An invaginated pancreaticogastrostomy following subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) leads to life-threatening complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) often adopted as a reconstruction technique after PD to prevent POPF. Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) following PD is the most common complication that compromises the quality of life. Subtotal stomach-preserving PD (SSPPD) preserves the pooling ability of the stomach and minimize the occurrence of DGE. This study aimed to describe our PG technique following SSPPD and evaluate the perioperative outcomes. METHODS: The study included patients who underwent PG following SSPPD from August 2013 to July 2020 at our institution. An invaginated PG was performed by one-layer eight interrupted sutures with a lost stent. Patients' demographics and perioperative outcomes were documented. RESULTS: This technique was applied in 72 patients with a median age of 75 years. The median operative time was 342 min. The clinically relevant POPF, DGE and post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage was 4 (5.6%), 5 (6.9%), and 10 (13.9%), respectively. Although the drain fluid amylase concentration on postoperative day 3 was significantly higher in clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) positive group (median, 2006 U/L vs. 74 U/L in CR-POPF negative group, p = 0.002), none of the risk factors including disease pathology, pancreatic duct diameter, texture of pancreas and excessive blood loss were significantly associated with CR-POPF. Other morbidity ≥ Clavien-Dindo classification II occurred in 29 patients (40.3%). The 90-days operative mortality was two (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: This novel method of one-layer invaginated PG following SSPPD is safe and dependable procedure with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Central hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with anti-Gerbich antibody.

BACKGROUND: Anti-Gerbich (Ge) alloantibody against high-frequency erythrocyte antigen is extremely rare. Owing to incomplete evidence regarding the degree and severity of adverse events induced by hemolytic transfusion reactions, the transfusion management often remains cumbersome in these patients. We report an anti-Ge alloantibody positive patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent central hepatectomy (CH) without the need for an allogeneic blood transfusion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with HCC measuring 9.5 × 8.0 cm in segments 4, 5, and 8 of the liver. This patient with anti-Ge alloantibody had a history of two pregnancies without transfusion. CH was planned, and based on the suggestion from the multidisciplinary team meeting, preoperative autologous donation (PAD) and acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) were performed. CH was successfully performed by using CUSA and Thunderbeat® with Pringle maneuver and infra-hepatic inferior vena cava clamping without perioperative need for an allogeneic blood transfusion. She has been alive without recurrence after a follow-up period of 45 months. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of hepatectomy in a patient with anti-Ge alloantibody. A multidisciplinary team approach, PAD and ANH, and bloodless liver surgical techniques appear to be useful for major hepatectomy in patients with extremely rare blood type.

Impact of antithrombotic therapy on the outcomes with focus on bleeding and thromboembolic events in patients undergoing pancreticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated perioperative outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy (ATT) with a focus on the incidence of perioperative bleeding and thromboembolic complications. METHODS: A total of 77 patients who underwent PD at our institution between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical findings and surgical outcomes including bleeding and thromboembolic complications were compared in patients with or without ATT. Interruption of ATT and perioperative heparin bridging were based on our hospital protocol. RESULTS: Among ATT (30) and non-ATT (47) groups, ATT group had a significantly higher age and history of cardiocerebrovascular diseases. No significant difference was observed in intraoperative and post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) between the groups. ATT group was associated with a significantly higher rate of post-operative complications, Clavien-Dindo classification ≥II and thromboembolic events. Operative mortality in ATT and non-ATT groups was 2 (6.7%) and 1 (2.1%), respectively. There was no significant association between ATT and excessive intraoperative blood loss (≥1000 mL), PPH (≥grade B) and thromboembolic complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥II). CONCLUSION: In patients with ATT, PD is a feasible procedure with no major impact on intraoperative bleeding or PPH.

Bivalent property of intra-platelet VWF in liver regeneration and HCC recurrence: A prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A striking difference has been observed in structure and functional properties between plasma and platelet von Willebrand factor (VWF). While the existing evidence has revealed a clinical relevance of plasma VWF-Ag in liver regeneration (LR) and different cancers, this study was designed to explore the properties of intra-platelet (IP) and serum VWF-Ag in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing partial hepatectomy. METHODS: A total of 40 patients undergoing partial hepatectomy were prospectively recruited from 3 institutions. VWF-Ag concentrations were evaluated mainly in serum and platelet extracts. Patients were followed-up for postoperative liver dysfunction and HCC recurrence. RESULTS: We observed a post-resection increase in the concentration of VWF-Ag in serum and platelet. Patients with postoperative liver dysfunction had substantially reduced serum and IP VWF-Ag concentrations. After a 2-year follow-up, patients with higher post-resection serum and IP VWF-Ag concentrations were found to develop early HCC recurrence. Likewise, IP VWF-Ag was able to independently predict post-resection early HCC recurrence. CONCLUSION: This multicenter, prospective, pilot study demonstrates a bivalent property of IP VWF in LR and oncological outcome; low preoperative VWF appeared to have a negative association on post-resection liver dysfunction, whereas, patients with higher post-resection VWF-Ag concentrations were found to have early HCC recurrence.

