Liver Transplantation for Hepatic Trauma: A Study From the European Liver Transplant Registry.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is the most extreme form of surgical management of patients with hepatic trauma, with very limited literature data supporting its use. The aim of this study was to assess the results of liver transplantation for hepatic trauma. METHODS: This retrospective analysis based on European Liver Transplant Registry comprised data of 73 recipients of liver transplantation for hepatic trauma performed in 37 centers in the period between 1987 and 2013. Mortality and graft loss rates at 90 days were set as primary and secondary outcome measures, respectively. RESULTS: Mortality and graft loss rates at 90 days were 42.5% and 46.6%, respectively. Regarding general variables, cross-clamping without extracorporeal veno-venous bypass was the only independent risk factor for both mortality (P = 0.031) and graft loss (P = 0.034). Regarding more detailed factors, grade of liver trauma exceeding IV increased the risk of mortality (P = 0.005) and graft loss (P = 0.018). Moreover, a tendency above the level of significance was observed for the negative impact of injury severity score (ISS) on mortality (P = 0.071). The optimal cut-off for ISS was 33, with sensitivity of 60.0%, specificity of 80.0%, positive predictive value of 75.0%, and negative predictive value of 66.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation seems to be justified in selected patients with otherwise fatal severe liver injuries, particularly in whom cross-clamping without extracorporeal bypass can be omitted. The ISS cutoff less than 33 may be useful in the selection process.

Review of the treatment of liver hydatid cysts.

UNLABELLED: A review was carried out in Medline, LILACS and the Cochrane Library. Our database search strategy included the following terms: "hydatid cyst", "liver", "management", "meta-analysis" and "randomized controlled trial". No language limits were used in the literature search. The latest electronic search date was the 7(th) of January 2014. INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: all relevant studies on the assessment of therapeutic methods for hydatid cysts of the liver were considered for analysis. Information from editorials, letters to publishers, low quality review articles and studies done on animals were excluded from analysis. Additionally, well-structured abstracts from relevant articles were selected and accepted for analysis. Standardized forms were designed for data extraction; two investigators entered the data on patient demographics, methodology, recurrence of HC, mean cyst size and number of cysts per group. Four hundred and fourteen articles were identified using the previously described search strategy. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria detailed above, 57 articles were selected for final analysis: one meta-analysis, 9 randomized clinical trials, 5 non-randomized comparative prospective studies, 7 non-comparative prospective studies, and 34 retrospective studies (12 comparative and 22 non-comparative). Our results indicate that antihelminthic treatment alone is not the ideal treatment for liver hydatid cysts. More studies in the literature support the effectiveness of radical treatment compared with conservative treatment. Conservative surgery with omentoplasty is effective in preventing postoperative complications. A laparoscopic approach is safe in some situations. Percutaneous drainage with albendazole therapy is a safe and effective alternative treatment for hydatid cysts of the liver. Radical surgery with pre- and post-operative administration of albendazole is the best treatment option for liver hydatid cysts due to low recurrence and complication rates.

Donantes de ayer y de hoy: ¿han cambiado las características de los donantes de hígado durante los últimos 15 años? / Donors yesterday and today: have the characteristics of liver donors changed over the last 15 years?

Introducción. Los cambios sociosanitarios y demográficos de nuestra población y el crecimiento de las listas de pacientes en espera de un trasplante han condicionado ciertas variaciones en los criterios de selección de los donantes de órganos. Material y método. Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y comparativo de las características de los donantes cadáver de hígado utilizados en la Unidad de Trasplante Hepático del Hospital Universitario La Fe de Valencia en 2 períodos diferentes. Distribuimos los casos en 2 grupos: grupo A, los primeros 200 donantes (entre enero de 1991 y junio de 1995) y grupo B, 200 donantes más recientes (desde febrero de 2004 hasta diciembre de 2005). Resultados. El número de donaciones se ha incrementado desde los 18 donantes durante 1991 a los 106 en 2006. En el grupo A la edad media fue de 32,4 años, frente a 52,3 años del grupo B. En la serie A, la principal causa de muerte fueron los traumatismos craneoencefálicos y en el grupo B, los accidentes cerebrovasculares. El tiempo en la unidad de cuidados intensivos fue mayor en el segundo grupo, con una media de 67,2 h. En el grupo B el 17% presentaba aterosclerosis considerable de la aorta y el 29,5%, esteatosis hepática macroscópica, frente al 5 y el 12%, respectivamente, en el grupo A. Conclusiones. Actualmente, los donantes de hígado son de mayor edad, presentan más enfermedades crónicas, mueren por enfermedades cerebrovasculares, permanecen más tiempo en cuidados intensivos y sus hígados son macroscópicamente peores que los de donantes de años anteriores (AU)

