[Decreasing morbidity after Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) with technical modification and patient selection]. / Speciális májmutét (Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy, ALPPS) morbiditásának csökkentése átértékelt betegkiválasztási elvek és mutéttechnikai módosítás révén.

Introduction: Resecability of liver tumors is exclusively depending on the future liver remnant (FLR). The remnant can be hypertrophised using portal vein occlusion techniques. The latest hypertrophising method is Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), which provides the most significant induced hypertrophy in the shortest time. Morbidity and mortality of this procedure were initially unacceptably high. Aim: Reducing complications by better patient selection and modified surgical technique. Method: The First Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, prefers the 'no touch' technique, instead of 'complete mobilization'. For optimizing patient selection, an international registry (including our patients' data) was established. In addition to the surgical, we collected demographic, disease, liver function, histology, morbidity (Clavien-Dindo) and mortality parameters. Volume and function measurements were performed by using CT-volumetry and 99mtechnecium-mebrofenin SPECT/CT. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis (significance: p<0.05). Results: We performed 20 ALPPS procedures from 2012 to 2018. The relative volume increment and resectability in our department and among the 320 registry patients were 96% vs. 86% and 95% vs. 98%. Using 'no touch' technique, the Clavien-Dindo III-IV morbidity and mortality rates were significantly lower (22%-0%) than with 'complete mobilization' (63%-36%) (p<0.05). Based on the multivariate analysis of the registry patients, age over 60 years, liver macrosteatosis, non-colorectal liver tumor, >300 minutes operation time, >2 units of red blood cell transfusion, or insufficient FLR function before stage 2 were identified as independent factors influencing mortality (p<0.05). Conclusion: Mortality and morbidity of ALPPS can be reduced by proper patient selection and 'no touch' surgical technique. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(32): 1260-1269.

[Operative treatment of non-malignant esophageal perforations - a summary of our experiences]. / Nem tumoros nyelocso-perforáció mutéti kezelésével szerzett tapasztalataink.

INTRODUCTION: Despite significant development in surgical and intensive therapy, esophageal perforation is still a severe, life-threatening condition. Successful therapy depends on several clinical factors, available medical equipments, but most of all on the available expertise and experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients' data operated at the 1st Department of Surgery at Semmelweis University between 2005 and 2017 due to esophageal perforation of non-malignant origin. RESULTS: During the period above 77 patients were treated. All of them were referred to us from an external institute. 15 patients (19%) arrived in shock. The patients developed perforation in 29 cases spontaneously (38%), in 32 cases (41%) during endoscopy, in 12 cases (16%) due to food bolus impaction, and in 4 cases (5%) following balloon tamponade of esophageal variceal bleeding. Patients were sent to our clinic 2.7 days after the presentation of the symptoms. In 2 patients (2%) drainage, in 6 patients (8%) suture, in 8 patients (12%) funduplication, in 19 patients (28%) esophageal exclusion, and in 33 patients (50%) total esophageal extirpation had to be done. 27 patients (35%) died. Discussion, conclusion: Surgical treatment of esophageal injuries is basically influenced by two factors: observation time before surgery and the presence of sepsis symptoms. We have to perform radical surgery basically due to delay. Waste of time is caused by the non-uniform diagnostic strategy and the delay in the true diagnosis.

From eosinophilic esophagitis to esophagus perforation: clinical management strategies.

INTRODUCTION: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, antigen-mediated inflammation of the esophagus. The disease is most common at young ages, with a male to female ratio of 3:1. Eosinophilic granulocyte infiltration induced by oral/aeroantigens in the esophagus, mucosal hyperplasia, and fibrosis of the subepithelial layers can lead to constriction, dysphagia, blockage and esophageal perforation. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old male patient presented in June 2016 with dysphagia as the main complaint. Workup with plain chest radiography with a water soluble contrast swallow did not reveal any pathological lesions. The patient's swallowing difficulties persisted and one year later he was treated by esophageal food bolus impaction (EFBI) in another institution. A new plain chest radiography with a water soluble contrast swallow confirmed a 9 cm long stricture in the middle third with an EFBI. During gastroscopy, a clinical picture of eosinophilic esophagitis was noted, with partially destroyed foreign body at 25cm and iatrogenic perforation at the upper half of the esophagus. After preoperative intensive care unit valuation and preparation, transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy and cervical esophagostomy was performed with pyloromyotomy and feeding jejunostomy. The postoperative period was uneventful. Histological examination confirmed the presence of strictures and perforation on the background of eosinophilic esophagitis. Elective esophageal reconstruction with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis was performed on January 2018. Control blood tests revealed persistent eosinophilia, while the plain chest radiography with a water soluble contrast swallow showed no contrast leakage. Per os nutrition was resumed and the patient was discharged in good general condition. CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a rare and difficult to diagnose entity due to its non-specific clinical presentation. In order to avoid complications and undesired delay in diagnosis, one should take into consideration this entity in every clinical situation of a young male patient with swallowing complaints.

