Long term outcomes of hepatic resection following orthotopic liver transplant.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection is sometimes used as a graft saving procedure following orthotopic liver transplantation. METHODS: In this single centre retrospective cohort study, 12 adult patients underwent resection over a 20 year period, including recipients of split livers and second grafts. RESULTS: Indications for resection were vascular (portal vein obstruction and hepatic artery thrombus), biliary (ischaemic cholangiopathy, chronic biliary obstruction, biliary-vascular fistula and biloma) and recurrence of disease (primary sclerosing cholangitis [PSC] and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]). There was no perioperative mortality. Median follow up was 89 months. At the completion of the study 40% of patients had functioning grafts. One third required retransplantation with a median 1 year 6 months post resection. Three patients were deceased (recurrent HCC n = 1, PSC n = 1 and unspecified causes n = 1). Total graft survival was 91.7% at 1 year, 73.3% at 5 years and 64.2% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection following liver transplant in select patients may salvage the graft or delay the need for retransplantation.

Surgical management in patients with pancreatic cancer: a Queensland perspective.

BACKGROUND: Little has been published regarding presenting symptoms, investigations and outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer in Australia. Data from a series of patients undergoing attempted resection in Queensland, Australia, are presented with the aim of assisting development of consistent strategies in disease management. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 121 patients who underwent attempted surgical resection and who took part in a case-control study between 2007 and 2009. Information relating to symptoms, investigations, surgical procedures and outcomes was captured. RESULTS: The mean age was 63 years and 60% were men. The most common presenting symptoms were jaundice (64%) and pain (63%). Over 80% of patients had multiple imaging investigations or laparoscopy prior to surgery. Seventy-eight patients (64%) had a completed resection and 23% of these had involved margins. The presence of metastases and/or involvement of vessels or adjacent structures precluded resection in the remaining patients. The 1-year survival for patients whose resections were completed was 77% compared with 51% for those whose tumours were not resectable (P = 0.004). There was no 30-day mortality and 68% of patients were alive 1 year after diagnosis. Resections were performed in 11 different hospitals but over 90% of patients underwent their surgery in one of five high-volume centres. CONCLUSION: The Queensland experience is consistent with that reported internationally. A significant proportion of attempted resections was not completed because preoperative staging underestimated disease extent. Most patients with potentially resectable disease are being treated in high-volume centres.

Inguinal hernia: aetiology, diagnosis, post-repair pain and compensation.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia compensation depends on aetiology, diagnosis and complications, particularly post-hernia pain. New studies in these three areas bring confusion to claims. METHODS: A comprehensive research of the literature using Medline: in aetiology, in diagnoses, the use of ultrasound and/or other investigations, in chronic post-hernia pain and the understanding of the pathogenesis of hernia and post-hernia pain. Using the above data, a creation of a protocol for acceptance of compensation claim. RESULTS: Although intra-abdominal pressure has been accepted for 200 years as a significant aetiological factor in inguinal hernia, tissue studies and prospective studies suggest an inevitability. In diagnosis, the clinical detection of a lump is the gold standard; investigations are not required. An ultrasonic detection of a hernia without clinical correlation does not require surgery. Post-hernia chronic pain is not singular to hernia, is now considered neuropathic pain and treatment is conservative. CONCLUSIONS: The work scene is possibly an aggravating factor but not a prime aetiological factor. The diagnosis does not require ultrasound. Chronic pain is neuropathic. A protocol for claim acceptance is presented.

Long-term results of liver resection for non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine metastases.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and efficacy of liver resection for colorectal and neuroendocrine liver metastases is well established. However, there is lack of consensus regarding long-term effectiveness of hepatic resection for non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine (NCNN) liver metastases. METHODS: A review of prospectively collected data of patients undergoing hepatic resection for NCNN liver metastases at two tertiary referral centres in the UK and Australia was undertaken. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the clinical, demographic and operative factors associated with long-term survival. RESULTS: A total of 114 hepatic resections in 102 patients were performed between 1986 and 2006. Postoperative mortality and morbidity was 0.8% and 21.1%, respectively. At 3 and 5 years overall survival was 56.1% and 38.5%, whereas disease-free survival was 37.2% and 26.5%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor overall survival were diameter of liver metastasis [<5 cm versus >5 cm: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.83, p = 0.001] and the presence of extrahepatic nodal disease (HR = 3.58, p = 0.001). The type of tumor, the presence of distant extra-hepatic metastases, tumor-free interval, number and distribution of metastases did not effect long-term survival. CONCLUSION: These results of the present study suggest that liver resection is an effective management option in selected patients with NCNN metastases confined to the liver.