Unilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic thymoma resection ­ Indications, early and mid-term results / Az unilateralis videoasszisztált torakoszkópos thymomaeltávolítás javallata, korai és középtávú eredményei

Introduction. Thymoma is the most common tumour of the anterior mediastinum. Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery technique of thymoma resection is spreading world-wide, but the thoracoscopic method is still contentious in many ways. Authors evaluate the early and mid-term results of a 17 years period of VATS unilateral approach at 2 Hungarian thoracic surgical centers. Method. Depending on the anatomical situation of the thymoma, we performed thymectomy, or partial thymectomy (thymomectomy) for the Masaoka­Koga I­II­III stage thymoma from the right or left side through 2 or 3 intercostal ports. We managed the operations with ultrasonic dissector and electrocauter. By using international standards we evaluated perioperative morbidity, mid-term oncological results and clinical symptoms of myasthenia. Results. 23 of the 54 patients were man, 31 were woman, the average age was 58 (26­79) years, 23 of them had myasthenia. The conversion rate was 11,5% (7/61). The average operation time was 84 (39­150) minutes. The average hospitalisation time was 5.5 (3­19) days. The average size of the thymomas was 46 (18­90) mm. The histology resulted thymoma type A in 2 cases, AB in 19 cases, B1/2/3 in 11/11/1 cases, mixed B in 10 cases. The examination of the resection line was R0/1/2 in 42/11/1 cases. The Masaoka­Koga stages were: I (17), IIA (28), IIB (2), III (7). There was 25 thymomectomies, and 29 thymectomies. In seven cases there were extension of the operation to the pericardium (2), to the lung (2), to the phrenic nerve (6), and to innominate vein (1). The in-hospital mortality over 30 day was in 1 case (1.85%). The morbidity was 11/54 (20.4%). The average follow-up time was 62.56 (5­198) months. In the group with myasthenia the effectivity of the operation was 18/21 (85.7%), including complete remission of 5/21 (23.8%). Post-thymectomy myasthenia gravis developed in 2/31 cases (6.5%). The average 5 years survival was 100%, tumour-free 5 years survival was 96%. Conclusions. The higher proportion of the thymomectomy in the early results, higher conversion rate and lower R0 proportion might be in connection with the attitude of the surgeons, with the learning curve and with the limitations of the unilateral method. After a longer follow-up time late results may become more real and comparable. Instead of unilateral VATS technique we have changed to the subxyphoideal approach of VATS because of its better visualisation.

Application of video-assisted thoracoscopy in the surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis in adults without thymoma / Jobb oldali videoasszisztált thoracoscopos thymectomia a thymoma nélküli, felnottkori myasthenia gravis sebészi kezelésében

Introduction: Surgical technique of thymectomy performed for treatment of myasthenia gravis has considerably changed in the last almost 30 years. In addition to standard interventions ­ transsternal and transcervical thymectomy ­, video-assisted thoracoscopic interventions (VATS), later on robotic surgery came into general use. In our two institutions, we apply VATS thymectomy since 2011. Methods: There are several different surgical techniques for this purpose; we approached the mediastinum through the right thoracic cavity. We prepared initially 3, later on 2 perimammal ports for the access of the thymus; the patients were in supine position during surgery. We used an ultrasonic cutting device in all cases. In order to perform extended thymectomy, we removed the fatty tissue around the thymus and opened widely the left thoracic cavity, too. During patient enrollment, we preferred patients with normal or lower body weight. Results: During 8 years and 4 months, we operated on 92 patients using this method for myasthenia gravis without thymoma; there were 20 male and 72 female patients at the age of 33 years on average (19­75 years). Duration of surgery was 35­160 minutes, 82.3 minutes on average. The bulky fatty tissue around the thymus made the orientation and the complete removal more difficult in a few patients. We experienced vascular injury in 4 cases and injury of the contralateral lung in 3 cases. Conversion was necessary in 2 cases (1 sternotomy and 1 thoracotomy), there were no nerve injuries. Assisted ventilation was necessary in case of ten patients in the postoperative period for a few hours; all other patients were extubated on the operating table. There was no need for repeated intubation and tracheostomy; there was no respiratory insufficiency and perioperative mortality. Duration of ICU care was 1.1 days on the average (0­11 days), that of the total hospital care 4.8 days on average (3­15 days). Duration of thoracic drainage was 1.16 days on average (1­4 days). Two patients (2.41%) died within one and five years after surgery. During 12­108 months (48 months on average) follow-up of 81 patients, 21 patients (25.3%) suffering from myasthenia total recovery was observed, pharmacologic remission was achieved in 4 patients (5.3%), minimal manifestation remained in 23 patients (24.1%), while in 28 patients (33.73%) other improvement was observed. The status of 4 patients (4.82%) remained unchanged and that of 4 patients (5.3%) worsened. Conclusion: VATS thymectomy represents a completely new surgical method for surgeons having experience in transsternal surgical technique. Bulky mediastinal fatty tissue makes surgery very difficult. The perioperative period is advantageous for the patients and also the long term follow-up results are acceptable. It is questionable that the thymus can be completely removed with this method in all cases.