Simultaneous Surgery for Inferior Vena Cava Leiomyosarcoma with Multiple Hepatic Metastases: A Justified Challenge.

BACKGROUND Leiomyosarcoma of inferior vena cava (IVC), a rarely encountered malignancy originating from the smooth muscle cells of media of the IVC, frequently metastasize to the liver. The suggested treatment of choice of IVC leiomyosarcoma is radical en-bloc excision aimed to obtain a negative resection margin. There are a few reported cases of surgical management in patients with liver metastasis from IVC leiomyosarcoma. CASE REPORT This report describes a simultaneous surgical approach for a case of IVC leiomyosarcoma with multiple liver metastases followed by chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Tumor volume reduction surgery of metastatic lesions combined with radical resection of the primary tumor may provide better survival benefit in patients with advanced IVC leiomyosarcoma.

Predictive Value of Diminished Serum PDGF-BB after Curative Resection of Hepatocellular Cancer.

PURPOSE: Platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) has emerged as one of the key cytokines in malignant transformation of different cells. PDGF-BB also exhibits a potent mitogenic effect on liver cells; studies have advocated clinical implications of monitoring serum PDGF-BB (sPDGF-BB) in patients with liver disease. We thus investigated the predictive relevance of perioperative sPDGF-BB after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We evaluated perioperative sPDGF-BB in a prospective homogenous cohort of 40 patients diagnosed with HCC. During the first two-year follow-up, patients were evaluated every three months for postresection HCC recurrence. RESULTS: Patients who developed recurrence during two-year follow-up were found to have lower concentration of sPDGF-BB than those without recurrence in both pre- and postoperative settings (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, resp.). We validated that the reduced postoperative sPDGF-BB (< 2133.29 pg/mL) was associated with an increased incidence of postresection HCC recurrence [area under curve (AUC) > 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.68 - 0.94, P < 0.001]; furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that postoperative sPDGF-BB was an independent predictor of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio = 5.64, 95% CI = 1.56 - 20.30, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a new insight into an association between diminished perioperative sPDGF-BB and HCC recurrence. Patients with low perioperative sPDGF-BB progressed early HCC recurrence. Therefore, evaluating perioperative sPDGF-BB may provide useful clinical information to characterize patients with postresection HCC recurrence.

Evaluation of THUNDERBEAT® in open liver resection- a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: THUNDERBEAT® (TB) (Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan) is a dynamic energy system device that simultaneously delivers ultrasonically generated frictional heat energy and electrically generated bipolar energy. TB is being routinely used in various operative procedures, however, less is known about its utility in liver resection. We, herein, report our early experience of using TB in open liver resection particularly in patients with normal or near-normal liver parenchyma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, and evaluated the perioperative outcome of twenty-eight patients who underwent liver resection with TB, and twenty-four patients who underwent liver resection with basic procedure in our institution. The resection type was stratified into: major hepatectomy; resection of 3 or more than 3 Couinauds segments, and minor hepatectomy; resection of less than 3 Couinauds segments. RESULTS: Liver resection time (mean ± SD) in TB group with major hepatectomy was significantly shorter: 16.7 ± 8.8 compared to 62.8 ± 39.4 min in basic procedure group (P < 0.0001). Accordingly, the liver resection time (mean ± SD) in TB group with minor hepatectomy was also significantly shorter, 8.3 ± 2.9 min compared to 45.2 ± 23.9 min in liver resection with basic procedure (P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of intraoperative blood transfusion ratio, postoperative complication and postoperative liver dysfunction. CONCLUSION: TB as a new energy device can offer a safe, reliable and substantially rapid liver resection particularly in patients with normal or near-normal liver parenchyma.

