New therapeutic strategy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory hepatopulmonary syndrome after liver transplant: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Due to the lack of published literature about treatment of refractory hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) after liver transplant (LT), this case adds information and experience on this issue along with a treatment with positive outcomes. HPS is a complication of end-stage liver disease, with a 10%-30% incidence in cirrhotic patients. LT can reverse the physiopathology of this process and restore normal oxygenation. However, in some cases, refractory hypoxemia persists, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used as a rescue therapy with good results. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old patient with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension was included in the LT waiting list for HPS. He had good liver function (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score 12, Child-Pugh class B7). He had pulmonary fibrosis and a mild restrictive respiratory pattern with a basal oxygen saturation of 82%. The macroaggregated albumin test result was > 30. Spirometry demon strated a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 78%, forced vital capacity (FVC) of 74%, FEV1/FVC ratio of 81%, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of 42%, and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient of 57%. He required domiciliary oxygen at 2 L/min (16 h/d). The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and extubated in the first 24 h, needing high-flow therapy and non-invasive ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide afterwards. Reintubation was needed after 72 h. Due to the non-response to supportive therapies, installation of ECMO was decided with progressive recovery after 9 d. Extubation was possible on the tenth day, maintaining a high-flow nasal cannula and de-escalating to conventional oxygen therapy after 48 h. He was discharged from ICU on postoperative day (POD) 20 with a 90%-92% oxygen saturation. Steroid recycling was needed twice for acute rejection. The patient was discharged from hospital on POD 27 with no symptoms, with an 89%-90% oxygen saturation. CONCLUSION: Due to the favorable results observed, ECMO could become the central axis of treatment of HPS and refractory hypoxemia after LT.

How to avoid iatrogenic injuries of the biliary tract in urgent surgery? The use of indocianine green is an alternative.

Iatrogenic bile duct injury is a rare complication, although feared due to its morbidity and mortality. In urgent surgeries, its incidence can be doubled, so in selected cases we must assess the use of resources such as indocyanine green to minimize the risk of biliary or arterial lesions by allowing the correct identification of the structures. We present the case of a 57-year-old patient with acute cholecystitis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Given the difficulty in differentiating structures in Calot's triangle, the decision was made to use indocyanine green, which identifies a very short cystic duct, thus avoiding iatrogenic bile duct injury.

La lesión iatrogénica de vía biliar es una complicación infrecuente, aunque temida por su morbimortalidad. En cirugías urgentes, su incidencia puede duplicarse, por lo que en casos seleccionados debemos valorar la utilización de recursos como el verde de indocianina para minimizar el riesgo de lesiones biliares o arteriales, al permitir una correcta identificación de las estructuras. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 57 años con colecistitis aguda a la que realizamos colecistectomía laparoscópica. Ante la dificultad en la diferenciación de estructuras en el triángulo de Calot, se decidió utilizar verde de indocianina, que identificó un conducto cístico muy corto, evitando así una lesión iatrogénica de vía biliar.

Acute emphysematous cholecystitis due to clostridium perfringens: a rare entity requiring aggressive and early treatment.

Acute emphysematous cholecystitis is a rare entity (1% of acute cholecystitis) characterized by the presence of gas in the gallbladder lumen, gallbladder wall or even in the bile duct (pneumobilia). It is associated with arteriosclerosis, embolic events, and diabetes mellitus and as in other similar pathologies such as emphysematous gastritis or emphysematous pancreatitis the most frequently isolated microorganisms are Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, although others such as Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium perfringens and Klebsiella pneumoniae have also been found.

Liver metastases of a malignant solitary fibrous tumor: the important role of immunohistochemistry in this rare entity.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm of mesenchymal origin that normally appears in the pleura; however, it has been described in other extrapleural locations. This tumor is rarely malignant and only a few cases of metastatic SFT have been described.

