Strategies to Perform Emergency Laparoscopic Partial Liver Resection for Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Laparoscopic hepatic resection is currently used for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, it is technically challenging. We developed and implemented surgical strategies for emergency laparoscopic partial liver resection in selected patients with peripheral lesions who were hemodynamically stable and without severe liver dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The surgical techniques used were as follows. First, the Pringle maneuver was performed to control hepatic blood inflow (step 1). Next, strong hemostatic agents were applied at the rupture point of the tumor (step 2). The hanging tape was positioned along the dorsal side of the resection line to control the partial blood inflow and outflow of the tumor, as well as to expose the surgical plane (step 3). The liver parenchyma was dissected along the hanging tape (step 4). We performed emergency laparoscopic partial liver resection in three patients who were in a pre-shock status. RESULTS: The tumors were located in segments 6 (cases 1 and 2) and 2 (case 3). The tumor diameters were 90, 62, and 80 mm. The Preoperative Child-Pugh scores were B7, B9, and B8. The hemostatic products performed well and controlled bleeding from the ruptured HCC. The hanging tape facilitated the dissection of the liver parenchyma. The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 135 min and 400 ml, 266 min and 200 ml, and 191 min and 495 ml for cases 1, 2, and 3 respectively. There were no in-hospital deaths. CONCLUSION: Emergency laparoscopic partial liver resection could be an option for patients with ruptured HCC.

Proposal for Prognosis-Oriented Definition of Borderline Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Owing to advances in the multidisciplinary treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a conceptualization and definition for borderline resectable (BR) HCC, which carries a high risk of recurrence, is warranted. In this study, we aimed to define BR-HCC using a prognosis-oriented approach. METHODS: The study included an original cohort of 221 patients and an independent validation cohort of 181 patients who had undergone primary hepatic resection for HCC. To define oncological BR-HCC, we evaluated the risk factors for early recurrence beyond the Milan criteria within 1 year after hepatic resection using multivariable logistic regression models. Subsequently, we developed high-risk scores using the identified risk factors and defined BR-HCC. The utility of high-risk score was validated in the validation cohort. RESULTS: In the original cohort (HBV:HCV=20%:29%), recurrence beyond the Milan criteria within 1 year was observed in 28 patients (13%), with a 5-year survival rate of 25%. Multivariable analysis identified risk factors for recurrence beyond the Milan criteria within 1 year, including serum α-fetoprotein levels ≥ 12 ng/ml (p=0.02), tumor diameters > 5 cm (p=0.02), tumor number ≥ 3 (p=0.001), and macrovascular invasion (p=0.04). BR-HCC was defined as a tumor with two or more identified risk factors, and 42 patients (19%) were diagnosed with BR-HCC, with a 5-year survival rate of 51%. In the validation cohort, 45 (25%) patients had BR-HCC, with a 5-year survival rate of 42%. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis-oriented definition of BR-HCC enabled us to identify patients who are susceptible to early unresectable recurrence and have poor survival after hepatic resection for HCC. For patients with BR-HCC, preoperative systemic therapy may be a viable option to improve post-resection outcomes.

Prognostic significance of occult vertebral fracture in patients undergoing pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic impact of occult vertebral fracture (OVF) in patients with malignancies is a new cutting edge in cancer research. This study was performed to analyze the prognostic impact of OVF after surgery for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: This study involved 200 patients who underwent surgical treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. OVF was diagnosed by quantitative measurement using preoperative sagittal computed tomography image reconstruction from the 11th thoracic vertebra to the 5th lumbar vertebra. RESULTS: OVF was diagnosed in 65 (32.5 %) patients. The multivariate analyses showed that male sex (p = 0.01), osteopenia (p < 0.01), OVF (p < 0.01), a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level of ≥400 U/mL (p < 0.01), advanced stage of cancer (p < 0.01), and non-adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.02) were independent risk factors for overall survival. An age of ≥74 years (p < 0.01) and obstructive jaundice (p = 0.03) were independent risk factors for OVF. Furthermore, the combination of OVF and osteopenia further worsened disease-free survival and overall survival compared with osteopenia or OVF alone (p < 0.01; respectively). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of preoperative OVF might be a useful prognostic indicator for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

The postoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts the outcome of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer.

