Safety and outcome of combined liver and pancreatic resections.

BACKGROUND: In Western countries, combined liver and pancreatic resections (CLPR) are performed rarely because of the perceived high morbidity and mortality rates. This study evaluated the safety and outcomes of CLPR at a tertiary European centre for hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. METHODS: A review of two prospectively maintained databases for pancreatic and liver resections was undertaken to identify patients undergoing CLPR between January 1994 and January 2012. Clinicopathological and surgical outcomes were analysed. Univariable and multivariable analyses for postoperative morbidity were performed. RESULTS: Fifty consecutive patients with a median age of 58 (range 20-81) years underwent CLPR. Indications for surgery were neuroendocrine carcinoma (16 patients), biliary cancer (15), colonic cancer (5), duodenal cancer (1) and others (13). The type of pancreatic resection included pancreaticoduodenectomy (30), distal pancreatectomy (17), spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (2) and total pancreatectomy (1). Twenty-three patients had associated major hepatectomies, 27 underwent minor liver resections and 11 had associated vascular resections. Mortality and morbidity rates were 4 and 46 per cent respectively. Univariable and multivariable analysis showed no differences in postoperative morbidity in relation to extent of liver resection or type of pancreatic resection. Use of preoperative chemotherapy was the only independent risk factor associated with postoperative morbidity (P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: CLPR can be performed with fairly low morbidity and mortality rates. Postoperative outcomes were not affected by the extent of liver resection or the type of pancreatic resection. Patients receiving chemotherapy should be evaluated carefully before surgery is considered.

Two-stage hepatectomy for multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: As surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) remains the only treatment for cure, efforts to extend the surgical indications to include patients with multiple bilobar CLM have been made. This study evaluated the long-term outcome, safety and efficacy of two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) for CLM in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery between December 1996 and December 2009 were reviewed. The early postoperative and long-term outcomes as well as the patterns of failure to complete TSH and its clinical implications were analysed. RESULTS: Eighty patients were scheduled to undergo TSH. Sixty-one patients had completion of TSH combined with (58 patients), or without (3) portal vein embolization/ligation (PVE/PVL). Five patients were excluded after first-stage hepatectomy and 14 after PVE/PVL. The 5-year overall survival rate and median survival in patients who completed TSH were 32 per cent and 39·6 months respectively, and corresponding recurrence-free values were 11 per cent and 9·4 months respectively. Six patients were alive beyond 5 years after TSH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that failure to complete TSH was driven by two independent prognostic scenarios: three or more CLM in the future remnant liver (FRL) combined with age over 70 years predicted tumour progression after first-stage hepatectomy, and three or more CLM in the FRL combined with carcinomatosis at the time of first-stage hepatectomy predicted the development of additional FRL metastases after PVE/PVL. CONCLUSION: A therapeutic strategy using TSH provided acceptable long-term survival with no postoperative mortality. Further efforts are needed to increase the number of patients who undergo TSH successfully.

Development of a composite endpoint for randomized controlled trials in liver surgery.

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in liver surgery using a single-component clinical endpoint is low as such endpoints require large sample sizes owing to their low incidence. A liver surgery-specific composite endpoint (CEP) could solve this problem. The aim of this study was to develop a liver surgery-specific CEP with well-defined components. METHODS: Components of a liver surgery-specific CEP were selected based on a systematic literature search and consensus among 28 international hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgeons. As an example, two prospective cohorts of patients who had undergone liver surgery in high-volume HPB centres were used to assess the event rate and effect of implementing a liver surgery-specific CEP. RESULTS: Components selected for the liver surgery-specific CEP were ascites, postresectional liver failure, bile leakage, intra-abdominal haemorrhage, intra-abdominal abscess and operative mortality, all with a Clavien-Dindo grade of at least 3 and occurring within 90 days after initial surgery. The incidence of this liver surgery-specific CEP was 19.2 per cent in one cohort and 10.7 per cent in the other. These rates led to an approximately twofold reduction in the theoretical sample size required for an adequately powered RCT in liver surgery using the CEP as primary endpoint. CONCLUSION: The proposed liver surgery-specific CEP consists of ascites, postresectional liver failure, bile leakage, intra-abdominal haemorrhage, intra-abdominal abscess and operative mortality. It has a considerably higher event rate than any of its components. Its use as the primary endpoint will increase the feasibility and comparability of RCTs in liver surgery.