[Laparoscopic resection of giant hepatocellular carcinoma and the Barcelona staging]. / Nagyméretû hepatocelluláris karcinóma laparoszkópos reszekciója és a barcelonai kritériumok.

Liver resection is the most effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, however, decision for surgery remained confusing. In Europe the most accepted Barcelona staging system sets minimal value on surgical interventions. Long lasting diagnostic steps and uncertainty for indication of resection are possible consequences of this approach. The reported case is an example for the fact that exceptionally large tumor having been grown during time-consuming diagnostic attempts might be removed by laparoscopic surgery. The case hopefully could lead to widespread acceptance of up-to-date surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Vitamin D metabolism and signaling in human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-tumorous liver]. / A D-vitamin metabolizmusa humán hepatocellularis carcinomában és az azt körülvevo tumormentes májszövetben.

INTRODUCTION: 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3 mediates antitumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma. AIM: We examined mRNA and protein expression differences in 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3-inactivating CYP24A1, mRNA of activating CYP27B1 enzymes, and that of VDR between human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-tumorous liver. METHODS: Snap-frozen tissues from 13 patients were studied for mRNA and protein expression of CYP24A1. Paraffin-embedded tissues from 36 patients were used to study mRNA of VDR and CYP27B1. mRNA expression was measured by RT-PCR, CYP24A1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Expression of VDR and CYP27B1 was significantly lower in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with non-tumorous liver (p<0.05). The majority of the HCC samples expressed CYP24A1 mRNA, but neither of the non-tumorous liver. The gene activation was followed by CYP24A1 protein synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of CYP24A1 mRNA and the reduced expression of VDR and CYP27B1 mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma samples indicate decreased bioavailability of 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3, providing an escape mechanism from the anti-tumor effect. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(48), 1910-1918.

[The role of laparoscopy in cholecystectomy in patients 80 years old and older]. / A laparoszkópia szerepe a 80 évesnél idosebb betegek epekövességének megoldásában.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of cholelithiasis increases with age, however, there is still little data about the outcomes of cholecystectomy in patients with age of 80 and above. Population ageing presents tremendous challenges for surgeons. AIM: The aim of the authors was to compare emergency and elective cholecystectomies performed in these elderly patients. METHOD: This retrospective study was based on the analysis of operation type, conversion rate, complications, mortality, length of hospital stay of all patients over 80 who underwent cholecystectomy in the last 6 years at the 1st Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University. RESULTS: 69 elective and 51 emergency operations were performed. In the emergency group pancreatitis was found in 9.8%, liver abscess in 14%, and common bile duct stones in 27% of the patients on admission. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be performed in 84% of patients in the elective group, while in 17.7% of patients in the emergency group. The length of stay at the intensive care unit was 9.1 and 1 days, while the total length of hospital stay was 12 and 3.6 days for the elective and emergency groups, respectively. In the emergency group mortality was 20% and reoperation was performed in 16% of patients, while at the elective group none of these occurred. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe as elective surgery for patients with age of 80 and above. For this reason the authors recommend elective cholecystectomy in this age group.

[The importance of postoperative circulatory alterations in hepatic surgery]. / A posztoperatív keringésváltozások jelentosége a májsebészetben.

There are two afferent (hepatic artery, portal vein) and one efferent (hepatic veins) systems responsible for the unique circulation of the liver. Given this special form of vasculature, acute, isolated (i.e. involving selectively one particular vessel) vascular occlusions may lead to different, however still life threatening conditions. Hence, it is essential to recognize these anomalies in order to preserve the healthy state of both the liver and the patient's lives. Acute circulatory failures are dominantly associated with liver surgery. Adequate therapy can only be provided promptly, if the clinician is well aware of the peculiarities of these conditions. The aim of this study is to overview the etiology and symptoms of these clinical conditions; furthermore to offer technical proposals for the required diagnostic and therapeutical steps via case reports. Furthermore, hepatic injury, caused by ischemia-reperfusion secondary to total vascular occlusion (Pringle maneuver) used in hepatic surgery is outlined.

