An optimised liver-first strategy for synchronous metastatic rectal cancer leads to higher protocol completion and lower surgical morbidity.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal management of rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases remains debatable. Thus, we propose an optimised liver-first (OLF) strategy that combines concomitant pelvic irradiation with hepatic management. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and oncological quality of the OLF strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients underwent systemic neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by preoperative radiotherapy. Liver resection was performed in one step (between radiotherapy and rectal surgery) or in two steps (before and after radiotherapy). The data were collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively as intent to treat. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2018, 24 patients underwent the OLF strategy. The rate of treatment completion was 87.5%. Three patients (12.5%) did not proceed to the planned second-stage liver and rectal surgery because of progressive disease. The postoperative mortality rate was 0%, and the overall morbidity rates after liver and rectal surgeries were 21% and 28.6%, respectively. Only two patients developed severe complications. Liver and rectal complete resection was performed in 100% and 84.6%, respectively. A rectal-sparing strategy was performed in 6 patients who underwent local excision (n = 4) or a watch and wait strategy (n = 2). Among patients who completed treatment, the median overall and disease-free survivals were 60 months (range 12-139 months) and 40 months (range 10-139 months), respectively. Eleven patients (47.6%) developed recurrence, among whom five underwent further treatment with curative intent. CONCLUSION: The OLF approach is feasible, relevant, and safe. Organ preservation was feasible for a quarter of patients and may be associated with reduced morbidity.

Readmission after pancreaticoduodenectomy: Birmingham score validation.

BACKGROUND: The Birmingham score predicts the risk of hospital readmission after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). This study aimed to validate the risk score in a different healthcare cohort. METHODS: From 2017 to 2021, 301 patients underwent PD. The Birmingham score was applied to 276 patients. Postoperative deceased patients (n = 7) or those requiring a completion of pancreatectomy (n = 18) were excluded. RESULTS: Forty-seven (17%) patients were readmitted after a median delay of 9 (range 1-49) days and stayed for 5 (range 1-27) days; 4 (8.5%) died during the hospital stay. The leading cause of readmission was a septic condition (53%), mostly resolved by medical treatment (77%). A multivariate analysis identified the occurrence of a clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, the score criteria, and the score itself as independent factors favouring readmission. Readmission rates in patients with low [n = 97 (35%)], intermediate [n = 98 (36%)], and high [n = 81 (29%)] scores were 5%, 17%, and 31%, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the relevance and robustness of the Birmingham risk score. Patients with a high risk of readmission after PD, identified based on the score, were discharged to a partnership medical centre close to the pancreatic centre to plan readmission and avoid futile unplanned hospitalisation.

Preoperative liver arterial conditioning in patients scheduled for a Mayo Clinic class Ia distal pancreatectomy: embolization or ligation?

BACKGROUND: Liver ischemia may occur during intraoperative common hepatic artery ligation in Mayo Clinic class I distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection (DP-CAR). Preoperative liver arterial conditioning could be used to avoid this outcome. This retrospective study compared arterial embolization (AE) or laparoscopic ligation (LL) of the common hepatic artery before class Ia DP-CAR. METHODS: From 2014 to 2022, 18 patients were scheduled for class Ia DP-CAR after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX treatment. Two were excluded due to hepatic artery variation, six underwent AE, ten underwent LL. RESULTS: Two procedural complications occurred in the AE group: an incomplete dissection of the proper hepatic artery and a distal migration of coils in the right branch of the hepatic artery. Neither complication prevented surgery. The median delay between conditioning and DP-CAR was 19 days; decreased to five days in the last six patients. None required arterial reconstruction. Morbidity and 90-day mortality rates were 26.7% and 12.5%, respectively. No patient developed postoperative liver insufficiency after LL. CONCLUSION: Preoperative AE and LL seem comparable in averting arterial reconstruction and postoperative liver insufficiency in patients scheduled for class Ia DP-CAR. However, serious complications that may arise during AE led us to prefer the LL technique.

Protective peritoneal patch for arteries during pancreatoduodenectomy: good value for money.

