Аre Multivisceral Resections for Gastric Cancer Acceptable: Experience from a High Volume Center and Extended Literature Review?

Introduction Multivisceral resections (MVRs) in gastric cancer are potentially curable in selected patients in whom clear resection margins are possible. However, there are still uncertain data on their feasibility and safety considering short- and long-term results. The study compares survival, morbidity, mortality, and other secondary outcomes between standard and MVRs for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods A monocentric retrospective study in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, covering 2004 to 2020. Of the 336 operable cases, 101 patients underwent MVRs. The remaining 235 underwent standard gastric resections (SGRs), of which 173 patients were in stage T3/T4. To compare survival, a control group of 101 patients with palliative procedures was used-bypass anastomosis or exploration. Results MVR had a lower survival rate than the SGR but significantly higher than the palliative procedures. The predominant gender in MVR was male (72.3%), with a mean age of 61 years. The perioperative mortality was 3.96% ( n = 4), and the overall median survival was 28.1 months. The most frequently resected organs were the spleen (67.3%), followed by the pancreas (32.7%) and the liver (20.8%). In 56.4% of the cases two organs were resected, in 28.7% three organs, and in 13.9% four organs. The main complication was bleeding (9.9%). The major postoperative complications in the MVR were 14.85%, and in the SGR 6.4% ( p < 0.05). Better long-term results were observed in patients who underwent R0 resections compared with R1. Conclusion Multiorgan resections are characterized by poorer survival and a higher complication rate than gastrectomies. On the other hand, they have better long-term outcomes than palliative procedures. However, MVRs are admissible when performed by an experienced surgical team in high-volume centers.

Two distinct episodes of life-threatening hemobilia due to a lesion of common bile duct and delayed intrapancreatic arteriobiliary fistula managed by emergency pancreatoduodenal resection.

Hemobilia is an extremely rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It often has intermittent manifestation, which may lead to significant diagnostic delay. In 65% of the cases, the causes are iatrogenic, in 7% the cause is malignancy, in 5% - gallstones, in 8% it is inflammation (cholecystitis, parasites, reflux cholangitis), vascular abnormality is the cause in 7% (most commonly pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery), and pancreatic pseudocyst causes hemobilia in 1%. In almost all cases, the bleeding originates from intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts, and rarely from the pancreas.

Venous Resections in Pancreatic Head Carcinoma - 15 Years Experience with Survival and Prognostic Factor Analysis.

Background: We present a comparative analysis of survival, complications and major risk factors in patients who underwent surgery for pancreatic head carcinoma. Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective study aimed to evaluate clinical, surgical and pathoanatomical features of 467 patients who underwent radical surgery for pancreatic head carcinoma between September 2004 and October 2019. The series includes 88 patients (18.8%) with venous resections for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Results: The estimated median survival rates were statistically significant with 19.3 months in pancreatoduodenal venous resections (VR) and 26.9 months in pancreatoduodenal resections (PDR), respectively (p=0.047). On the other hand, one, three, and five-year survival rates of 46.6%, 17.6% and 8.3% in VR, and 53.6%, 20.8%, 14.9% in PDR were not statistically significant (p=0.13, 0.5 and 0.11 respectively). Survival rates comparison in PDR, VR, and palliative procedures (PP) between the three groups showed statistical significance (p 0.05). The clinically relevant postoperative complications in venous resections (13.6%) vs. 14.8% in PDR were not statistically significant (p=0.77). Postoperative bleeding and reoperation (p 0.05) are independent prognostic factors for worse outcomes. There was no statistically significant relationship between survival and presence of vascular invasion (p=0.581). Conclusions: When performed by experienced surgeons at specialized high-volume centres, pancreatoduodenal resections combined with venous resection and reconstruction are reliable and safe surgical procedures.

Single-Centre Experience of Supra-Renal Vena Cava Resection and Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Tumours involving the supra-renal segment of IVC have dismal prognosis if left untreated. Currently, aggressive surgical management is the only potentially curative treatment but is associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate perioperative factors, associated with adverse postoperative outcomes, based on the perioperative characteristics and type of IVC reconstruction. METHODS: We identified 44 consecutive patients, who underwent supra-renal IVC resection with a mean age of 57.3 years. Isolated resection of IVC was performed in four patients, concomitant liver resection was performed in 27 patients and other associated resection in 13 patients. Total vascular exclusion was applied in 21 patients, isolated IVC occlusion in 11 patients. Neither venovenous bypass (VVB) nor hypothermic perfusion was used in any of the cases. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 205 min (150-324 min) and the mean estimated blood loss was 755 ml (230-4500 ml). Overall morbidity was 59% and major complications (Dindo-Clavien ≥ III) occurred in 11 patients (25%). The 90-day mortality was 11% (5pts). Intraoperative haemotransfusion was significantly associated with postoperative general complications (p < 0,001). With a mean follow-up of 26.2 months, the actuarial 1-, 3- and 5-year survival is 69%, 34%, and 16%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: IVC resection and reconstruction in the aspect of aggressive surgical management of malignant disease confers a survival advantage in patients, often considered unresectable. When performed in experienced centres it is associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality.