Conservative treatment of gastric perforation after microwave ablation of a hepatocellular carcinoma: Case report.

RATIONALE: Microwave ablation (MWA) has been proven to be an efficient and safe method for local tumor control of liver tumors. Reported complications are rare, but include liver abscess, hematoma, pleural effusion, and occasional thermal injury of the adjacent colon. Intestinal perforation usually requires immediate surgical treatment to prevent generalized peritonitis and sepsis. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSIS: Herein, we describe a case of gastric perforation following percutaneous MWA for hepatocellular carcinoma as a bridging therapy prior to liver transplantation. INTERVENTIONS: Due to the clinical condition of the patient, conservative treatment was considered sufficient. Nine months after MWA, successful liver transplantation followed. Intraoperative findings revealed a scar in the gastric wall with tight adhesions to the liver, requiring adhesiolysis and subsequent suturing. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. OUTCOME: At present, the patient is doing well. No further gastrointestinal events occurred. LESSON: To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a complication occurring after MWA. Moreover, in this case, the gastric perforation could be treated conservatively.

[Early stage liver cancer : Hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Frühkarzinom der Leber : Hepatozelluläres Karzinom.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the most common primary cancers of the liver. The major risk factor for the formation of HCC is liver cirrhosis. The grade of cirrhosis as well as the extent of the tumor itself, can play an important role in the treatment options and patient prognosis. An operation aimed at an R0 resection is the treatment of choice for patients in an early stage of the disease and is associated with favorable long-term and recurrence-free survival. Liver transplantation offers an even better long-term survival rate after 5 years for selected patients with HCC meeting the Milan criteria as the underlying cirrhosis, the major risk factor for HCC recurrence, is simultaneously treated. Local tumor ablation is the least invasive curative surgical treatment, however, it is associated with an increased local recurrence rate; therefore, the early detection of tumors is of essential importance. As tumor-associated symptoms tend to arise only in advanced tumor stages, it is indispensable to identify patients with typical risk factors and to provide closely monitored screening examinations.

[Surgical treatment of colorectal carcinoma in the elderly]. / Chirurgische Therapie des kolorektalen Karzinoms im Alter.

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most frequent tumor entities worldwide. The treatment of elderly and mostly polymorbid patients is an outstanding challenge in view of the demographic change with a continuously aging community. Due to the demographic changes the numbers of elderly (>65 years) and very old (≥80 years) patients are steadily increasing in surgical cohorts. This has resulted in higher morbidity and mortality rates in comparison to younger patients, with increased wound healing and cardiovascular complications but with comparable numbers of anastomotic insufficiency. Multivariate analysis revealed age ≥80 years, higher ASA status and emergency operations as independent risk factors for increased in-hospital mortality. With respect to the localization of colorectal cancer a shift to the right has been observed with increasing patient age. Whether minimally invasive surgical techniques can reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality rates in elderly patients requires further evaluation. Nevertheless, a reduction of both was reported without compromising the oncological result. Elderly patients require individualized treatment modalities, which take the extent of comorbidities and personal environment into consideration. So far, the cohort of octogenarians has not been adequately considered in current guidelines; therefore, geriatric expertise is recommended to be able to make a better assessment of benefit-risk ratios, as age itself has no impact on the decision for therapy.

Recurrent High-Flow Arterio-Venous Malformation of the Thyroid Gland.

BACKGROUND: Vascular malformations and hemangiomas of the thyroid gland are rare disorders. The first case of a patient with recurrent high-flow arterio-venous malformation of the right thyroid gland involving the right endolarynx is presented. PATIENT FINDINGS: In June 2013, a 42-year-old female patient presented to the surgical department with recurrent hoarseness and a soft, vibrating mass on the right side of her neck. In 1993, she underwent right subtotal hemithyroidectomy with embolization on the day before surgery for a high-flow arterio-venous malformation of the thyroid gland. Diagnostic work-up in 2013 demonstrated a complex recurrent high-flow arterio-venous malformation on the right side of her neck involving the endolarynx. Full function of the right vocal fold could not be ascertained. The lesion was embolized again and excised the following day. Intraoperative gross bleeding and scar tissue prevented visualization and monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Gross bleeding was also noted on hemithyroidectomy after embolization in 1993. No therapy was needed for the endolaryngeal part of the lesion. Histology showed large arterio-venous malformations with thyroid tissue. She remains well without signs of recurrence 18 month later but with a definitive voice handicap. SUMMARY: This is the first report of a recurrent high-flow arterio-venous malformation originally developing from the right thyroid gland involving the right endolarynx. Counseling, diagnostic, and therapeutic work-up of the patient was possible only with an interdisciplinary team. The endolaryngeal part of the hemangioma dried out after embolization and completion hemithyroidectomy. Her hoarseness has greatly improved but a definitive voice handicap remains. CONCLUSION: High-flow arterio-venous malformations of the thyroid gland are a rare disease, and recurrent lesions have not been reported. Interdisciplinary management of these patients is mandatory due to the complex nature of the underlying pathology. Recurrence might develop after long free intervals.

Anal sphincter function after total mesorectal excision is comparable to that of healthy subjects: results of a matched pair analysis.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to compare healthy subjects and patients after total mesorectal excision concerning anal resting/squeeze pressure and surface-electromyography of the sphincter. METHODS: Forty patients (9 female/31 male) after total mesorectal excision due to low or middle rectal cancer were compared to a sex-, age- and BMI-matched group of healthy volunteers by means of anorectal pull-through manometry using a microtip-transducer system and by means of endoanal surface electromyography using a bipolar plug electrode. RESULTS: Resting pressure (59.2 ± 3.1 mmHg vs. 68.3 ± 4.3 mmHg; P=0.056) and squeeze pressure (127.3 ± 3.2 mmHg vs. 128.9 ± 4.6 mmHg; P=0.78) were comparable between patients after total mesorectal excision and healthy volunteers whereas surface electromyography amplitude (9.5 ± 0.4 µV vs. 13.9 ± 0.6 µV; P=0.01) was significant lower in patients after total mesorectal excision compared to healthy subjects. Correlation between squeeze and resting pressure as well as between squeeze pressure and surface electromyography were weaker in patients after total mesorectal excision compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Objective measurable sphincter pressure after total mesorectal excision seems to be comparable to that of healthy subjects whereas surface-electromyography is significant higher in healthy subjects.

Early host tissue response to different types of vascular prostheses coated with silver acetate or vaporized metallic silver.

OBJECTIVES: In vascular surgery, the infection of prosthetic vascular grafts represents a serious life-threatening complication. Due to the increasing resistance of hospital micro-organisms to standard antibiotic therapies, maximum effort should be put in the primary prevention of such infections. For this purpose, grafts may be coated with different antibacterial silver formulations. In the present study the different effects of silver acetate-coating and vaporized metallic silver-coating on the vascularization and perigraft inflammation during the initial phase after implantation of Intergard Silver (IS) and Silver Graft (SG) were compared. METHODS: Silver acetate-coated IS and vaporized metallic silver-coated SG were implanted into the dorsal skinfold chamber of C57BL/6 mice (n = 8 per group) to study angiogenesis and leukocyte inflammation at the implantation site by means of repetitive intravital fluorescence microscopy over a 14-day period. At the end of the in vivo experiments, apoptosis and cell proliferation in the newly developed granulation tissue surrounding the implants was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: IS exhibited an improved vascularization, resulting in a significantly higher functional capillary density when compared to SG. Moreover, the leukocyte inflammatory response to IS was less pronounced, as indicated by a reduced number of adherent leukocytes in perigraft venules. This was associated with a higher proliferative activity of the granulation tissue incorporating the IS when compared to SG. The numbers of apoptotic cells in the perigraft tissue were low and did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Silver acetate-coated IS exhibits an improved vascularization and reduced perigraft inflammation during the first 14 days after implantation when compared to vaporized metallic silver-coated SG. This may contribute to reducing the risk of early perigraft seroma formation and subsequent infection.

[Minimal-invasive microwave coagulation therapy for liver tumours: laparoscopic and percutaneous access]. / Laparoskopische und perkutane Mikrowellenablation maligner Lebertumoren: Anwendbarkeit und Effizienz.

INTRODUCTION: Local ablative treatments play an important role in current surgical treatment strategies. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as one of the most popular examples suffers from partly inacceptable local tumour control. Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) is a comparatively new type of ablation promising several improvements. This series is to the best of our knowledge the first within the central European area, which reports on the successful clinical implementation of MCT in a surgical department. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS: A novel 915 MHz system (MedWaves™, AveCure Inc., SanDiego, CA/U. S. A.) was used to treat 47 patients with 80 tumour nodules in 51 treatment sessions. Average tumour size was 2.6 ± 0.9 cm. Indications were hepatocellular carcinoma in 29 patients and metastases in 14 as well as 4 cholangiocellular carcinomas. The approach was laparoscopic (20) or percutaneous (31). High-risk conditions defined by unfavourable tumour localisation like invisibility in native transabdominal ultrasound, superficial tumour site or risk of heat sink phenomena were found in 28 cases (53 %). RESULTS: Local recurrence rate was 17 % on a per-patient and 12 % on a per-tumour basis (n = 9). One patient died because of incurable upper gastrointestinal bleeding during the postoperative hospital stay. No MCT-associated complication occurred. Median follow-up period was 20 months. Local tumour recurrence was significantly different on comparing laparoscopic to percutaneous MCT (p = 0.032, χ2 test), as was global recurrence (p = 0.011, χ2 test). In a univariate logistic Cox regression, tumour size, access and high-risk localisation were significant prognostic factors for local tumour recurrence, however, in a multivariate reiteration, only the chosen access to MCT (p = 0.012) and tumour size (p = 0.044) remain significant. CONCLUSION: MCT seems to be a useful tool, easy to implement in a surgical environment and may eventually prove to be superior to other local ablative treatment modalities. Even unfavourable tumour localisations could be treated safely and efficiently using MCT without increased risk of local tumour recurrence.

[Radiofrequency ablation for treatment of colorectal liver metastases: scientific evidence and clinical reality]. / Die Radiofrequenzablation in der Behandlung von kolorektalen Lebermetastasen: Was ist belegt?

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of colorectal liver metastases is frequently reported, but, however, lacks clear criteria for indication and reliable, convincing results with 5-year survival ranging from 17 to 48 %. RFA may be the appropriate treatment modality in approximately 3 to 5 % of all patients suffering from colorectal liver metastases. To date, RFA seems to be limited to no more than three metastases, each smaller than 3 cm. The main indication remains irresectability due to number, site, distribution and/or marginal liver function. Tumours in the vicinity of larger vessels (predominantly branches of portal or hepatic veins) are a case for controversy, since advances in hepatobiliary surgery enable a proportion of patients to undergo resections which would have been declared irresectable until most recently, and the oncological value of a thermoablation is questioned, as a certain amount of temperature is lost due to convective heat sinks. RFA is not a curative alternative to hepatic resection unless small tumours appear during open or laparoscopic procedures in a patient with elevated risk for early recurrence or postoperative morbidity following liver resection. The inclusion of RFA into a holistic system of oncological therapy is mandatory. Early RFA followed by systemic (regional?) chemotherapy can rather be recommended than chemo only, RFA only or first-line chemo with subsequent RFA.

CCR6/CCL20 chemokine expression profile in distinct colorectal malignancies.

Originally, chemokines and their G-protein-coupled receptors were described to regulate multiple physiological functions, particularly tissue architecture and compartment-specific migration of white blood cells. Now, it is established that the chemokine/chemokine receptor system is also used by cancer cells for migration and metastatic spread. Here, we examined the relative levels of CC-chemokine CCL20 and its corresponding receptor CCR6 in resection specimens from patients with different malignant and non-malignant colorectal diseases as well as in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). CCL20/CCR6 mRNA and protein expression profiles were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in resection specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 15), colorectal adenoma (CRA, n = 15), colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC, n = 61) and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM, n = 16). Corresponding non-diseased tissues served as control. In contrast to UC tissues, the CCL20/CCR6 system showed a distinct upregulation in CRA, CRC and CRLM related to corresponding non-affected tissues (P < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, CRA, CRC and CRLM tissue samples displayed significantly higher protein amounts of CCL20 in comparison with UC specimens (P < 0.05, respectively). Our results strongly suggest an association between CCL20/CCR6 expression and the induction of CRA, CRC and the development of CRLM. Therefore, CCL20 and CCR6 may provide potential targets for novel treatment strategies of CRC.

Treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma confined to the liver with repeated resection and radiofrequency ablation: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical treatment is a common problem. It can be treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or repeated hepatic resection (HR). This report compares both in a retrospective, single-institution database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospectively collected database was retrospectively analyzed. RFA was performed under ultrasound control using two different monopolar devices. All kinds of access were used: open surgical (n=10), percutaneous (n=13) and laparoscopic (n=4). HR was performed using an ultrasound aspiration device. Indication for a particular treatment was allocated on a case-by-case basis; the final decision was often made intraoperatively. RESULTS: Survival after RFA (median 40 months) was similar compared to that after HR (48 months, p=0.641, logRank-test). Tumor-free survival was markedly impaired after RFA (15 vs. 29 months). This difference was however not significant (p=0.07, logRank-test). Both groups were different regarding occurrence of cirrhosis, maximal tumor size, time after initial diagnosis and duration of the procedure. CONCLUSION: In this non-randomized retrospective trial, survival and disease-free survival was not significantly different when compared between patients treated by RFA and HR. There was however a tendency towards a longer tumor-free survival in the resected patients.

Perioperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and capecitabine (DCX) in gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma: a phase II study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO){dagger}.

BACKGROUND: This prospective multicentre phase II trial assessed the feasibility and efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and capecitabine (DCX) in patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Patients with curatively resectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach, the gastro-oesophageal junction or the lower third of the oesophagus were enrolled. Patients received docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) plus cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) (day 1), followed by oral capecitabine 1875 mg/m(2) divided into two doses (days 1-14) every 3 weeks. There were three cycles preoperatively and three cycles postoperatively. The primary end point was the R0 resection rate. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were recruited and assessed for feasibility and efficacy. 94.1% of patients received all three planned cycles preoperatively, and 52.9% received three cycles postoperatively. The R0 resection rate was 90.2%. 13.7% of patients showed complete pathological remission (pCR). Toxicity was acceptably tolerable. Without prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration, neutropenic fever developed in 21.5% of patients preoperatively (grade 3 or 4) and in 11.1% of patients postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: DCX is a safe and feasible perioperative regimen in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma with a high percentage of cycles delivered pre- and postoperatively, compared with standard practice. The high efficacy in terms of R0 resection rate and pCR is very promising.

Management and outcomes of haemorrhage after pancreatogastrostomy versus pancreatojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND: Postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). It remains unclear whether performance of a pancreatogastrostomy (PG) instead of a pancreatojejunostomy (PJ) improves outcomes owing to better endoscopic accessibility. METHODS: A large retrospective analysis was undertaken to compare outcomes of PPH, depending on whether a PG or PJ was performed. The primary outcome was the rate of successful endoscopy. A secondary outcome was the therapeutic success after adding surgery. RESULTS: Of 944 patients who had a PD, 8·4 per cent developed PPH. Endoscopy was the primary intervention in 21 (81 per cent) of 26 patients with a PG and 34 (64 per cent) of 53 with a PJ; it identified the bleeding site in 35 and 25 per cent respectively (P = 0·347). Successful endoscopic treatment was more common in the PG group (31 versus 9 per cent; P = 0·026). Surgery was performed for PPH in 15 patients (58 per cent) with a PG and 35 (66 per cent) with a PJ (P = 0·470). The majority of haemorrhages that required surgery were non-anastomotic intra-abdominal haemorrhages (12 of 15 versus 21 of 35; P = 0·171). Endoscopic or conservative treatment for PPH was successful in 42 per cent of patients with a PG and 32 per cent with a PJ (P = 0·520). The success rate increased to 85 and 91 per cent respectively when surgery was included in the algorithm (P = 0·467). CONCLUSION: The type of pancreatic anastomosis and its inherent effect on endoscopic accessibility had very little impact on the outcome of PPH. This was because haemorrhage frequently occurred from intra-abdominal or non-anastomotic intraluminal lesions.