[Laparoscopic surgery of benign liver tumours]. / Benignus májdaganatok laparoszkópos resectiója.

273 patients underwent elective surgical treatment for benign liver lesions at the 1st Surgical Department of Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary between 2004 and 2014. Laparoscopic (LAP) interventions were performed in 83 cases. Cyst fenestration in 52, and hepatic resection in 31 cases. LAP liver resections were set against to open surgery of paired group of patients with comparable demographic and clinical parameters. Data revealed that the operative time in LAP group (113.7 min) was significantly longer than that in the open surgery group (89.5 min). The average postoperative length of hospital stay was shorter after LAP surgery (5.8 vs 9.1 days). There was no postoperative complication in the LAP group, two wound infections and one biliary collection were treated by ultrasonic drainage in the open group. Three patients were given blood transfusion in the LAP, four in the open group. Operative mortality was zero, and no reoperation required. The surgical technique which is described in detail in the text enables safe resection of segments 7-8 which are difficult to approach. Our data support the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic liver resection after adequate preoperative investigations.

[Laparoscopic liver surgery]. / Laparoscopos májresectiók.

Liver resection remains the method of choice for curative treatment for liver tumors. Development in diagnostic and surgical techniques has improved operative results as well as long-term outcomes. In the last decade minimally invasive laparoscopic (LAP) surgery has been increasingly adopted by liver units. The trend in LAP liver resection has been moving from limited resections towards major hepatectomy. This process, however, is relatively slow, which can be due to technical difficulties of the procedure and fear of haemorrhage. Despite having a hard time at the start, major resections become more common. Up to now approximately 6000 LAP liver resections were performed worldwide, number of major hepatectomies is estimated between 700-800. LAP liver resections are feasible with significant benefits for patients consisting of less blood loss, less narcotic requirements, and shorter hospital stay with comparable postoperative morbidity and mortality to open liver resections. It is an accepted management of both benign and malignant liver lesions. There is no difference between LAP and open surgery in late survival after resection for colorectal liver metastases. Overall survival of LAP resected hepatocellular carcinoma cases seems to be superior compared with open surgery.

Increased expression of claudin-1 and claudin-7 in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Claudins have been reported to be differentially regulated in malignancies and implicated in the process of carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Claudin-1 has been described as key factor in the entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV) into hepatocytes and as promoter of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in liver cells. The objective of the current study was to characterize claudin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as HCC-surrounding and normal liver samples with respect to cirrhosis and HCV infection. Expression of claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, and -7 was measured by morphometric analysis of immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting in 30 HCCs with 30 corresponding non-tumorous tissues and 6 normal livers. Claudin-1 and -7 protein expression was found significantly elevated in cirrhosis when compared with non-cirrhotic liver. HCCs developed in cirrhotic livers showed even higher expression of claudin-1 contrary to decreased claudin-7 expression when compared with cirrhosis. With reference to HCV status, HCCs or surrounding livers of HCV-infected samples did not show significant alterations in claudin expression when compared with HCV-negative specimens. Cirrhotic transformation associates with elevated claudin-1 and -7 expressions in both non-tumorous liver and HCC. The fact that no significant differences in claudin expression were found regarding HCV-positivity in our sample set suggests that HCV infection alone does not induce a major increase in the total amount of its entry co-factor claudin-1. Increased expression of claudin-1 seems to be a consequence of cirrhotic transformation and might contribute to a more effective HCV entry and malignant transformation.

Unusual consequences of 'incomplete' laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

In recent years, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the standard surgical practice for the treatment of cholecystolithiasis. As a recognized technical difficulty, it may be associated with the mechanical injury of the gallbladder and/or spilling some of the gallstones into the abdominal cavity. The actual incidence of the latter complication is ~10%. The removal of lost stones from the abdominal cavity is rather elaborate if not infeasible. There is little information about the behaviour of retained gallstones in the free abdominal cavity. Publications report on subsequent intraperitoneal abscesses and fistulas or on the extreme localization of the impacted gallstones. This paper presents two cases with late complications of the abandoned gallstones or gallbladder. Case 1: A 56-year-old female patient underwent an LC 7 years ago. She was recently admitted with a chronic septic condition and suspected autoimmune disease. Preoperative examinations indicated hepatic abscess. Surgery showed gallstones impacted in the gallbladder bed. Case 2: A 59-year-old male patient underwent an LC a year before his admission. His operation was followed by the development of a septic condition and a subphrenic abscess was identified. During his reoperation, a remnant gallbladder containing bile stones was found and removed. Special attention should be paid to careful revision of residual stones during LC.