PURPOSE: The preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been reported as an important prognostic index for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, the significance of the postoperative (post-op) PLR for this disease has not been elucidated. METHODS: We analyzed data on 118 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head PDAC, collected from a prospectively maintained database. The post-op PLR was obtained by dividing the platelet count after surgery by the lymphocyte count on post-op day (POD) 14. The patients were divided into two groups according to a post-op PLR of < 310 or ≥ 310. Survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: A high post-op PLR was identified as a significant prognostic index on univariate analysis for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The post-op PLR remained significant, along with tumor differentiation and adjuvant chemotherapy, on multivariate analysis for OS (hazard ratio = 2.077, 95% confidence interval: 1.220-3.537; p = 0.007). The post-op PLR was a significant independent prognostic index for poor DFS, along with tumor differentiation and lymphatic invasion, on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 1.678, 95% confidence interval: 1.056-2.667; p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The post-op PLR in patients with pancreatic head PDAC was an independent predictor of DFS and OS after elective resection.

Occult Vertebral Fracture (OVF) in Patients Who Underwent Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Strong Association with Oncological Outcomes.

AIM: The impact of occult vertebral fracture (OVF) on oncological outcomes after surgery has not been investigated, although its significance in orthopedics has been much debated recently. We evaluated the prognostic significance of OVF on the long-term outcomes of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatectomy. METHODS: We included 140 patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy. OVF was identified using quantitative measurement and preoperative sagittal computed tomography image reconstruction from the 11th thoracic vertebra to the 5th lumber vertebra. RESULTS: OVF was identified in 48 (34%) of the patients. In multivariate analysis, lymph node metastases (p < 0.01), multiple tumors (p = 0.02), extrahepatic lesions (p < 0.01), OVF (p < 0.01), intraoperative bleeding (p = 0.04), and curability 1 or 2 (p < 0.01) were independent and significant predictors of disease-free survival and extrahepatic lesions (p < 0.01), osteosarcopenia (p = 0.02), and OVF (p < 0.01) were independent and significant predictors of overall survival. A higher age, adjuvant chemotherapy for a primary lesion before metachronous liver metastases, osteopenia, and hypoalbuminemia were independent risk factors for OVF. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of preoperative OVF is a useful prognostic factor for risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with CRLM.

Superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in preoperative imaging indicates biological malignancy in anatomically resectable pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer in contact with the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein is classified as resectable pancreatic cancer; however, the biological malignancy and treatment strategy have not been clarified. METHODS: Data from 186 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer were evaluated using a prospectively maintained database. The patients were classified as having resectable tumors without superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact and with superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact of ≤180°. Disease-free survival, overall survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in resectable pancreatic cancer was a significant prognostic index for disease-free survival and overall survival. In the multivariate analysis for poor disease-free survival, the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact remained significant (hazard ratio = 2.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-3.51; p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact was a significant independent prognostic index for overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.27-3.70; p < 0.01), along with sex, tumor differentiation, nodal involvement, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Portal vein resection for superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact did not improve the overall survival (p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in resectable pancreatic cancer was found to be an independent predictor of disease-free survival and overall survival after elective resection. Thus, pancreatic cancer in contact with the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein may be considered as borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

Dual Antibody Treatment for Simultaneous Acute Cellular Rejection and Antibody-Mediated Rejection After Liver Transplantation: A Case Report.