[Second-look operation in pancreatic carcinoma previously assessed as unresectable]. / Pankreasmalignom: Second-Look-Operation trotz auswärtiger Inoperabilität?

BACKGROUND: The only curative therapy for patients with pancreatic carcinoma consists of -complete surgical tumour removal. Preoperative diagnostic investigations may help, however, the definite decision on tumour resectability can only be made intraoperatively during explorative laparotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report herein on 17 patients who were judged during exploratory laparotomy elsewhere to suffer from non-resectable pancreatic cancer and who underwent a second-look operation after referral to our hospital. RESULTS: During the second-look operation 13 patients (76.5 %) underwent tumour resection, where-as in 4 patients (23.5 %) the tumour remained non-resectable. An R0 resection was achieved in 9 of 13 (69 %) and an R1 resection in 4 of 13 (31 %) patients, respectively. The classic Kausch-Whipple operation was performed in 4, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy in 5, and left pancreatic -resection in another 4 patients. Mean survival in patients after tumour resection was increased, reach-ing 17.6 months compared to 6.5 months in patients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the prediction of resectability depends highly on the experience of the surgical team. Although considered as non-resectable during prior laparotomy else-where, the majority of patients (76.5 %) suffered from a resectable tumour disease. Moreover, most of them (69 %) underwent complete (R0) -tumour removal. Thus, complex visceral operations like pancreatic carcinoma resection should preferably be performed in high-volume centres exclusively.

Hepatic artery calcification in a liver transplant recipient.

The abdominal aorta and the renal, mesenteric, and splenic arteries are frequently affected with arterial wall calcification upon increasing age; the hepatic artery is far less often found to be calcified. We report the case of a liver transplant recipient who presented with a calcified hepatic artery in the liver graft 13 years after transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis. Although the etiology of hepatic artery calcification was unknown, underlying causes for calcification may include chronic hemodialysis for renal insufficiency and subsequent secondary hyperparathyroidism, as well as a calcified aneurysms. However, it remained unclear whether hepatic artery calcification had to be considered an epiphenomenon or an original pathology of the liver. It thus seems unlikely that hepatic artery calcification as a single finding is to be considered a serious pathologic entity, even for a liver graft.

[Pylorus-preserving pancreatic head resection: a new standard for tumors]. / Pyloruserhaltende Pankreaskopfresektion: Neuer Standard bei Tumoren.

Traverso-Longmire pylorus-preserving pancreatic head resection is regarded as the standard surgical procedure for pancreatic head tumors. The mortality, morbidity, and oncological radicality are as low as with the classic Kausch-Whipple resection, with the additional advantage of shorter operating time and reduced blood loss. Important for long-term survival is, however, not the resection of the stomach but the early diagnosis with subsequent R0 tumor resection. Patients can benefit fundamentally from this procedure if it is carried out at a specialized center.

Intrasplenic or subperitoneal hepatocyte transplantation to increase survival after surgically induced hepatic failure?

BACKGROUND: As a basis for future clinical questions, we evaluated the efficacy of hepatocyte transplantation in a surgical model using a subperitoneal or intrasplenic approach for cell implantation. METHODS: In rats, acute liver failure was induced by subtotal hepatectomy. Series of allogenic hepatocyte transplantations were performed by varying cell number, site, and sequence of cell transplantation. RESULTS: Following subperitoneal or intrasplenic cell implantation subsequent to liver surgery, no survival benefit was achieved when compared to the control groups. However, intrasplenic cell implantation 24 h prior to liver surgery revealed a statistically significantly higher animal survival (72 vs. 29%). CONCLUSION: According to our experience, both timing and site of cell implantation played an important role in hepatocyte transplantation. Intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation 1 day before liver surgery showed the best results in terms of survival. Consequently, we were able to establish a model of hepatocyte transplantation which may be the basis for further investigations evaluating potential treatment modalities to overcome deleterious postoperative liver insufficiency.