PURPOSE: This study proposes and details a simple and inexpensive protective technique of wrapping the hepatic and gastroduodenal artery stumps with a peritoneal patch during pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in order to decrease post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH). METHODS: Among the 85 patients who underwent PD between July 2020 and March 2021, 16 patients with high-risk pancreatic anastomosis received a peritoneal patch. The Updated Alternative Fistula Risk Score (ua-FRS) was calculated. Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and PPH were diagnosed and graded according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery. The mortality rate was calculated up to 90 days after PD. RESULTS: The mean ua-FRS of the 16 patients was 43% (range: 21-63%). Among them, 6 (38%) experienced clinically relevant-POPF, and a PPH was observed in two patients (13%). In these two patients who required re-intervention, the peritoneal patch was remarkably intact, and neither the gastroduodenal stump nor hepatic artery was involved. None of the patients experienced 90-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Although the outcomes are encouraging, the evaluation of a larger series to assess the effectiveness of the peritoneal protective patch for arteries in a high-risk pancreatic anastomosis is ongoing.

Intraoperative frozen section analysis of para-aortic lymph nodes after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX: will it soon become useless?

PURPOSE: Positive para-aortic lymph nodes (PALN) (station 16) are commonly detected in the final pathologic examination (ranging from 15 to 26%) among patients who undergo upfront pancreatoduodenectomy for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. However, after neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) the role of positive PALN as a watershed for surgical resection remains unclear. We aimed to determine the incidence of intraoperative detection of PALN after NAT with FOLFIRINOX for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma and its impact on survival, as our policy was to not resect the tumor in such situations. METHODS: From January 2014 to December 2020, 136 patients with non-metastatic cancer who received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and underwent explorative laparotomy were included. RESULTS: Intraoperative positive PALN were observed in 7 patients (5%). Patients had resectable (n = 5) or locally advanced (n = 2) disease at the time of surgery, but none of them underwent surgical resection. Positive PALN were significantly associated with a lower median number of FOLFIRINOX cycles (4 vs. 6, P = 0.05). There was no significant difference in overall survival between patients with positive loco-regional lymph nodes after resection and patients with non-resection owing to positive PALN (22 versus 16 months, P = 0.16), Overall survival with positive PALN, carcinomatosis, and liver metastasis was 16, 14, and 10 months, respectively (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NAT may lower PALN involvement. We have modified our policy, positive PALN after NAT are no longer a contraindication to resection, rather a holistic picture of the disease guides management.

Double purse-string telescoped pancreaticogastrostomy is not superior in preventing pancreatic fistula development in high-risk anastomosis: a 6-year single-center case-control study.

PURPOSE: The double purse-string telescoped pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) technique has been suggested as an alternative approach to reduce the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Its efficacity in high-risk situations has not yet been explored. This study compared the incidence of clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) between patients with high-risk anastomosis undergoing PG and those undergoing pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ). METHODS: From 2013 to 2019, 198 consecutive patients with high-risk anastomosis, an updated alternative fistula risk score > 20%, and who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with the PJ (165) or PG (33) technique were included. Optimal mitigation strategy (external stenting/octreotide omission) was applied for all patients. The primary endpoint was the incidence of CR-POPF. RESULTS: The mean ua-FRS was 33%. CR-POPF (grade B/C) was found in 42 patients (21%) and postoperative hemorrhage in 30 (15%); the mortality rate was 4%. CR-POPF rates were comparable between the PJ (19%) and PG (33%) groups (P = 0.062). The PG group had a higher rate of POPF grade C (24% vs. 10%; P = 0.036), longer operative time (P = 0.019), and a higher transfusion rate (P < 0.001), even after a matching process on ua-FRS. In the multivariate analysis, the type of anastomosis (P = 0.88), body mass index (P = 0.47), or main pancreatic duct diameter (P = 0.7) did not influence CR-POPF occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with high-risk anastomosis, the double purse-string telescoped PG technique was not superior to the PJ technique for preventing CR-POPF.

Oncological relevance of major hepatectomy with inferior vena cava resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the short- and long-terms outcomes of patients undergoing major hepatectomy (MH) with inferior vena cava (IVC) resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS: Data from all patients who underwent MH for ICC with or without IVC resection between 2010 and 2018 were analysed retrospectively. Postoperative outcomes, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared in the whole population. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis and an inverse probability weighting analysis (IPW) were performed to assess the influence of IVC resection on short- and long-terms outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 78 patients who underwent MH, 20 had IVC resection (IVC patients). Overall, the mortality and severe complication rate were 8% and 20%, respectively. IVC patients required more extended hepatectomies (p = 0.001) and had increased rates of transfusions (p = 0.001), however they did not experience increased postoperative morbidity, even after PSM. The 1-, 3- and 5-years OS and DFS were 78%, 45%, and 32% and 48%, 20%, and 16%, respectively. IVC was not associated with decreased OS (p = 0.52) and/or RFS (p = 0.85), even after IPW. CONCLUSION: MH with IVC resection for ICC seems to provide acceptable short- and long-term results in a selected population of patients.