Deciphering Platelet Kinetics in Diagnostic and Prognostic Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Liver pathophysiology can, directly and indirectly, impose morphological or biochemical abnormalities of the platelets. Conversely, platelets are also able to regulate the promitogenic and profibrotic signals on liver pathobiology. Platelet contribution to the liver pathophysiology is typically facilitated by the platelet-derived growth factors that are sequestered in different subsets of alpha and dense granules, and the release of these growth factors is synchronized according to the stage and type of liver disease or injury. Thus, platelets harbor clinically relevant information with potential diagnostic and prognostic implications in liver diseases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) largely influences the platelet kinetics, and a growing body of evidence has recognized its association with HCC occurrence or prognosis. This narrative review summarizes the progress made on implicating platelet as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for HCC; the review also dissects the contradictory results from earlier studies and reflects how combining platelet-based information may enable more reliable test for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of HCC.

Therapeutic implication of platelets in liver regeneration -hopes and hues.

INTRODUCTION: Mounting evidence highlights platelet involvement in liver regeneration via interaction with liver cells, growth factors release, and signaling contributions. Existing research suggests a compelling biological rationale for utilizing platelet biology, with the goal of improving liver function and accelerating its regenerative potential. Despite its expanding application in several clinical areas, the contribution of the platelet and its therapeutic implementation in liver regeneration so far has not yet fulfilled the initial high expectations. Areas covered: This review scrutinizes the progress, current updates, and discusses how recent understanding - particularly in the clinical implications of platelet-based therapy - may enable strategies to introduce and harness the therapeutic potential of the platelet during liver regeneration. Expert commentary: Several clinical and translational studies have facilitated a platform for the development of platelet-based therapy to enhance liver regeneration. While some of these therapies are effective to augment liver regeneration, the others have had some detrimental outcomes. The existing evidence represents a challenge for future projects that are focused on directly incorporating platelet-based therapies to induce liver regeneration.

Post-Resection Exhaustion of Intra-Platelet Serotonin: Also an Indicator of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence?

Purpose: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is well known for its growth stimulatory effect on several types of carcinoma and tumor cells. Since a large portion of 5-HT is stored and transported by platelets, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of platelet-sequestered 5-HT on post-resection hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. Methods: This pilot study was conducted in a cohort of forty patients diagnosed with HCC undergoing partial hepatectomy. 5-HT levels in serum, plasma and intra-platelet (IP) were monitored preoperatively and four weeks after liver resection. The patients were followed every three months after the surgery. Results: Follow-up was standardized to a fixed length of time. Fifteen patients (37.5%) developed HCC recurrence during 18 months follow-up. Patients with recurrence had significantly reduced serum and IP 5-HT levels at four weeks of liver resection (P = 0.003 and P = 0.014 respectively). Accordingly, in the Cox regression hazard model, serum and IP 5-HT were able to independently predict the recurrence (hazard ratio = 0.1, 95% confidence interval = 0.01 - 0.75 and hazard ratio = 0.1, 95% confidence interval = 0.01 - 0.89 respectively). The optimal cut-off value of 42.77 ng/ml for serum [area under the curve (AUC): 0.78, P = 0.003] and 0.3117 ng per 106 platelets (AUC: 0.733, P = 0.015), on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve corresponded to maximum sensitivity and specificity of prediction. The disease free interval was significantly worse in patients with low serum and IP 5-HT (P = 0.001 and P = 0.029 respectively). Conclusion: IP 5-HT monitored during early follow-up, after liver resection may represent a useful marker of early HCC recurrence.

Conquering the deadly stroke: Perspective on a surgeon's odyssey.

•An odyssey of a Japanese surgeon, who survived a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke.•Self-motivation and adherence to work ethics displayed by the surgeon to return to work is admirable.•Passion is a detrimental factor that enables surgeons to overcome a roadblock to their career.

A 2-Stage Surgical and Endovascular Treatment of Rare Multiple Aneurysms of Pancreatic Arteries.

Aneurysms of pancreatic arteries (PAs) are often found incidentally during evaluation of other abdominal pathology. Aneurysms involving multiple PAs are rarely reported in the literature. In case reports of PA aneurysm, inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is the usual site of aneurysm occurrence. PA aneurysms can be treated surgically by aneurysm exclusion, excision, and by endovascular techniques. However, no clear consensus exists regarding treatment modality, leaving the surgeon to determine the most appropriate approach bearing in mind their experience, anatomical location of the aneurysm, involved artery, and urgency of the procedure. We report a rare PA aneurysm involving dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) and anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (AIPDA) associated with celiac stenosis that was incidentally diagnosed in a patient with hepatic hemangioma. In addition, we reviewed data from the literature on patients with diffuse or multiple PA aneurysms and discuss the treatment modality in these rare variants. Both surgical and endovascular procedures are equally advocated in treatment of multiple PA aneurysms. In our report, we demonstrate a 2-stage surgical and endovascular treatment modality; DPA aneurysm that was not suitable for endovascular treatment was surgically resected and an iliohepatic bypass was made between left common iliac artery and AIPDA to ensure good hepatic perfusion. One month after the first procedure, AIPDA aneurysm was treated with endovascular embolization. Two-stage surgical and endovascular procedure may represent a useful strategy to treat aneurysms involving multiple PAs.