[Laparoscopic colorectal resections -- experience based on 393 cases]. / Laparoscopos colorectalis resectiók -- 393 eset tapasztalatai.

Laparoscopic (LAP) colorectal surgery has become increasingly popular worldwide. Large comparative studies demonstrate the benefit of the method, but data about routine application are relatively moderate. This study presents the results of laparoscopic colorectal linterventions in a non-selected patient population, who were admitted to the 1st Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University between January 2004 and December 2011. 393 patients underwent LAP surgery. In 333 cases the malignant tumor indicated surgery. T3 tumor rate was 62.7%. Synchronous liver metastases were detected in 17 cases, three of them were single and operable, but 14 cases were multiplex and inoperable. Bowel was successfully resected in all cases. Complication rate was 9.9 percent. In-hospital mortality was 2.0%. Length of hospital stay of non-complicated cases was 6.7 days. In 9 cases single incision intervention was performed, with an average length of hospital stay of four days. Rate of sphincter preserving rectal resections were 87.2%. 59 (15.0%) patients underwent conversion from LAP to open surgery. Operating time decreased by time, but both OP time and conversion rate were tipically determinded by the surgeon's skill. LAP surgery was found to be useful for all kind colorectal diseases requiring elective resection. Application of LAP method requires organized training programs.

Experience with stent implantation in malignant esophageal strictures: analysis of 1185 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the experience in endoprosthesis implantation in cases of malignant esophageal strictures. METHODS: A total of 1185 consecutive patients underwent endoprosthesis implantation: through open surgery in 42 cases and by endoscopy in 1143 cases. RESULTS: Stent implantation was performed successfully in 61.2% of cases. Dysphagia was resolved temporarily in 6.2% and permanently in 93.5% of cases. The score of dysphagia decreased from 1.93 to 0.38. Complications were detected in 23.7% of patients, and 69.2% of cases were treated by endoscopy. Wound complications were seen in 21.9% of patients intubated through surgery. The mean survival time of patients with esophageal intubation was 5.4 months and that of patients not eligible for stent implantation was 3.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Stent implantation improves the quality of life and gives an opportunity for adjuvant oncological therapy. Evaluation of morphologic anomalies is of considerable importance for achieving success in treatment through implantation.

Distinct claudin expression profiles of hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic colorectal and pancreatic carcinomas.

Tight junction proteins, including claudins, are often dysregulated during carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Moreover, the claudin expression pattern usually varies between different tumor entities. We aimed to investigate claudin expression profiles of primary and metastatic liver malignancies. We analyzed claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, and -7 expression by quantitative immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Twenty hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and liver metastases of 20 colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRLMs) and 15 pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PLMs) were studied together with paired surrounding non-tumorous liver samples and 5 normal liver samples. Strong claudin-3 and -7 immunohistochemical positivities were detected in CRLM samples, each with significantly stronger staining when compared with HCC and PLM groups. Claudin-1 protein was found highly expressed in CRLM, in contrast to lower expression in PLM and HCC. CRLMs and PLMs also were strongly positive for claudin-4, while being virtually undetectable in HCC. Claudin-2 showed strong positivity in non-tumorous liver tissue, whereas significantly weaker positivity was observed in all tumors. Differences in mRNA expression were mostly similar to those found by immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, HCC and both CRLM and PLM display distinct claudin expression profiles, which might provide better understanding of the pathobiology of these lesions and might be used for differential diagnosis.

[ALPPS (Associated Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy) -- faster and greater growth of liver]. / ALPPS (Associated Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy) -- gyorsabb, nagyobb májhypertrophia.

CASE REPORT: 75 years old female patient was referred with large, multifocal colorectal liver metastasis. Prior to this consultation she received chemotherapies of various protocols and series. Liver metastasis, however, increased at about 3 times of the original size during the 5 months of the oncological treatment. A right extended hepatectomy was planned to remove the tumor, but the residual liver (FLR) was found to be too small. Portal occlusion technique was necessary to induce the hypertrophy of the FLR. Due to rapid tumor progression we decided to perform the first ALPPS (PVL + in situ split) procedure in Hungary. After a very fast (9 days) and significant (94%) hypertrophy of the FLR the planned liver resection was successfully performed.