Indication for Liver Transplantation After Direct-Acting Agents in the Treatment of Patients With Hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: The development of new direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment has reduced the indications for liver transplantation (LT). We analyzed the indications, characteristics, and evolution of patients with HCV infection who were treated with DAA-based therapies and who underwent LT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was performed. Data were collected of patients undergoing LT owing to HCV infection between January 2016 and August 2020. Overall characteristics of the patients were analyzed and divided into 2 groups according to the indication for LT: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or decompensated cirrhosis (DC). Differences between biliary and vascular complications after surgery and survival time were compared. RESULTS: Of 156 LTs, 33 (22%) were performed in patients with HCV infection in this period, which shows a decrease of nearly 16% when comparing this period with the interferon/ribavirin era. Indications for LT were 56.7% in patients with HCC and 43.3% in patients with DC. After DAA treatment, all patients developed a sustained viral response. Mean age of the global series, HCC group, and DC group were 56.9, 58.71, and 54.4 years, respectively (P = .041); 53.8% of the HCV-DC group initiated DAA treatment by the time to be included at the waiting list, compared with 17.6% of HCV-HCC group (P = .045). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of survival or biliary and vascular complications after LT. CONCLUSION: Patients with HCV are still part of the waiting list, mainly because of HCC. No statistical differences were shown in terms of postoperative complications or survival. Studies with a higher number of patients are needed.

Acute abdomen secondary to massive bleeding due to rupture of liver metastases of a gastrointestinal stroma tumor.

Hemoperitoneum secondary to non-traumatic liver rupture is a rare cause of an acute abdomen. We present the case of a patient with a hepatic rupture secondary to metastasis of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who required an emergent laparotomy due to hemodynamic instability. Intraoperatively, a lesion of more than 20cm dependent on the posterior gastric wall and a hemoperitoneum secondary to rupture of liver metastases and decapsulation of the Glisson capsule was evidenced. A frequent complication of GIST tumors is its rupture causing gastrointestinal bleeding or hemoperitoneum, as occurred in our case.

El hemoperitoneo secundario a estallido hepático no traumático es una causa poco frecuente de abdomen agudo. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con estallido hepático secundario a metástasis de un tumor del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) que requirió una laparotomía emergente por inestabilidad hemodinámica. Se evidenció intraoperatoriamente una lesión de más de 20 cm dependiente de la pared posterior gástrica y un hemoperitoneo secundario a estallido de metástasis hepáticas y descapsulación de la cápsula de Glisson. Una complicación frecuente de los GIST es la rotura que ocasiona hemorragia digestiva o hemoperitoneo, como ocurrió en nuestro caso.

Dolor abdominal secundario a disección espontánea de arteria mesentérica superior complicada / Abdominal pain at complicated spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection

La disección espontánea de la arteria mesentérica superior (AMS) es una entidad que se describe como un desgarro o rotura de la íntima y de las capas internas de la media permitiendo el paso de sangre creando una luz falsa en la capa media. El diagnóstico clínico se establece tras la aparición de dolor abdominal súbito en pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular y su manejo puede ser endovascular o mediante cirugía a cielo abierto, dependiendo de diversos factores que mencionaremos. La clasificación se describió en base a los hallazgos por TAC. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 48 años con disección espontánea de la AMS.(AU)

Spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery is described as a tear or rupture of the intima and the inner layers of the stocking, allowing the passage of blood creating a false light in the middle layer. The clinical diagnosis is established after the appearance of sudden abdominal pain in patients with cardiovascular risk factors and its management can be endovascular or by open surgery, depending on factors that we will mention. The classification was described based on the CT findings. We present the case of a 48-year-old patient with spontaneous AMS dissection.(AU)

Cholangiocarcinoma, 10-Year Survival After Liver Transplantation: A Case Report.

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common neoplasm in the liver, with a very poor, short-term prognosis. Today, surgery associated with or without an adjuvant is the only curative treatment. Liver transplantation (LT) is the best treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma tumor. In recent years, treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by LT associated with neoadjuvant therapy has been studied under a criterion. But could it be possible to apply LT like the curative treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC)? Initially the answer is no, but there are different studies about incidental LT in patients with iCC that demonstrate survival over 40% to 50%. In our center, we conducted a review of 468 transplants completed between 2002 and 2018, and we identified 1 case of incidental LT in a patient with iCC with an overall survival of 10 years. Because there is currently an increase in donors owing to the expansion of the criteria, a study to consider extending the criteria of LT to include iCC would be beneficial.