[Indications and perioperative results of completion pneumonectomy]. / A komplettáló pneumonectomia javallatai és perioperatív eredményei.

Introduction: Completion pneumonectomy (CP) means the removal of the entire residual lung tissue after previously performed lung resection. Mortality and morbidity of CP are higher when compared to those of standard pneumonectomy. In this article, we give an overview on indications and perioperative results of CP. Method: We analysed the perioperative results of CP performed during a period of 15 years in a retrospective manner, based on the patients' medical records, descriptions of surgeries and histological findings. We divided the indications into three groups: rescue surgery for complications in the early postoperative period (rescue: rCP), incomplete resection verified by histological results (pathological: pCP) and conventional surgeries performed in the late postoperative period (conventional: cCP). We classified the complications according to an international scale. Results: The overall surgery-related morbidity of 102 patients was 70.5% (minor: 36.27%, major: 34.23%), the mortality was 16.6%. There were no lethal complications during the surgical procedures. rCP: 24 patients (18 men, 6 women, 46-77 years, average 61.7 years). Intervals between operations: 10.87 days (0-32 days). Indications: necrosis or abscess formation (8 cases), bronchial fistula (5 cases), insufficient or blocked anastomosis (3 cases), massive haemoptysis (3 cases), intrathoracic bleeding (2 cases), non-expanding lung (3 cases). Overall morbidity: 79.19%. Nine patients died (37.5%). pCP: 7 patients (5 men, 2 women), 45-66 years (average: 56.3 years). Primary surgery: 6 lobectomies, 1 bilobectomy. Intervals between operations: 1-5 months (average: 2.84 months). Three patients did not develop complications, four had anaemia requiring blood transfusion, one empyema requiring fenestration, one died (14.28%) due to intrathoracic bleeding. There were no tumours in the removed lung tissues in cases of four patients. cCP: 71 patients (22 women, 44 men, 29-79 years (average: 60.3 years). Intervals between operations: 34 days - 40 years (average: 6.7 years). Histological findings of the previous surgeries: primary lung tumour (64 patients), metastases of tumours in other organs (1 patient), bronchiectasia (1 patient) and tuberculosis (5 patients). Indications of cCP: late bronchial fistula (2 patients), verified or suspected tumour (65 patients), other (4 patients). Histological findings with primary lung tumour in the patient's history: 32 new tumours, 15 local recurrences, 9 metastases, 2 metastases or recurrences, 7 non-malignant. Histological findings without malignancy in the patient's history: 3 new tumours, 1 tuberculosis and 2 chronic inflammations. Overall morbidity was 76.2%, mortality within 30 days or in the hospital 9.8%. Conclusions: Morbidity and mortality are the highest after rCP, but these patients usually do not have any other chance for healing. We have not performed repeat surgery for incomplete tumour resection in the last 10 years. Comparing our results to the international data, the morbidity after cCP is high, the mortality is similar.

Tumor necrosis correlates with PD-L1 and PD-1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy in lung cancer are intensively investigated; however, correlations between PD-L1/PD-1 expressions and clinical features or histopathological tumor characteristics determined on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections have not extensively been studied. Material and methods: We determined PD-L1 expression of tumor cells (TC) and immune cells (IC), and PD-1 expression of IC by immunohistochemistry in 268 lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) patients, and correlated the data with smoking, COPD, tumor grade, necrosis, lepidic growth pattern, vascular invasion, density of stromal IC, and EGFR/KRAS status of the tumors. Results: There was a positive correlation between PD-L1 expression of TC and IC, as well as PD-L1 and PD-1 expression of IC. Tumor necrosis was associated with higher PD-L1 expression of TC and PD-1 expression of IC. A negative correlation was observed between lepidic growth pattern and PD-L1 expression of TC and PD-L1/PD-1 expression of IC. EGFR mutation seemed to negatively correlate with PD-1 expression of IC, but this tendency could not be verified when applying corrections for multiple comparisons. No significant effect of the KRAS mutation on any of the studied variables could be established. Conclusion: Here we first demonstrate that the presence of necrosis correlates with higher PD-L1 expression of TC and PD-1 expression of IC in LADC. Further studies are required to determine the predictive value of this observation in LADC patients receiving immunotherapy.

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation and correlations in between functional parameters, extent of thoracic surgery and severity of post-operative complications: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation can be effective in perioperative condition. Our aim was to examine whether the changes of functional markers are significant and search connections between these values and the severity of postoperative complications. METHODS: A total of 238 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients underwent perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation with thoracic surgery. Health status and the following parameters were examined: lung function (FEV1, FVC), chest kinematics [chest wall expansion (CWE)], 6-minute walking test (6MWT), breath holding time (BHT), grip strength (GS) and exercise capacity. Patients were separated into three groups: 72 patients had preoperative rehabilitation only (PRE group), 80 had only postoperative rehabilitation (POS group), and 86 patients underwent pre- and postoperative rehabilitation as well (PPO group). Postoperative complications were classed as "severe" and "not severe". We evaluated the changes in functional parameters. Significance was recognized at P<0.05. Connections in between variables and severity of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Pulmonary rehabilitation resulted significant changes of all examined parameters in all three groups. The direction of changes were favourable, so all of the changes can be considered to be improvement [PRE: CWE: 4.2±2.3 vs. 5.8±2.2 cm; FEV1: 63.2±15.6 vs. 70.1±16.6%pred; 6-minute walking distance (6MWD): 392.9±93.5 vs. 443.2±86.6 m; FVC: 83.1±15.9 vs. 90.9±15.6%pred; POS: CWE: 2.9±1.4 vs. 5.0±2.0 cm; FEV1: 56.4±15.6 vs. 64.6±16.0%pred; 6MWD: 354.7±90.7 vs. 437.0±96.0 m; FVC: 66.2±18.7 vs. 76.1±17.7%pred; PPO: preoperatively: CWE: 4.0±2.1 vs. 5.6±2.6 cm; FEV1: 58.2±15.1 vs. 67.0±14.6%pred; 6MWD: 378.3±90.5 vs. 441.3±86.4 m; FVC: 82.4±16.7 vs. 93.3±16.7%pred; postoperatively: CWE: 2.7±1.5 vs. 4.4±2.2 cm; FEV1: 47.4±13.0 vs. 53.4±14.7%pred; 6MWD: 341.4±115.9 vs. 403.3±98.4 m; FVC: 63.6±16.9 vs. 72.6±18.6%pred; P<0.05]. BHT, GS, dyspnoea and health status were also improved significantly. By discriminant analysis 5 of the variables proved to have discriminative value: kilometers travelled via cycle ergometer at the onset of the preoperative rehabilitation, gender, FEV1 after preoperative rehabilitation, extent of the operation and 6MWD before preoperative rehabilitation. These 5 parameters can predict severe complications correctly in 72.5% of all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce the functional depletion caused by the thoracic surgical operation. Identification of more predictive factors of severe complications can help making preoperative risk stratification more precisely.