A Switch in the Dynamics of Intra-Platelet VEGF-A from Cancer to the Later Phase of Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy in Humans.

BACKGROUND: Liver regeneration (LR) involves an early inductive phase characterized by the proliferation of hepatocytes, and a delayed angiogenic phase distinguished by the expansion of non-parenchymal compartment. The interest in understanding the mechanism of LR has lately shifted from the proliferation and growth of parenchymal cells to vascular remodeling during LR. Angiogenesis accompanied by LR exerts a pivotal role to accomplish the process. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been elucidated as the most dynamic regulator of angiogenesis. From this perspective, platelet derived/Intra-platelet (IP) VEGF-A should be associated with LR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and undergoing partial hepatectomy (PH) were enrolled in the study. Serum and IP VEGF-A was monitored preoperatively and at four weeks of PH. Liver volumetry was determined on computer models derived from computed tomography (CT) scan. RESULTS: Serum and IP VEGF-A was significantly elevated at four weeks of PH. Preoperative IP VEGF-A was higher in patients with advanced cancer and vascular invasion. Postoperative IP VEGF-A was higher after major liver resection. There was a statistically significant correlation between postoperative IP VEGF-A and the future remnant liver volume. Moreover, the soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR1) was distinctly down-regulated suggesting a fine-tuned angiogenesis at the later phase of LR. CONCLUSION: IP VEGF-A is overexpressed during later phase of LR suggesting its implications in inducing angiogenesis during LR.

First jejunal artery, an alternative graft for right hepatic artery reconstruction.

Common bile duct cancer invading right hepatic artery is sometimes diagnosed intraoperatively. Excision and safe reconstruction of the artery with suitable graft is essential. Arterial reconstruction with autologous saphenous vein graft is the preferred method practiced routinely. However the right hepatic artery reconstruction has also been carried out with several other vessels like gastroduodenal artery, right gastroepiploic artery or the splenic artery. We report a case of 63-year-old man presenting with history of progressive jaundice, pruritus and impaired appetite. Following various imaging modalities including computed tomography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, intraductal ultrasound extrahepatic bile duct cancer was diagnosed; however, none of those detected vessel invasion. Intraoperatively, right hepatic artery invasion was revealed. Right hepatic artery was resected and reconstructed with a graft harvested from the first jejunal artery (JA). Postoperative outcome was satisfactory with a long-term graft patency. First JA can be a reliable graft option for right hepatic artery reconstruction.

Simultaneous operation for cardiac disease and gastrointestinal malignancy.

AIM: To investigate the safety of performing simultaneous cardiac surgery and a resection of a gastrointestinal malignancy. METHODS: Among 3664 elective cardiac operations performed in adults at Kagoshima University Hospital from January 1991 to October 2009, this study reviewed the clinical records of the patients who underwent concomitant cardiac surgery and a gastrointestinal resection. Such simultaneous surgeries were performed in 15 patients between January 1991 and October 2009. The cardiac diseases included 8 cases of coronary artery disease and 7 cases with valvular heart disease. Gastrointestinal malignancies included 11 gastric and 4 colon cancers. Immediate postoperative and long-term outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 5 patients (33.3%), including strokes (n = 1), respiratory failure requiring re-intubation (n = 1), hemorrhage (n = 2), hyperbilirubinemia (n = 1) and aspiration pneumonia (n = 1). There was 1 hospital death caused by the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome after postoperative surgical bleeding followed aortic valve replacement plus gastrectomy. There was no cardiovascular event in the patients during the follow-up period. The cumulative survival rate for all patients was 69.2% at 5 years. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous procedures are acceptable for the patients who require surgery for both cardiac diseases and gastrointestinal malignancy. In particular, the combination of a standard cardiac operation, such as coronary artery bypass grafting or an isolated valve replacement and simple gastrointestinal resection, such as gastrectomy or colectomy can therefore be safely performed.

Middle-preserving pancreatectomy with reversed pancreaticogastrostomy: report of a case.

Parenchyma-sparing pancreatic resections have been reported increasingly in recent years; however, for multifocal diseases involving the head and the tail of the pancreas, total pancreatectomy is still the preferred procedure. The possible consequence of this procedure is loss of normal pancreatic parenchyma, resulting in insufficiency of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine functions. Various types of limited resection have been introduced for isolated or multiple pancreatic lesions, depending on the location of the tumor. Even for multifocal diseases, if the pancreatic body is spared, a middle-preserving pancreatectomy (MPP) can be performed to assure maximal pancreatic function and uncompromised quality of life. Yet, few papers have introduced the feasibility of MPP for a better outcome. This report describes a new surgical technique for MPP using an alternative approach for the remnant pancreas anastomosis. We used this technique successfully to remove a bifocal neoplasm: adenocarcinoma of the distal bile duct and mucinous cyst adenoma in the tail of the pancreas.

Effects of neonatal administration of diethylstilbestrol on aberrant crypt foci induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha] anthracene in rats.

Gastrointestinal carcinoma is affected environmental factors, however, it remains to be determined whether neonatal administration of an estrogenic endocrine disruptor, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), affects gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. The effects of neonatally administered DES on gastrointestinal tumorigenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) were investigated in male and female rats. Male and female rats in group I were daily administered oil alone from 0-14 days after birth. Male and female rats in groups II and III were daily administered DES at 1 and 10 microg/rat, respectively. The administration periods of DES in subgroups a (IIa and IIIa), b (IIb and IIIb) and c (IIc and IIIc) were from 0-14, 0-5 and 6-14 days after birth, respectively. At 28, 42 and 56 days after birth, all male rats were given 10 mg of DMBA. At 50 days after birth, all female rats were given 10 mg of DMBA. In the digestive tracts of male rats, forestomach masses (FMs) in all groups (13-58%), small intestine masses in group IIIa (17%), and colon masses (CMs) in groups IIIa (8%) and IIIb (33%) were observed, although there were no significant changes in the incidence and number. In the digestive tracts of female rats, FMs in groups I (10%), IIa (13%), IIb (33%), IIc (25%) and IIIc (33%), CMs in groups IIa (6%) and IIIa (6%) were seen, although there were no significant changes in the incidence. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon and rectum were seen in all male and female rats. The neonatal administration of DES in male rats increased the number of ACF while that in female rats did not. These results suggest that neonatal administration of DES may affect male colorectal carcinogenesis.

Expression of estrogen receptor-alpha protein in the rat digestive tract.

The current study evaluates the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) protein in the digestive tract and other organs using immunohistochemistry in male and female intact rats. As a result, the expression of ER-alpha protein was intensively immunoreactive in the nuclei of squamous epithelium of the forestomach connected to the limiting ridge and the anus connected to the anorectal junction. Rat ER-alpha mRNA signals were also detected in the epithelium of the limiting ridge using in situ hybridization. The incidence of ER-alpha protein in the limiting ridge decreased with age in both males and females. The incidence of ER-alpha protein in the anorectal junction strongly decreased with age in males, although the incidence did not decrease with age in females. In conclusion, it was suggested that estrogen may be involved in the proliferation and differentiation of these cells in the limiting ridge of the stomach and anorectal junction of rats.

Intrahepatic biliary strictures after liver transplantation.

Biliary complication has been one of the most common complications after liver transplantation. Nonanastomotic strictures and dilatations involving the intrahepatic biliary tree have been recognized as biliary complications. These lesions were reported to be associated with hepatic artery thrombosis; prolonged preservation time; ABO-incompatible organs; and immunological injury, including injuries to vascular endothelial cells (chronic rejection) and the bile duct (primary sclerosing cholangitis). However, the etiology of these lesions appeared to be mostly related to ischemic injury. Anatomical research on the arterial supply of the bile duct has provided further insights into bile duct blood supply and its surgical implications. The biliary tract is supplied with arterial blood by a vasculature called the peribiliary vascular plexus. Any injury to the peribiliary vascular plexus may contribute to ischemic death of the biliary system mucosa. At many points, the process of liver transplantation exposes the endothelial cells and peribiliary vascular plexus to ischemic injury. The majority of intrahepatic biliary strictures (IHBS) are diffuse or bilateral. A percutaneous or an endoscopic approach has been used as the initial treatment. However, a low threshold for surgical intervention (retransplantation) should be adopted, because these patients demonstrate high mortality. The aim of this article is to review the anatomy, etiology, clinical picture, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of IHBS after liver transplantation.