Early Effects of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass on Portal Venous Flow: a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an infrequent, yet potentially lethal, complication of bariatric surgery. The aim of this prospective, non-randomized, cohort study is to compare between laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic one-anastomosis gastric bypass (LOAGB) in terms of their early postoperative effects on portal venous flow and patency. METHODS: Forty-nine morbidly obese patients were allocated to one of 2 groups (A or B). Group A patients underwent LSG, whereas group B patients underwent LOAGB. Portal venous Doppler ultrasound scanning was performed preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively in all cases, in order to assess the portal venous flow (PVF) in terms of flow direction and peak systolic velocity (PSV); as well as to assess the portal venous patency and exclude PVT. The mean change in PSV (ΔPSV) and the mean percentage change in PSV (%ΔPSV) were determined in both groups. RESULTS: In all cases (group A (n = 26); group B (n = 23)), the direction of PVF was "hepatopetal" both preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively. The mean ΔPSV and the mean %ΔPSV were higher in LSG patients "group A" (- 0.84 cm/s and 3.25% respectively) compared with LOAGB patients "group B"(- 0.06 cm/s and 0.27% respectively); P = 0.038 and 0.039 respectively. The mean change in PSV was in the negative direction in both groups, i.e., "deceleration." No cases of PVT were reported in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is associated with greater reduction in portal venous peak systolic flow velocity in the early postoperative period, compared with laparoscopic one-anastomosis gastric bypass.

Biliary Complications in Recipients of Living-Donor Liver Transplant: A Single-Center Review of 120 Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Biliary complications are common after living-donor liver transplant. This retrospective study reviewed our experience with biliary complications in recipients of living-donor liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over our 9-year study period, 120 patients underwent living-donor liver transplant. Patients were divided into 2 groups, with group A having biliary complications and group B without biliary complications. Both groups were compared, and different treatment modalities for biliary complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Group A included 45 patients (37.5%), whereas group B included 75 patients (62.5%). Biliary complications included bile leak in 17 patients (14.2%), biliary stricture in 11 patients (9.2%), combined biliary stricture with bile leak in 15 patients (12.5%), and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and cholangitis in 1 patient each (0.8%). Cold ischemia time was significantly longer in group A (P = .002). External biliary drainage was less frequently used in group A (P = .031). Technical success rates of endoscopic biliary drainage and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage were 68.3% and 41.7%. Survival rate following relaparotomy for biliary complications was 62.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Graft ischemia is an important risk factor for biliary complications. Bile leaks can predispose to anastomotic strictures. The use of external biliary drainage seems to reduce the incidence of biliary complications. Endoscopic and percutaneous trans-hepatic approaches can successfully treat more than two-thirds of biliary complications. Relaparotomy can improve survival outcomes and is usually reserved for patients with intractable biliary complications.

A portal pressure cut-off of 15 versus a cut-off of 20 for prevention of small-for-size syndrome in liver transplantation: A comparative study.

AIM: Portal hypertension has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) in adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation (A-LDLT). The aim of our study is to compare the portal venous pressure (PVP) cut-off values of 15 mmHg and 20 mmHg in terms of prevention of SFSS in A-LDLT. METHODS: Seventy-six patients underwent A-LDLT. A PVP <20 mmHg at the end of the operation was targeted using graft inflow modulation. Patients were divided into two groups: group A, final PVP <15 mmHg; and group B, final PVP 15-19 mmHg. Peak serum bilirubin and peak international normalized ratio in the first month after A-LDLT, as well as hepatic encephalopathy, SFSS, 90-day morbidity, and mortality were observed in both groups. RESULTS: Final PVP was well controlled below 20 mmHg in all patients (group A, n = 39; group B, n = 37). Six patients suffered SFSS in group B (16.2%) compared to one patient (2.6%) in group A (P = 0.04). Nine patients died in group B (24.3%), four of whom died of SFSS, compared to three patients in group A (7.7%) (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: A PVP cut-off of 15 mmHg seems to be a more appropriate target level than a cut-off of 20 mmHg for prevention of postoperative SFSS in A-LDLT.