The iPhone, the reflex, and the vinyl record: is the smartphone taking the best intraoperative photographs?

Surgical field photography is a tough exercise: surgeons dedicate the required time for photography even during complex surgeries; the intense lighting of the operating field works against photography, and the surgeon has to utilise whatever equipment is available. We selected five complex interventions and two surgeons (one with an iPhone® and one with a Digital Single Lens Reflex [DSLR] camera) who each took a photograph of the operating field. The source of photographs was blinded, and the image quality was scored using a 5-point Likert scale by three groups of team members with differing experiences: six senior surgeons, two junior surgeons, and four surgical residents. We evaluated the resolution (adequate for clinical interpretation), colour (appear true and natural), contrast (adequate to distinguish different structures), and overall quality. The mean ± SEM overall image quality was similar for both the smartphone and DSLR (3.7 ± 0.1 vs. 3.8 ± 0.11; p = 0.87), as were most of the scores for each image characteristic. Surgeons seek objectivity and efficiency. The smartphone is a more convenient photographic equipment and produces identical results than the DSLR. Human beings can be sensitive to image quality. The DSLR image was found to be sharper, however, this was found to be imperceptible.

Short-term outcomes after major hepatic resection in patients with cirrhosis: a 75-case unicentric western experience.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of performing major hepatic resection (MHR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis remains controversial because of its high risk of posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). This study was conducted to assess the risk of MHR for HCC in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Patients with Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis and HCC who underwent MHR from January 2000 to June 2014 were retrospectively identified. Risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality using univariate and multivariate analyses were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy patients with Child-Pugh A (93%) and 5 (7%) with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis underwent MHR for HCC. Thirteen (17%) had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A, 39 (50%) had BCLC B, and 23 (32%) had BCLC C disease. A perioperative blood transfusion was performed in 18 patients (24%). Ninety-day postoperative mortality was 9% (n=7). Major complications occurred in 16 patients (21%), including PHLF in 9 patients (12%). A multivariate analysis showed that perioperative blood transfusion was the main independent factor associated with mortality (OR= 6.5) and major morbidity (OR=10). CONCLUSION: In selected patients with HCC and cirrhosis, MHR is feasible and has acceptable mortality, but careful perioperative management and limiting blood loss are required.

Portal vein stenosis preconditioning of living donor liver in swine: early mechanisms of liver regeneration and gain of hepatic functional mass.

To reduce the morbidity and mortality risk for the donor in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), we previously identified 20% left portal vein (LPV) stenosis as an effective preconditioning method to induce cell proliferation in the contralateral lobe without downstream ipsilateral atrophy. In this study, we report the pathways involved in the first hours after preconditioning and investigate the changes in liver volume and function. Fourteen pigs were used this study. Five pigs were used to study the genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms set up in the early hours following the establishment of our preconditioning. The remaining nine pigs were equally divided into three groups: sham-operated animals, 20% LPV stenosis, and 100% LPV stenosis. Volumetric scanning and 99 mTc-Mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy were performed before preconditioning and 14 days after to study morphological and functional changes in the liver. We demonstrated that liver regeneration triggered by 20% LPV stenosis in the contralateral lobe involves TNF-α, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 by means of STAT3 and hepatocyte growth factor. We confirmed that our preconditioning was responsible for an increase in the total liver volume. Finally, we demonstrated that this volumetric gain was associated with an increase in hepatic functional capacity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We describe a new preconditioning method for major hepatectomy that is applicable to hepatectomy for donation. We identified 20% left portal vein stenosis as effective preconditioning that is capable of inducing cell proliferation in the contralateral lobe without the downstream ipsilateral atrophy. In this study, we report the pathways involved in the first hours following preconditioning, and we confirm that 20% left portal vein stenosis is responsible for an increase in the functional capacity and total liver volume in a porcine model.

Role of Sorafenib in Patients With Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation.