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after liver transplantation is uncommon but sometimes has a grave prognosis. We herein describe a 40-year-old man who developed simultaneous acute cellular rejection and acute AMR due to de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies after living donor liver transplantation. He underwent living donor liver transplantation with his brother-in-law as the donor. Hepatic function deteriorated on postoperative day 6, and a liver biopsy revealed histologic findings of typical acute cellular rejection. However, steroid pulse therapy and thymoglobulin did not produce a clinical response, and his liver function dramatically deteriorated on postoperative day 13 (aspartate aminotransferase, 2787 IU/L; total bilirubin, 14.1 mg/dL). We diagnosed acute AMR based on positive immunohistochemical staining for C4d in portal areas and added plasma exchange and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin after rituximab. The patient's clinical state improved and ultimately resolved. To our knowledge, this is the first report of dual antibody treatment for simultaneous acute cellular rejection and acute AMR induced by de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies. Despite his fulminant clinical course, we successfully rescued the recipient with immediate anti-humoral therapy. The rapid treatment decision and adequate understanding of the mechanisms of anti-humoral therapy were crucial to overcoming acute AMR in this case.

Dynamics of the prognostic nutritional index in preoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the prognostic indicators that reflect the efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy is necessary. In this study, we investigated the prognostic indicators targeting the systemic inflammatory response for the administration of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: Data for 192 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between overall survival and clinicopathological variables, including biomarkers such as the prognostic nutritional index, was investigated in patients who underwent upfront surgery or preoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: In the upfront surgery group, extrahepatic lesion (p=0.01) and low prognostic nutritional index (p < 0.01) were significant prognostic indicators, whereas a decrease in the prognostic nutritional index (p=0.01) during preoperative chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors in the preoperative chemotherapy group. In particular, a decrease in the prognostic nutritional index was a significant prognostic marker in patients aged <75 years (p=0.04). In patients with a low prognostic nutritional index aged <75 years, preoperative chemotherapy significantly prolonged overall survival (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: A decrease in the prognostic nutritional index during preoperative chemotherapy predicted overall survival of patients with colorectal liver metastases after hepatic resection, and preoperative chemotherapy may be effective for patients aged <75 years with a low prognostic nutritional index.

The impact of C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index on the prognosis of patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Aim: The C-reactive protein (CRP)-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a novel inflammation-based biomarker, which has been associated with long-term outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to investigate whether the CALLY index can predict the prognosis for distal cholangiocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods: The study comprised 143 patients who had undergone primary pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal cholangiocarcinoma between 2002 to 2019. The CALLY index was defined as (albumin × lymphocyte)/ (CRP × 104). We investigated the association of CALLY index with disease-free survival and overall survival by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Eighty-seven (61%) patients had a preoperative CALLY index <3.5. In multivariate analysis, obstructive jaundice drainage (P < .01), poorly differentiated tumor (P < .01), and CALLY index<3.5 (P = .02) were independent predictors of disease-free survival, while obstructive jaundice drainage (P < .01), poorly differentiated tumor (P < .01), and CALLY index <3.5 (P = .02) were independent predictors of overall survival. Conclusion: The CALLY index may be an independent and significant indicator of poor long-term outcomes in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy, suggesting the importance of comprehensive assessment for inflammatory status.

Multimodal Management for Refractory Biliary Stricture After Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Biliary stricture is a common complication of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) is the primary treatment of biliary stricture, which is sometimes refractory. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for biliary stricture after LDLT and present successful management for refractory biliary stricture. METHODS: Data from 26 patients who underwent LDLT were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the incidence of biliary strictures and clinical variables, including pre/intra/postoperative factors, was assessed. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that ABO incompatibility (P = .037) was a significant risk factor for biliary strictures. Case 1 was a 57-year-old woman who underwent LDLT using a left-lobe graft for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and developed a biliary stricture 1 month after surgery. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) and embolization of the portal vein and hepatic artery were performed. Thereafter, ethanol was injected into the biliary duct, and the intervention was successfully completed. Case 2 was a 54-year-old woman who underwent LDLT using a right-lobe graft and duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction for PBC. Internal plastic stent insertion by ERBD was unsuccessful due to the significantly bending bile duct. After PTCD, the gun-site technique for the posterior branch and dual hepatic vascular embolization of the anterior branch was performed. The patient was followed up without an external fistula tube. CONCLUSION: ABO incompatibility was a risk factor for refractory biliary stricture. Appropriate procedures should be chosen based on stricture types.