Introduction. The social, medical and demographic changes of our population and the increase in the number of patients on waiting lists have led to some changes in the selection criteria of organ donors. Material and method. A retrospective, descriptive and comparative study of the liver cadaveric donors features accepted in the Liver Transplant Unit in La Fe University Hospital of Valencia (Spain) in 2 different periods. We distributed the cases into 2 groups, including in group A the first 200 first donors (from January 1991 to June 1995) and in group B the last 200 donors (from February 2004 to December 2005). Results. The number of donors increased from 18 during 1991 to 106 in 2006. In group A the mean age was 32.4 years, compared to 52.3 years in group B. In group A, the main cause of death was craneoencephalic traumatism and in group B cerebrovascular accidents. The mean time in the intensive care unit was longer in the second group with 67.2 hours. In group B, considerable atherosclerosis was reported in 17% of cadaveric donors and macroscopic liver steatosis in 29.5%, compared to 5 and 12%, respectively, in group A. Conclusions. Nowadays, cadaveric liver donors are older, suffer more chronic diseases, die due to cerbrovascular diseases, remain longer in intensive care units and the livers are macroscopically worse compared to donors accepted 15 years ago (AU)

[Donors yesterday and today: have the characteristics of liver donors changed over the last 15 years?]. / Donantes de ayer y de hoy: han cambiado las características de los donantes de hígado durante los últimos 15 años?

INTRODUCTION: The social, medical and demographic changes of our population and the increase in the number of patients on waiting lists have led to some changes in the selection criteria of organ donors. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective, descriptive and comparative study of the liver cadaveric donors features accepted in the Liver Transplant Unit in La Fe University Hospital of Valencia (Spain) in 2 different periods. We distributed the cases into 2 groups, including in group A the first 200 first donors (from January 1991 to June 1995) and in group B the last 200 donors (from February 2004 to December 2005). RESULTS: The number of donors increased from 18 during 1991 to 106 in 2006. In group A the mean age was 32.4 years, compared to 52.3 years in group B. In group A, the main cause of death was craneoencephalic traumatism and in group B cerebrovascular accidents. The mean time in the intensive care unit was longer in the second group with 67.2 hours. In group B, considerable atherosclerosis was reported in 17% of cadaveric donors and macroscopic liver steatosis in 29.5%, compared to 5 and 12%, respectively, in group A. CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays, cadaveric liver donors are older, suffer more chronic diseases, die due to cerbrovascular diseases, remain longer in intensive care units and the livers are macroscopically worse compared to donors accepted 15 years ago.

Reflexiones sobre 250 intervenciones de metástasis hepáticas de carcinoma colorrectal / Reflections on 250 interventions for colorectal carcinoma metastases to the liver

Introducción. Los mejores resultados en el tratamiento de las metástasis hepáticas de carcinoma colorrectal se obtienen con la resección quirúrgica, que debe realizarse con unos estándares de calidad. Objetivos. Presentar la experiencia de 11 años en el tratamiento quirúrgico de las metástasis hepáticas de carcinoma colorrectal en una unidad de referencia y comprobar si se cumplen los estándares actuales de calidad. Pacientes y método. Desde enero de 1995 hasta diciembre de 2005 se realizaron 250 intervenciones en 221 pacientes diagnosticados de metástasis hepáticas de origen colorrectal, con 201 resecciones hepáticas. Resultados. El 19% de los pacientes tenían una edad ≥ 70 años, con factores comórbidos asociados en el 54% de los casos. De las 201 resecciones, el 8,5% fue una segunda resección. En el 39% se realizó una hepatectomía mayor. La resección fue R0 en el 85% de los casos. No se transfundió en el 80% de los casos. La mediana de estancia postoperatoria fue de 6 días, la mortalidad postoperatoria fue del 0% y la morbilidad, del 19%. Se relacionaron con la morbilidad el número de segmentos resecados y la transfusión peroperatoria. Las supervivencias actuariales generales a 1, 3 y 5 años fueron del 96, el 69 y el 52% y las supervivencias actuariales libres de enfermedad para los mismos períodos fueron del 58, el 32 y el 24%, respectivamente. Conclusiones. La resección de las metástasis hepáticas de carcinoma colorrectal es una buena opción terapéutica cuando se cumplen los estándares de calidad actuales (AU)

Introduction. The best results in the treatment of colorectal cancer metastases to the liver are currently achieved with surgical resection performed under high quality standards. Objectives. To analyze the results and quality standards of the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases in a referral liver unit over an 11-year period. Patients and method. From January 1995 to December 2005, 250 surgical interventions were performed in 221 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer liver metastases, resulting in 201 hepatic resections. Results. Nineteen percent of patients were ≥ 70 years old and comorbidity was present in 54%. Of the 201 hepatic resections, 8.5% were second resections. Major hepatectomy was performed in 39% of the patients. R0 resection was achieved in 85% of the patients. Blood transfusions were not required in 80% of the patients. The median length of postoperative stay was 6 days. Postoperative mortality was nil and morbidity was 19%. Morbidity was associated with the number of resected segments and the need for blood transfusion. The estimated 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 96%, 69% and 52%, respectively, while estimated disease-free survival rates were 58%, 32% and 24%, respectively. Conclusions. Resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases is an effective therapeutic alternative if high current quality standards are achieved (AU)