CONTEXT: The management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) is challenging, especially if it is not treatable by surgery or embolization. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to compare the survival rates of liver transplanted patients receiving sorafenib or best supportive care (BSC) for HCC recurrence not amenable to curative intent treatments. DESIGN: This is a retrospective comparative study on a prospectively maintained database. PARTICIPANTS: Liver transplanted patients with untreatable HCC recurrence receiving BSC (n = 18) until 2007 or sorafenib (n = 15) thereafter were compared. RESULTS: No group difference was observed for demographic characteristics at the time of transplantation and at the time of HCC recurrence. On the explant pathology of the native liver, 81.2% patients were classified within the Milan criteria, and 53.1% presented with microvascular invasion. Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence was diagnosed 17.8 months (standard deviation: 14.5) after LT, with 17 (53.1%) patients presenting with early recurrence (≤12 months). The 1-year survival from untreatable progression of HCC recurrence was 23.9% for the BSC and 60% for the sorafenib group ( P = .002). The type of treatment (sorafenib vs BSC) was the sole independent predictor of survival (hazard ratio: 2.98; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-8.1; P = .033). In the sorafenib group, 8 (53.3%) patients required dose reduction, and 2 (13.3%) patients discontinued the treatment due to intolerable side effects. CONCLUSION: Sorafenib improves survival and is superior to the BSC in cases of untreatable posttransplant hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence.

Peak Risk of Recurrence Occurs during the First Two Years after a Pancreatectomy in Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

No codified/systematic surveillance program exists for borderline/locally advanced pancreatic ductal carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and a secondary resection. This study aimed to determine the trend of recurrence in patients who were managed using such a treatment strategy. From 2010, 101 patients received FOLFIRINOX and underwent a pancreatectomy, in a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Seventy-one patients (70%, R group) were diagnosed with recurrence after a median follow-up of 11 months postsurgery. In the multivariable analysis, patients in the R-group had a higher rate of weight loss (p = 0.018), higher carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) serum levels at diagnosis (p = 0.012), T3/T4 stage (p = 0.017), and positive lymph nodes (p < 0.01) compared to patients who did not experience recurrence. The risk of recurrence in patients with T1/T2 N0 R0 was the lowest (19%), and all recurrences occurred during the first two postoperative years. The peak risk of recurrence for the entire population was observed during the first two postoperative years. The probability of survival decreased until the second year and rebounded to 100% permanently, after the ninth postoperative year. Close monitoring is needed at reduced intervals during the first 2 years following a pancreatectomy and should be extended to later than 5 years for those with unfavorable pathological results.

Organ sparing to cure stage IV rectal cancer: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Rectal sparing is an option for some rectal cancers with complete or good response after chemoradiotherapy (CRT); however, it has never been evaluated in patients with metastases. We assessed long-term outcomes of a rectal-sparing approach in a liver-first strategy for patients with rectal cancer with resectable liver metastases. CASE SUMMARY: We examined patients who underwent an organ-sparing approach for rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases using a liver-first strategy during 2010-2015 (n = 8). Patients received primary chemotherapy and pelvic CRT. Liver surgery was performed during the interval between CRT completion and rectal tumor re-evaluation. Clinical and oncological characteristics and long-term outcomes were assessed.All patients underwent liver metastatic resection with curative intent. The R0 rate was 100%. Six and two patients underwent local excision and a watch-and-wait (WW) approach, respectively. All patients had T3N1 tumors at diagnosis and had good clinical response after CRT. The median survival time was 60 (range, 14-127) mo. Three patients were disease free for 5, 8, and 10 years after the procedure. Five patients developed metastatic recurrence in the liver (n = 5) and/or lungs (n = 2). Only one patient developed local recurrence concurrent with metastatic recurrence 24 mo after the WW approach. Two patients died during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The results suggest good local control in patients undergoing organ-sparing strategies for rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastasis. Prospective trials are required to validate these data and identify good candidates for these strategies.

Establishment and external validation of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in excluding postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Factors excluding postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), facilitating early drain removal and hospital discharge represent a novel approach in patients undergoing enhanced recovery after pancreatic surgery. This study aimed to establish the relevance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in excluding POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent PD at two high-volume centres was used. Patients were divided into three cohorts (training, internal, and external validation). The primary endpoints of this study were accuracy, optimal timing, and cutoff values of NLR for excluding POPF after PD. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2020, in a 2:1 ratio, 451 consecutive patients were randomly sampled as training (n = 301) and validation (n = 150) cohorts. Additionally, the external validation cohort included 197 patients between 2018 and 2020. POPF was diagnosed in 135 (20.8 per cent) patients. The 90-day mortality rate was 4.1 per cent. NLR less than 8.5 on postoperative day 3 (OR, 95 per cent c.i.) was significantly associated with the absence of POPF in the training (2.41, 1.19 to 4.88; P = 0.015), internal validation (5.59, 2.02 to 15.43; P = 0.001), and external validation (5.13, 1.67 to 15.76; P = 0.004) cohorts when adjusted for relevant clinical factors. Postoperative outcomes significantly differed using this threshold. CONCLUSION: NLR less than 8.5 on postoperative day 3 may be a simple, independent, cost-effective, and easy-to-use criterion for excluding POPF.