Liver Only Living Donor Transplantation for Polycystic Disease in a Patient on Chronic Hemodialysis: Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is characterized by the progressive development of polycystic lesions in the kidney and the liver, possibly resulting in dual organ failure. We indicated living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for a patient with end-stage liver and kidney disease (ELKD) due to PLD on uncomplicated chronic hemodialysis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old man with ELKD and uncontrolled massive ascites due to PLD and hepatitis B on uncomplicated chronic hemodialysis was referred to us with a single possible 47-year-old female living donor. Because of the necessity of right lobe liver procurement from this small middle-aged donor and uncomplicated hemodialysis on this recipient, we considered LDLT, rather than dual organ transplantation, could be the most well-balanced option to save the life of this recipient with acceptable risk limits for this donor. A right lobe graft with 0.91 for graft recipient weight ratio was implanted with an uneventful operative procedure under intra- and postoperative continuous hemodiafiltration. The recipient was rescheduled on routine hemodialysis on day 6 after transplantation and recovered with a gradual decrease in ascites output. He was discharged on day 56. He continues to have a very good liver function and quality of life without ascites and uncomplicated routine hemodialysis 1 year after transplantation. The living donor was discharged 3 weeks after surgery and is also doing well. CONCLUSION: Although combined liver-kidney transplantation from a deceased donor could be the best option for ELKD due to PLD, LDLT can also be an acceptable option for ELKD with uncomplicated hemodialysis, considering the double equipoise theory for both lifesaving of the recipient and acceptable donor risk.

Open Thoracic Drainage Followed by Proximal Splenic Artery Embolization for Massive Hydrothorax Before Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic hydrothorax is associated with postoperative infectious complications and mortality in patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Thus, preoperative management of massive hepatic hydrothorax is essential for improving the outcomes of LDLT. This study aimed to demonstrate our successful cases and strategy for treating massive hepatic hydrothorax. METHODS: Our strategy for hepatic hydrothorax includes (a) mini-thoracotomy under general anesthesia for the drainage of hydrothorax, (b) preoperative hepatic inflow modulation by proximal splenic arterial embolization, and (c) nutritional and physical intervention to improve the general condition. RESULTS: Two patients with massive hepatic hydrothorax were treated with our strategy. Both patients had end-stage liver disease secondary to primary biliary cholangitis. Their performance status deteriorated due to massive hydrothorax. After the intervention, their performance status significantly improved. After that, LDLTs with right lobe grafts were performed. The duration of the operation was 440 and 343 minutes, with an intraoperative blood loss of 1,700 and 1,600 g, respectively. Their postoperative courses were uneventful, and they were discharged on postoperative days 16 and 14. CONCLUSION: Our pre-LDLT multimodal management strategy for massive hepatic hydrothorax, including preoperative open thoracic drainage, pre-LDLT portal inflow modulation, and nutritional intervention, improved the preoperative condition of patients undergoing LDLT, resulting in successful outcomes.

Zero Mortality in Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Primary Biliary Cholangitis in Patients With a Meld Score of <20.

BACKGROUND: Although primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is considered a good indication for living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the postoperative results are not well known. METHODS: At Jikei University Hospital, 14 patients with PBC underwent LDLT from February 2007 to June 2022. We consider PBC with a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of <20 to indicate LDLT. We performed a retrospective analysis of the patients' clinical records. RESULTS: The patients' median age was 53 years, and 12 of the 14 patients were female. A right graft was used in 5 patients, and 3 ABO-incompatible transplants were performed. The living donors were children in 6 cases, partners in 4 cases, and siblings in 4 cases. The preoperative MELD scores ranged from 11 to 19 (median, 15). The graft-to-recipient weight ratio ranged from 0.8 to 1.1 (median, 1.0). The median operative time for donors and recipients was 481 and 712 minutes, respectively. The median operative blood loss of donors and recipients was 173 and 1,800 mL, respectively. The median postoperative hospital stay of donors and recipients was 10 and 28 days, respectively. All recipients recovered satisfactorily and remained well during a median follow-up of 7.3 years. Three patients underwent a liver biopsy after LDLT because of acute cellular rejection without histologic findings of PBC recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Living-donor liver transplantation provides satisfactory long-term survival for patients with PBC with a graft-to-recipient weight ratio of >0.7 and MELD score of <20 without hepatocellular damage and only portal vein hypertension.