Is a proliferation index of cancer cells a reliable prognostic factor after hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases?

BACKGROUND: In spite of many reports focusing on prognostic factors after hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases, few studies have investigated pathological factors, eg, fibrous pseudocapsulation, growth pattern at the tumor margin, and proliferation activity of cancer cells, other than histological type and surgical margin. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether absence of pseudocapsulation, infiltrative growth pattern of metastases, and higher proliferation of cancer cells shown by Ki-67 immunohistochemical reactivity were associated with poorer survival after hepatectomy among patients with colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1998, 221 patients underwent hepatic resection of colorectal metastases with curative intent in our institution. Pathology analyses were focused on pseudocapsulation of liver metastases, growth pattern at the tumor edge, and Ki-67 labelling index (Ki-67 LI) of cancer cell nuclei. Univariate analyses of survival and of disease-free survival were performed for several clinicopathological factors, and multivariate analyses of survival and disease-free survival were also performed. RESULTS: The univariate survival analyses showed that pseudocapsulation, growth pattern, and Ki-67 LI were significant prognostic factors, besides synchronous versus metachronous occurrence of metastases, carcinoembryonic antigen level before hepatectomy, and number of metastases. A multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67 labeling index was the most reliable prognostic factor of survival. In addition, Ki-67 LI and microscopic growth pattern were multivariately predictive factors of disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: This large single-institution study showed that investigation of cancer cell proliferation and pathologic characteristics of the tumor margin are major prognostic factors.

[Long-term results of 186 patients with large incisional abdominal wall hernia treated by intraperitoneal mesh]. / Cure chirurgicale des grandes éventrations par prothèse intra-péritonéale. A propos d'une série de 186 patients avec un long recul.

Massive incisional abdominal wall hernias are frequent and difficult to repair, especially when they are large, multiply recurrent and when associated high with risk factors. We report the long-term results of 192 hernia repairs (in 186 patients) by non-resorbable mesh placed intraperitoneally and fixed by fascia stapler. We describe the details of the technique. There were no deaths. Early and late wound infections occurred in 11.7%, late occlusions in 6.3% and recurrence in 16%. Four percent of patients required removal of the mesh. The main caracteristic of this study was the long follow-up period (mean duration = 77 months). In view of the good results (70%), simplicity and quite execution of this technique, intraperitoneal mesh placement should be considered in the repair of large hernias when a prothesis is required.

Preliminary experience with the hanging maneuver for pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Malignant periampullary tumours often invade retroperitoneal peripancreatic tissues and a positive resection margin following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is associated with a poor survival. The margin most frequently invaded is the retroperitoneal margin (RM). Among the different steps of PD one of the most difficult and less codified is the resection of the RM with high risk of bleeding. We have developed a surgical technique - "hanging maneuver" - which allows at the same time a standardization of this step, a complete resection of the RM, and an optimal control of bleeding. PATIENTS/METHODS: We described the surgical technique, and we reported our preliminary experience. Surgical data, postoperative outcome and pathological results of patients submitted to PD for pancreatic carcinoma using "hanging maneuver" technique between January 2007 and December 2007 were reviewed. RESULTS: The hanging maneuver was performed in 20 patients without any intraoperative complication and massive bleeding. No patient required blood transfusion. After had inked the surgical margins, retroperitoneal peripancreatic tissue was invaded in 12 out of 17 patients with malignant diseases (70.5%). In only one case (6%), the retroperitoneal margin was involved by the tumour (R1 resection). CONCLUSION: The "hanging maneuver" is a useful and safe technical variant and should be considered in the armamentarium of the pancreatic surgeons in order to achieve negative retroperitoneal margins.

Patient preparation before surgery for cholangiocarcinoma.