Will Patients With Liver Metastasis From Aggressives Cancers Benefit From Surgical Resection?

Background: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of resections for liver metastases (LMs) originating from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and esophagus/gastric cancers (EGCs), which we label as major killers (MKs; overall survival (OS) under 10%). We hypothesized that LM resection must provide the patient with almost a year of OS postoperatively that is considered beneficial. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2020, 23 patients underwent resection for isolated LM from MKs. These patients underwent surgery after a multidisciplinary discussion about their performance status, disease evolution during prolonged medical treatment, and the existence or absence of extrahepatic metastases. Results: LM originated from an PDAC, EGC, or NSCLC in 10 patients (43%), nine patients (39%), and four patients (18%), respectively. The median delay between primary cancer and LM diagnoses was 12 months, and the median delay between LM diagnosis and liver resection was 10 months. Most patients, who had objectively responded to medical treatment (57%), had a solitary (61%) and unilobar (70%) LM. Severe morbidity and 90-day mortality rates were 13% and 4.3%, respectively. Margin-free resection was achieved in 16 patients (70%). After liver resection, the median OS was 24 months without a statistical difference when considering the primary tumor site; 1, 3-, and 5-year OS were 70%, 23%, and 23%, respectively. Conclusion: Selection based on criteria such as good clinical condition, response to treatment, and long observation period helped identify patients with LM of MKs who seemed to benefit from resection.

Closed Cyst Resection for Liver Hydatid Disease: a New Standard.

BACKGROUND: Although radical resections are recommended for the surgical management of liver hydatid disease (LHD), whether closed (CCR) or opened (OCR) cyst resections should be performed remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative and long-term outcomes of CCR and OCR for primary and recurrent LHD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical charts of patients who underwent surgery at a single centre were retrospectively reviewed and compared with respect to major postoperative complications and recurrence rates. RESULTS: Seventy-nine CCRs and 37 OCRs were included. The major morbidity rates were 19% and 5% in the OCR and CCR groups, respectively (P = 0.036). In multivariate analysis, OCR (P = 0.030, OR = 5.37) and the operative time (P < 0.001, OR = 18.88) were the only independent predictors of major complications. The 5-year and 10-year recurrence rates were both 0% in the CCR group compared to 18% and 27%, respectively, in the OCR group (P < 0.001). The mean time to recurrence was 10.5 (± 8) years. DISCUSSION: Closed cyst resection for LHD is a safe and effective approach with a low risk of recurrence. Considering that recurrence could appear more than 10 years after surgery, follow-up of patients should be adapted.

Prospective Evaluation of Resection Margins Using Standardized Specimen Protocol Analysis among Patients with Distal Cholangiocarcinoma and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Using a standardized specimen protocol analysis, this study aimed to evaluate the resection margin status of patients who underwent resection for either distal cholangiocarcinoma (DC) or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This allowed a precise millimetric analysis of each inked margin. METHODS: From 2010 to 2018, 355 consecutively inked specimens from patients with PDAC (n = 288) or DC (n = 67) were prospectively assessed. We assessed relationships between the tumor and the following margins: transection of the pancreatic neck, bile duct, posterior surface, margin toward superior mesenteric artery, and the surface of superior mesenteric vein/portal vein groove. Resection margins were evaluated using a predefined cut-off value of 1 mm; however, clearances of 0 and 1.5 mm were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with DC were mostly men (64% vs. 49%, p = 0.028), of older age (68 yo vs. 65, p = 0.033), required biliary stenting more frequently (93% vs. 77%, p < 0.01), and received less neoadjuvant treatment (p < 0.001) than patients with PDAC. The venous resection rate was higher among patients with PDAC (p = 0.028). Postoperative and 90-day mortality rates were comparable. Patients with PDAC had greater tumor size (28.6 vs. 24 mm, p = 0.01) than those with DC. The R1 resection rate was comparable between the two groups, regardless of the clearance margin. Among the three types of resection margins, a venous groove was the most frequent in both entities. In multivariate analysis, the R1 resection margin did not influence patient survival in either PDAC or DC. CONCLUSION: Our standardized specimen protocol analysis showed that the R1 resection rate was comparable in PDAC and DC.