Chemotherapy treatment is associated with altered PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: While the predictive value of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) protein expression for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy of lung cancer has been extensively studied, the impact of standard platinum-based chemotherapy on PD-L1 or programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) expression is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in PD-L1 expression of tumor cells (TC) and immune cells (IC), in PD-1 expression of IC, and in the amount of stromal mononuclear cell infiltration after platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined the amount of stromal mononuclear cells and PD-L1/PD-1 expressions by immunohistochemistry in bronchoscopic biopsy samples including 20 adenocarcinomas (ADC), 15 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 2 other types of non-small cell lung cancer, and 4 small cell lung cancers together with their corresponding surgical resection tissues after platinum-based chemotherapy. RESULTS: PD-L1 expression of TC decreased in ten patients (24.4%) and increased in three patients (7.32%) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.051). The decrease in PD-L1 expression, however, was significant only in patients who received cisplatin-gemcitabine combination (p = 0.020), while in the carboplatin-paclitaxel group, no similar tendency could be observed (p = 0.432). There was no difference between ADC and SCC groups. Neither PD-1 expression nor the amount of stromal IC infiltration showed significant changes after chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study, in which both PD-L1 and PD-1 expression were analyzed together with the amount of stromal IC infiltration in different histological subtypes of lung cancer before and after platinum-based chemotherapy. Our results confirm that chemotherapy decreases PD-L1 expression of TC in a subset of patients, therefore, rebiopsy and re-evaluation of PD-L1 expression may be necessary for the indication of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

[Doege-Potter syndrome with giant malignant solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura]. / Doege­Potter-szindróma a mellhártya óriás malignus szoliter fibrosus tumorával.

Infrequent solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura are associated with hypoglycaemia only in a few percent of the cases; this condition is called Doege-Potter syndrome, named after its first descriptors. Our 63 years old male patient has previously undergone clinical treatment for intrathoracic fluid accumulation on the left side caused by a giant tumour-like mass in the lower left lobe detected by CT scan. In the course of further investigations performed due to increasing load-induced dyspnoea, lung core biopsy verified low grade sarcoma in the tumour. Tumour board suggested surgery. The patient was transferred from the intensive care unit into the operation theater due to increasing dyspnoea and repeated hypoglycaemic periods in rapidly worsening general condition. Pneumonectomy and removal of the tumour was performed on the left side. Histology showed solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura corresponding to Doege-Potter syndrome. The patient was discharged without complications and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy due to pleural dissemination of the tumour observed intraoperatively. One year after surgery the patient underwent surgical removal of a locally recurrent tumour. In spite of repeated chemotherapy local and multiplex contralateral pulmonary progression was observed. Three-year survival was noted from the time of the first surgery. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(41): 149-153.

[Risk stratification before thoracic surgery, perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation]. / A mellkassebészeti mutéti teherbíró képesség megítélése, perioperatív légzésrehabilitáció.

INTRODUCTION: Besides the oncology and operative surgical technics, functional aspects influence the operability of lung cancer. Preoperative risk stratification, evaluation of postoperative complications needs to be considered. AIM: To review international literature and experiences of our institute. METHOD: We focused the literature of risk stratification of thoracic surgery. Lung function, lung mechanics, chest kinematics, exercise physiology were considered. Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation for cardiovascular system, lung mechanics, muscles, exercise capacity and quality of life were evaluated. Laboratory parameters, comorbidities, obesity, cachexia, smoking cessation were considered. RESULTS: Elevated blood sugar, kidney function, reduced albumin level increased the risk. COPD, sleep apnoea, heart failure, obesity and cachexia influences the outcome. Smoking cessation may reduce postoperative complications. Controlled breathing technics, chest wall mobilization, training have favourable effects. Psychosocial support and dietetics are important. CONCLUSIONS: Risk stratification is supported by laboratory parameters, lung function, oxygen uptake and comorbidities. Pulmonary rehabilitation can improve functionality and quality of life. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(50): 1989-1997.