AIM: Multiorgan dysfunction is often encountered in jaundiced patients and may compromise the postoperative outcome after liver resection for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The aim of the present study was to elucidate evidence-based medicine regarding the benefit of the available preoperative treatments currently used for the preparation of patients before surgery for hilar CCA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search using the Medline database was performed to identify relevant articles relating to renal dysfunction, bacterial translocation, hemostasis impairment, malnutrition, liver failure, and postoperative outcome in jaundiced patients undergoing liver resection for CCA. RESULTS: There is grade B evidence to expand the extracellular water volume and to administer oral synbiotic supplements. Intravenous vitamin K administration is an effective treatment. Perioperative nutritional support should be administered preferably by the enteral route in severely malnourished patients with compromised liver function undergoing extended liver resection (grade A evidence). There is only grade C evidence to recommend a portal vein embolization in patients with CCA when the future remnant liver volume is <40%. CONCLUSIONS: A simplified scheme that might be useful in the management of patients presenting with obstructive jaundice was presented. Despite surgical technique improvements, preparation of patients for surgery will continue to be one of the major determinants for the postoperative prognosis of jaundiced patients.

Simultaneous resection of colorectal primary tumour and synchronous liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: The surgical strategy for treatment of synchronous colorectal liver metastases remains controversial. The outcome and overall survival of patients presenting with such metastases, treated either by simultaneous resection or by delayed resection, were evaluated. METHODS: From 1987 to 2000, 97 patients presented with synchronous colorectal liver metastases, of whom 35 (36 per cent) underwent a simultaneous resection and 62 patients (64 per cent) a delayed resection. Simultaneous resection was considered prospectively for patients with fewer than four unilobar metastases. RESULTS: Age, blood transfusion requirements, operating time, duration of inflow occlusion, hospital stay and mortality rate were similar in the two groups. The morbidity rate did not differ significantly (23 per cent after simultaneous resection and 32 per cent after delayed resection). The location of the primary tumour and extent of liver resection did not influence the morbidity rate significantly in the simultaneous resection group. The overall survival rate was 94, 45 and 21 per cent at 1, 3 and 5 years respectively after simultaneous resection, and 92, 45 and 22 per cent after delayed resection. CONCLUSION: In selected patients, simultaneous resection of the colorectal primary tumour and liver metastases does not increase mortality or morbidity rates compared with delayed resection, even if a left colectomy and/or a major hepatectomy are required.

[Is pancreatectomy with resection of the retro-pancreatic vessels for cancer justified?]. / La pancréatectomie pour cancer avec résection des vaisseaux rétropancréatiques est-elle justifiée?

AIM OF THE STUDY: Tumoural invasion of the retropancreatic vessels and particularly of the superior mesentericoportal vein confluence (SMPV) is often considered as a contraindication to resection of malignant tumours of the pancreas. The aim of this retrospective study is to report a series of 20 patients and to demonstrate that resection of the vessels supposed to be involved is justified when it is the only barrier to a complete tumoural resection. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty patients, 11 men and nine women (mean age: 61.7 years) underwent a right (n = 14), left (n = 2) or total (n = 4) pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 19) or cystadenocarcinoma (n = 1) associated with partial resection of SMPV (n = 17), inferior vena cava (n = 1), right hepatic artery (n = 1) and common hepatic artery (n = 1). The veins were reconstructed in all cases by end to end anastomosis and the arteries by direct suture in one patient and venous or artery graft in two patients. RESULTS: Tumoural invasion was histologically present in the vascular wall in nine patients, in the perivascular area in six and negative in five. The in-hospital mortality was nil. One patient had an early venous thrombosis of the repaired SMPV which was reoperated and treated with success by desobstruction and venous graft. The 3-year actuarial survival rate was 16%. CONCLUSION: Segmental venous resection of the SMPV confluence can be performed safely. Localised invasion of the vascular wall, considered as the only obstacle for a complete tumoural resection, is not associated with a poor prognosis. In case of tight adhesions between tumour and SMPV (inflammatory or tumoural) the venous resection may be included in a deliberate surgical strategy. On the other hand, total obstruction of SMPV, extrapancreatic tumoural extension, tumoural invasion of superior mesenteric artery or coeliac trunk are contraindications to pancreatic resection.

Surgical repair after bile duct and vascular injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: when and how?