The Japanese 5-5-500 Rule Predicts Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatic Resection.

BACKGROUND: The 5-5-500 rule has been proposed to increase the candidates of liver transplantation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with reasonable recurrence rates. However, the clinical significance of the 5-5-500 rule in patients who underwent hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma has not been fully investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 206 patients who had undergone primary hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma between 2008 and 2018. We retrospectively investigated prognostic significance of the 5-5-500 rule and disease-free, as well as overall, survival and further prognostic stratification using inflammatory-based biomarkers. RESULTS: 132 patients (64%) were classified within the 5-5-500 rule, while 74 patients (36%) were classified outside the 5-5-500 rule. Among the patients outside the 5-5-500 rule, 62 patients had tumors greater than 5 cm, and 23 patients showed serum AFP levels greater than 500 ng/ml. In the multivariate analysis, being female (p<0.01), HBs-Ag positive (p<0.01), having an ICGR15 ≥15% (p=0.03), and being outside the 5-5-500 rule (p=0.01) were independent and significant predictors of disease-free survival, while being HBs-Ag positive (p=0.04), having poor tumor differentiation (p=0.03), and residing outside the 5-5-500 rule (p=0.01) were independent and negative predictors of overall survival. Elevated CRP-to-albumin ratio was associated with poor overall survival in the patients outside the 5-5-500 rule, but not in patients within the 5-5-500 rule (p=0.17). CONCLUSION: The 5-5-500 rule can be a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection. CRP-to-albumin ratio might be useful to stratify the outcomes in patients outside the 5-5-500 rule.

Blood loss in laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy could be underestimated.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) has an advantage in reducing blood loss over open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). This study was performed to investigate whether blood loss is truly reduced in LDP. METHODS: A total of 113 patients undergoing DP from 2014 to 2022 were classified into Open and LDP groups and compared by statistical analysis. Estimated blood loss (EBL) was calculated from the perioperative changes in the hematocrit, hemoglobin, or red blood cell volume, and actual blood loss (ABL) was taken from the operative record. RESULTS: ABL was significantly lower in the LDP than ODP group (50[5-1350] vs 335 [5-1950] ml, P < .01). However, there were no significant differences in EBL calculated from the hematocrit (406 [66-1990] vs 540 [23-1490] ml, P = .14), hemoglobin, or red blood cell volume. EBL showed more linear correlations with ABL in the ODP group (r = 0.64-0.73) than in the LDP group (r = 0.52-0.57). In the multivariate analysis for ABL, ODP (P = .02) and operative time (P < .01) were significant factors. In contrast, no significant factors were found for EBL. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative blood loss may be underestimated in LDP, and a new evaluation method needs to be established.

Osteosarcopenia predicts poor prognosis for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after hepatic resection.

PURPOSE: The concept of osteosarcopenia, which is concomitant osteopenia and sarcopenia, has been proposed as a prognostic indicator for cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of osteosarcopenia in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 41 patients who underwent hepatic resection for IHCC. Osteopenia was assessed with pixel density in the mid-vertebral core of the 11th thoracic vertebra and sarcopenia was assessed by the psoas muscle areas at the third lumbar vertebra. Osteosarcopenia was defined as the concomitant occurrence of osteopenia and sarcopenia. We analyzed the association of osteosarcopenia with disease-free and overall survival and evaluated clinicopathologic variables in relation to the osteosarcopenia. RESULTS: Eighteen (44%) of the 41 patients had osteosarcopenia. Multivariate analysis identified osteosarcopenia (hazard ratio 3.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.49-7.68, p < 0.01) as an independent predictor of disease-free survival, and age ≥ 65 years (p = 0.03) and osteosarcopenia (hazard ratio 6.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.76-23.71, p < 0.01) as independent predictors of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative osteosarcopenia may be a predictor of adverse prognosis for patients undergoing hepatic resection for IHCC, suggesting that preoperative management to maintain muscle and bone intensity could improve the prognosis.