Effectiveness of perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation in thoracic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Functional condition is crucial for operability of patients with lung cancer and/or chronic respiratory diseases. The aim of the study was to measure changes of functional and quality of life parameters in terms of the effectiveness of perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). METHODS: A total of 208 COPD patients (age: 63±9 years, man/woman: 114/94, FEV1: 62±14%pred) participated in a perioperative PR program. The indication was primary lung cancer in 72% of the patients. The 68 patients participated in preoperative (PRE) rehabilitation, 72 in a pre- and postoperative rehabilitation (PPO) and 68 patients only in postoperative rehabilitation (POS). PR program included respiratory training techniques, individualized training and smoking cessation. Lung function tests, 6 minutes walking distance (6MWD) were measured before and after the rehabilitation. Quality of life tests [COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale (mMRC)] were evaluated as well. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in FEV1 (PRE: 64±16 vs. 67±16%pred; PPO: 60±13 vs. 66±13%pred before the operation, 48±13 vs. 52±13%pred after the operation; POS: 56±16 vs. 61±14%pred, P<0.05) and 6MWD (PRE: 403±87 vs. 452±86 m; PPO: 388±86 vs. 439±83 m before, 337±111 vs. 397±105 m after the operation; POS: 362±89 vs. 434±94 m, P<0 0001). Significant improvement was detected in FVC, grip strength, mMRC and CAT questionnaires as an effectiveness of PR, also. Average intensive care duration was 3.8±5.2 days with vs. 3.1±3.6 without preoperative PR. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life were seen following PR both before and after thoracic surgery.

A pleura óriás fibrosus tumora légzési elégtelenséggel szövodve.

Surgery of mostly benign giant tumours involving large part of the chest is a special surgical challenge. The problems comprise difficulties of surgical technique, management of the narcosis and postoperative intensive care. An additional peculiarity of our case is the extreme confliction of the otherwise presumably evident indication for surgery. Our 64-years-old male patient has been suffering from increasing dyspnoea on exercise for one and a half years. A chest X-ray performed for other reasons demonstrated a large, expansive structural change in the right thoracic cavity. Lung biopsy performed as part of respiratory investigations, which showed a solitaire fibrous tumour of the pleura. Oncological consultation suggested consideration of surgery. The general condition of the patient worsened rapidly in the course of preassessment; he had to be admitted to ICU due to dyspnoea and atrial fibrillation, where respiratory insufficiency developed and required respiratory therapy. Surgery was performed in this high anaesthetic risk patient, since removal of the tumour was the only chance for surviving. The patient left the hospital healthy after successful surgery and cumbersome postoperative period. He returned to his original job and no recurrence was detected one year after surgery.

[Surgical treatment of acute descending necrotising mediastinitis]. / Az acut descendáló necrotizáló mediastinitis sebészi kezelése.

INTRODUCTION: Acute descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a severe septic inflammation of the mediastinum with necrosis, which progrediates rapidly and leads to death without adequate surgical treatment in 80% of cases. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 17 patients were treated with acute DNM between 1999 and 2012 at the Thoracic Surgical Department of Koranyi National Institute and Semmelweis University of Hungary. The infection source was primarily in the head-neck region with dental infections in eight cases, retro/parapharyngeal abscess in four patients, primary collar phlegmone and abscess in one case and two retrotonsillar abscesses. Further, in one case there was a previous operation (mediastinoscopy) in the history and in another case there was "difficult intubation process" (not recognized trachea-laesion) mentioned during abdominal operation. Primary exploration was performed from the neck in nine cases, thoracotomies plus collar incisions were carried out in four cases, athoracotomy only was done in one and orofacial exploration in further three patients. Disease progression could be evaluated by computer tomography which had to be followed by immediate surgery. RESULTS: Four patients needed two operations, five patients underwent exploration three times, while three patients needed 4 interventions four times. More than one anatomical region was explored in 70% of the cases. Based on our experience prognosis is affected by the time elapsed between detection and surgical intervention, age of the patient and comorbidites such as diabetes mellitus. We lost nine patients (53%), eight patients recovered and symptom free (47%). CONCLUSIONS: Successful treatment is based on early diagnosis, urgent elimination of the primary source, adequate exploration of the cervico-facial region, debridement, collar and upper mediastinal drainage. If the inflammation spreads below the azygos vein or the aortic arch, a right thoracotomy should be performed with wide mediastinal exploration, debridement, and thoracic suction-lavage drainage. Treatment should be completed with broad spectrum and targeted antibiotics as well as organ support. Mortality and morbidity can be reduced with prompt and aggressive therapy.

