OG vs. 45 and 35% YG at 3 and 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: No difference in perioperative and postoperative outcomes and disease-free and overall survival was found. Major hepatectomy in selected octogenarian patients is safe and feasible.

Early Hepatic Artery Thrombosis After Liver Transplantation: What is the Impact of the Arterial Reconstruction Type?

OBJECTIVE: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is the most severe vascular complication occurring after liver transplantation, with an incidence ranging from 2 to 9% in adults. Although the ideal arterial reconstruction is often described as a short and non-redundant anastomosis fashioned between the recipient and donor hepatic arteries, there is no strong evidence about this ideal reconstruction in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the type of arterial reconstruction on early HAT after primary liver transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a contemporary MELD era cohort of 282 patients who underwent deceased donor primary liver transplantation from 2007 to 2012. Graft artery was classified as "short" when the section was located at the proper/common hepatic artery or "long" when the celiac trunk was used for anastomosis. Recipient arterial sites for arterial anastomosis were classified in three sites: (1) "distal" (proper hepatic artery or common hepatic artery/gastro-duodenal bifurcation), (2) "intermediate" (common hepatic artery) and (3) "proximal" (celiac trunk-splenic artery-aorta). We used univariate and multivariate analyses to assess the impact of different types of arterial reconstruction on early HAT. RESULTS: Of 282 primary liver transplantations, 17 patients (6%) developed early HAT. Patients with and without early HAT had comparable demographic and operative data. The main anastomotic combination was short graft artery on the recipient-common hepatic artery (n = 111, 39%). A long graft artery was used in 91 patients (32%) and was associated with hepatic artery variations (56%; n = 51; p = 0.001). Arterial reconstructions using a long graft artery (p = 0.003), a recipient proximal site as celiac trunk-splenic artery-aorta (p = 0.02) and the combination of a long graft artery on the recipient distal hepatic artery (p = 0.02) were significantly associated with early HAT. The early HAT rate in patients with a long graft artery was not significantly different between patients with or without donor arterial variation (respectively, 12% (n = 6/51) vs. 12% (n = 5/40); p = 1). In multivariate analysis, the use of a long graft artery, whatever the recipient anastomosis site, was an independent risk factor of early HAT (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.2-9; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The type of arterial reconstruction used for arterial anastomosis during primary liver transplantation has an impact on the occurrence of early HAT. The use of a long graft artery is an independent risk factor of early HAT. Thereby, we recommend the use of a short graft artery with a direct path when feasible to reduce the occurrence of early HAT after primary liver transplantation.

Laparoscopic Compared to Open Repeat Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases: a Multi-institutional Propensity-Matched Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: While uptake of laparoscopic hepatectomy has improved, evidence on laparoscopic re-hepatectomy (LRH) for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) is limited and has never been compared to the open approach. We sought to define outcomes of LRH compared to open re-hepatectomy (ORH). METHODS: Patients undergoing re-hepatectomy for CRLM at 39 institutions (2006-2013) were identified. Primary outcomes were 30-day post-operative overall morbidity, mortality, and length of stay. Secondary outcomes were recurrence and survival at latest follow-up. LRHs were matched to ORHs (1:3) using a propensity score created by comparing pre-operative clinicopathologic factors (number and size of liver metastases and major hepatectomy). RESULTS: Of 376 re-hepatectomies included, 27 were LRH, including 1 (3.7%) conversion. The propensity-matched cohort included 108 patients. Neither median operative time (252 vs. 230 min; p = 0.82) nor overall 30-day morbidity (48.1 vs. 38.3%; p = 0.37) differed. Non-specific morbidity (including cardiac, respiratory, infectious, and renal events) decreased with LRH (11.1 vs. 30.9%, p = 0.04), while surgical-specific morbidity, including liver insufficiency, was higher (44.4 vs. 22.2%, p = 0.03). One ORH and 0 LRH suffered 30-day mortality. Median length of stay (9 vs. 12 days; p = 0.60) was comparable. At latest follow-up, 26 (96.3%) LRH and 67 (82.7%) ORH patients were alive. Eight (29.6%) LRH and 36 (44.4%) ORH patients were alive without disease. CONCLUSION: LRH for recurrent CRLM was associated with overall short-term outcomes comparable to ORH, but different morbidity profiles. While it may offer a safe and feasible approach, further insight is necessary to better define patient selection.

Vena cava encirclement predicts difficult native hepatectomy.

Recipient hepatectomy is a challenging liver transplantation (LT) procedure that has life-threatening complications. The current predictive mortality clinic-biological scores (Child/Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD]) do not take into consideration the recipient's liver anatomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the dorsal sector anatomy of a cirrhotic liver on the morbidity/mortality rates of hepatectomy. A multicenter retrospective study (clinic-biological and morphologic) was performed from 2013 to 2014. The degree of encirclement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) by the dorsal sector of the liver was measured. The study population included 320 patients. Seventy-four (23%) patients had complete IVC encirclement. A correlation (P = 0.01) has been reported between the existence of a circular dorsal sector and the number of transfusions during LT (4 packed red blood cell [PRBC] transfusions in the group without IVC versus 7 PRBC transfusions in the other group). The existence of such anatomy increases the relative risk of early reoperation for IVC bleeding by 31% (P = 0.05). There is a correlation between alcoholic cirrhosis and dorsal-sector hypertrophy (126 cc versus 147.5 cc; P = 0.05). Concerning surgical time, we found no significant between-group differences. Compared to the severity of cirrhosis, an inverse correlation was observed between the MELD and Child scores and the dorsal sector hypertrophy (P < 0.001). No significant difference in terms of transfusion was found between the temporary portocaval shunt group (n = 168) and the other group (n = 152). The presence of a circular sector is associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage during hepatectomy, as well as an immediate postoperative risk of reoperation. Liver Transplantation 22 906-913 2016 AASLD.