Recent collective reviews have outlined when and how surgeons should treat patients with bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, little is described about other injuries combined with bile duct injuries, for example, hepatic arterial injury and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Fifteen patients with bile duct injuries following LC were referred and surgically treated from 1990 to 1998 in our institution. We report how patients with hepatic arterial injury combined with bile duct injuries during LC were treated. The present study also reports unusual complicated situations: one patient with biliary cirrhosis referred 4 years after LC, another treated with internal biliary metallic stent referred 2.5 years after LC, and another with isolated right hepatic ductal injury. Short- and long-term surgical outcomes after biliary repair were compared between simply referred patients and those with complicated history. Patients who were referred several years after LC and who were referred after primary hepaticojejunostomy were included with patients with complicated history (n = 4, group B), and the other patients were included with patients with simple history (n = 11, group A). Simultaneous right hepatic arterial occlusion was observed in 3 of these 15 patients, and arterial reconstruction was performed in 2 of the 3 patients in addition to biliary reconstruction. No postoperative complication occurred in these three patients. The patient with isolated injury of the right hepatic duct and the other with biliary cirrhosis were successfully treated with hepaticojejunostomy. The other patient treated with biliary stent underwent hepaticojejunostomy but a second operation was required because of later stenosis. Mean hospital stay was significantly longer in group B (30.3 +/- 6.9 days) than in group A (18.5 +/- 2.5 days, p< 0.05). Rehospitalization was more frequent in group B than in group A (p < 0.01). However, long-term outcome was successful in both groups. The present results showed that arterial reconstruction should be performed when the distal right hepatic artery can be exposed and reconstructed, and suggested that patients with bile duct injuries during LC should be immediately referred to surgical institutions in which surgeons have adequate experience of bile duct repair and hepatic arterial reconstruction.

Hepatic metastases of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: safe hepatic surgery.

Liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumors are usually slow-growing, and cytoreductive hepatectomy can help reduce the effects of endocrinopathies and increase life expectancy and symptom-free survival. However, it has yet to be fully investigated how hepatectomy for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors can be performed safely. Here we report the results of 13 patients with neuroendocrine liver metastases operated on in our institution and those of a French multicentric study that included 131 patients. Preoperative patient selection and appropriate surgical technique, sometimes combined with preoperative portal embolization and local tumor destruction (radiofrequency and cryotherapy), may increase the resectability and the safety of the procedure. The mortality rate after hepatectomy was 0% (2.3% in the French study); the 3- and 6-year survival rates were 91% and 68%, respectively, in our institution (the mean survival time was 66 months in the French multicentric survey). Significant prolonged survival with complete palliation of symptoms can be obtained after liver metastases resection with low mortality.

Results of orthotopic liver transplantation for liver cirrhosis in the presence of incidental and/or undetected hepatocellular carcinoma and tumour characteristics.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for liver cirrhosis in the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is based on tumour number and size. The high incidence of undetected HCC before OLT has been reported previously. The object of this work to report the results of OLT for liver cirrhosis in the presence of incidental and/or undetected HCC and tumour characteristics. From 1985 to 1996, 334 patients received OLT. Two groups of patients were studied; group 1 (G1) where HCC was diagnosed on radiological examination before OLT (n = 13, mean age 53.8 +/- 8.1 years), and group 2 (G2), where HCC was diagnosed on pathological review (n = 13, mean age 53.3 +/- 6.1 years). Indications for OLT were (G1/G2) hepatitis C = 6/8, hepatitis B = 5/2, alcoholic = 2/3. There was no statistically significant difference in alpha-foetoprotein levels between both groups. Pathological review showed 26 and 30 HCC with a mean size of 1.6 +/- 0.8 and 1.6 +/- 1.2 cm (P > 0.05) in G1 and G2, respectively. Tumour stagings were (G1/G2) stage I = 6/2, stage II = 4/6, stage III = 2/3, stage IVa = 1/2. We had two (G2) hospital and three (G1) later mortalities; none had HCC recurrence. The other patients are alive and recurrence free. Reinforced immunosuppression related to acute or chronic rejection treatment was not associated with HCC recurrence. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were 76% for G1 and 85% for G2 (P > 0.05). Our study revealed that long-term survival can be achieved with liver transplantation in the presence of HCC in carefully selected patients.