[Isolated bronchial resection for tumor]. / Tumor miatt végzett izolált hörgoresectio.

Tumors that are confined to specific areas of the airway (e.g. left main stem bronchus or the bronchus intermedius) can be removed with resections of the bronchus only and preservation of the parenchyma. During the period of January 2004 to February 2009 five patients underwent isolated bronchial resection for lung tumor with curative intent. In this study we analyzed the data of five men with a median age of 47.6 years (range 29­68 years). In four cases resection of the intermediate bronchus was performed, and in one case left main bronchus was removed. Intraoperative frozen section revealed negative bronchial resection margins in all cases. Four patients had carcinoid tumors, while one was diagnosed with chemodectoma. Minor postoperative complications were observed in two patients only. Isolated bronchial resection for lung tumor is associated with low morbidity and mortality. Lung sparing procedures are preferable in the above cases but sufficient experience and conditions are mandatory to achieve adequate results.

[Repair for anterior chest wall deformity by Nuss procedure performed in young adults and older adolescents]. / Elülso mellkasfali deformitás Nuss szerinti rekonstrukciója fiatal felnotteken és idosebb kamaszokon.

Results of 86 minimally invasive anterior chest wall reconstructions for pectus excavatum by the method of Nuss are evaluated retrospectively. Complications, possible ways of avoiding those and technical details of the operation are discussed. Nuss method is also evaluated in terms of suitability patients' age. Minimally invasive anterior chest wall reconstructions were performed in 86 patients in the last seven years. The average age was 21.4 years. There were no severe intra-operative complications. Four dislocations of the metal bar (12 and 53 days after chest reconstruction) were observed and treated by Nuss-technique. One metal bar had to be removed on the 13th postoperative day for local septic complication, and another one for significant sterile dislocation 14 months after the operation. One patient asked for removal of the metal bar because of pain. In one case bleeding from a small side-branch of the internal mammary artery was stopped by VATS technique, a small superficial lung injury was treated by thoracic drainage. Over 90 percent of patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. Operating time and length of hospital stay gradually decreased throughout the years. Nuss technique can be performed safely in young adults for pectus excavatum with excellent long-term results. Less pain and shorter operating time of minimally invasive repair are the advantages of the procedure. Age above 30 years and previous open chest correction increases the risk for operation.

Videothoracoscopic treatment of a rare complication of nasojejunal tube insertion.

OBJECTIVE: Intubation of the tracheobronchial tree is the most common type of malposition during the placement of narrow-bore enternal tubes. CASE REPORT: In addition to other treatment components in a 65-year-old female, nasojejunal feeding was started to treat her for severe acute pancreatitis. After the placement of the narrow-bore feeding tube, she developed dyspnea and huskiness. On auscultation and X-ray investigation, the right pneumothorax was detected and the tube was found in the chest cavity. The diagnosis was confirmed by bronchoscopy. Videothoracoscopic resection and closure of the lacerated lung, using a tube thoracostomy, were performed. The patient recovered after postoperative conservative treatment for her pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Pneumothorax and laceration of the lung-caused by the malposition of narrow-bore enternal tube-can be successfully treated by applying videothoracoscopy.

[Anterior approach for liver resection in the cases of the treatment of large liver tumors]. / Anterior májreszekció, mint a nagyméretu májtumorok ellátácsára alkalmas mutéti módszer.

The authors compare the results of the patients who underwent right hemihepatectomy through anterior approach with those by conventional hemihepatectomy. In 119 patients hemihepatectomy was done, 52 of them were anterior approaches. We used this technique when the tumor was large, or it seemed to be fragile and its mobilisation could be dangerous or infiltrated the diaphragm or the the hepatic vein's preparation was difficult or impossible. We started the operation with dissecting parenchyma from the anterior surface toward hilus without preparation and ligation of the affected vessels and bile duct. No patient died following anterior technique. Death and reoperation occurred in two cases following conventional hemihepatectomy. The operation time and the average nursing days was not significantly different. The blood transfusion was significantly less during anterior approach. However, between the two groups, in those cases when the operations were performed because of liver malignancies, there were no differences regarding to survival rate after 62 months follow up in contrast with the literature. The anterior technique used and modified by authors can be performed safely. The blood consumption is significantly less in the cases of anterior technique. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding to the operation-time and the average nursing days. The median survival rate was similar in both groups. Our team suggest this method of the anterior approach for liver resection in the above mentioned cases.

[Liver resection for a rare parasitic infection--visceral larva migrans syndrome]. / Májresectio ritka parazitás fertozés miatt. Visceralis típusú larva migrans szindróma.

The authors describe a case of an 38-year-old woman suffering from a parasitical infection which is rare in Hungary. It was diagnosed in connection with a surgical liver segment resection. Visceral larval migrans is an infection caused by migration of the roundworm Toxocara larvae to organs and tissues. The authors describe the pathophysiology of the disease, clinical symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.

[Surgery of aortic valve stenosis with porcelain aorta under hypothermic circulatory arrest]. / Porcelánaortával szövódött aortabillentyú-hiba mútéte teljes keringésmegállítással.

This is a case report of a 52 year-old male patient with severe calcific aortic valve stenosis, associated with extended circular calcification of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch. Six months ago the patient underwent an explorative sternotomy in another institute, but the aortic valve replacement was not performed regarding the great risk of the porcelain aorta. The patient's complaints became more severe, so the authors recommended the excision both of the stenotic aortic valve and the calcified ascending aorta and replacement with a mechanical valve and vascular prosthesis. The operation was performed in deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest with help of cardiopulmonary bypass. The calcified ascending aorta was excised without crossclamping. The vascular graft used for replacement of the ascending aorta was anastomosed to the proximal part of the aortic arch, then it was clamped and the extracorporal circulation was started again with rewarming of the patient. The aortic valve was replaced with a 21 mm St. Jude HP mechanical valve prosthesis in the usual manner. At last, the graft was anastomosed supracoronary to the proximal stump of the ascending aorta. Extracorporal circulation was discontinued without any difficulties. Apart from a few days of somnolence, the patient's recovery was uneventful, he was discharged from hospital on the 12th postoperative day. Three months after the surgery he had no complaints and returned to work without any problems.

[Surgical treatment for primary and secondary tumors of the liver]. / A primer és szekunder májdaganatok sebészi kezelése.

We performed liver resection for focal liver disease in 266 patients between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 2001 at the University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Center, Medical School of Medicine, 2nd Department of Surgery in Debrecen, Hungary. The indication was primary liver cancer in 35 cases, liver metastasis in 97 cases. The primary tumour and its liver metastases were removed synchronously in 28 patients (29.9%). Comparing the results of different operating methods we found the need of transfusion significantly less in "anterior" liver resections. Regarding operating time, complications and survival time there were no significant differences between the different operations. One patient died in the perioperative period because of cardiac failure and one because of DIC (1.5%). There were 4 complications which needed reoperation in the early postoperative period. Eighty of the patients were treated with systemic adjuvant chemotherapy (Mayo protocol), with added chemoembolisation in another 26 patients. This has not increased life expectancy significantly. Thirty-two patients are still alive, their average survival time is 21.2 (5 to 59) months. The average survival time of the 78 patients' who died is 16.5 (3 to 58) months. Twenty-two patients were lost out of our follow-up.