Safety and Efficacy of Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatic Hemangiomas: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective and minimally invasive technique for the management of hepatic hemangiomas (HHs). This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic RFA for HHs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with 50 hepatic hemangiomas (5-10 cm in diameter) undergoing laparoscopic RFA from January 2012 to May 2015 at three tertiary hospitals in China were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with subcapsular hemangiomas were treated with a laparoscopic approach, and 11 patients with lesions in the liver parenchyma were treated with a combined laparoscopy and an ultrasound-guided percutaneous approach. No conversion to open surgery or two-step surgery occurred during the study period. Patients with small hemangiomas (< 7 cm) required a significantly shorter operating time (71.1 ± 20.18 min vs. 106 ± 23.55 min, p = 0.000) and fewer punctures compared with patients with large hemangiomas (> 7 cm) (4.61 ± 1.09 vs. 6.73 ±1.01, P < 0.05). According to the Dindo-Clavien classification, 15 patients experienced 34 Grade 1 complications, and two had complications of Grade 3a. All complications were resolved by conservative treatment. Forty-three (86.0%) HHs in 38 patients were completely ablated after RFA, and 7 (14.0%) HHs in 6 patients were incompletely ablated. All patients were followed up for 6-24 months (mean 15 ± 6 months). CONCLUSION: The data showed that laparoscopic RFA is an effective treatment for small (< 10 cm) HHs. While the incidence of postoperative complications remains high, the majority of complications are minor. Patients undergoing laparoscopic RFA for HHs, even for the small ones, should be carefully selected.

Appropriate Patient Selection Is Essential for the Success of Primary Closure After Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is being increasingly used for management of common bile duct (CBD) stones. Primary CBD closure has been reported to have better short-term outcomes compared to T-tube placement. However, primary CBD closure cannot be performed in all patients. AIM: This study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of LCBDE with primary CBD closure in appropriately selected patients and compare them with T-tube drainage. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing LCBDE in our department from June 2011 to October 2014 was performed. Primary closure was performed in 52 patients (group A), and a T-tube was placed in 33 patients (group B). Patient demographics, intraoperative findings, postoperative stay, complications, and long-term follow-up data were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The mean operating time was much longer in group A compared to group B (113.92 vs. 95.92 min, p = 0.032). The overall complication rate (9.6 vs. 6.3%, p = 0.701) and hospital stay (4 vs. 5.11 days, p = 0.088) were similar in both groups. No patient required conversion to the open procedure. Bile leakage was more frequent in group A (5.78 vs. 0%, p = 0.279), but this was not statistically significant. All three patients with bile leakage were treated successfully by conservative measures and gradual drain withdrawal. On long-term follow-up, recurrent stones were detected in two patients in group A. No patient was found to develop CBD stricture. CONCLUSION: LCBDE and primary CBD closure has excellent short- and long-term outcomes when performed in appropriately selected patients.

A successful treatment of traumatic bronchobiliary fistula by endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage.

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) is a rare condition in which there is a nonnatural communication between the biliary tract and the bronchial trees. It is usually aroused by the complications of hepatic hydatidosis, hepatic amebic, biliary obstruction, trauma, neoplasm and hepatic abscess formation. In this paper, we described a patient suffering from BBF that is secondary to trauma or surgery. Especially, BBF was detected in the left lung. Finally, we managed this case successfully without an open surgery.

Laparoscopic management of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A retrospective 10-year single-center experience.

AIM: To determine the feasibility, safety, and oncological outcome of laparoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) based on favorable or unfavorable location. METHODS: Our hospital database included 207 patients who underwent laparoscopic removal of gastric GISTs from January 2004 to September 2015. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, surgery, histopathology, postoperative course, and oncological outcomes were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Gastric GIST in favorable locations was present in 81/207 (39.1%) cases, and in unfavorable locations in 126/207 (60.9%) cases. Overall mean tumor size was 3.28 ± 1.82 cm. No conversions occurred, and complete R0 resection was achieved in 207 (100%) cases. There were three incidences of iatrogenic tumor rupture. The feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery were comparable in both groups with no statistical difference between unfavorable and favorable location groups, respectively: for operative time: 83.86 ± 44.41 vs 80.77 ± 36.46 min, P = 0.627; conversion rate: 0% vs 0%; estimated blood loss: 27.74 ± 45.2 vs 29.59 ± 41.18 mL, P = 0.780; tumor rupture during surgery: 0.90% vs 2.82%, P = 0.322; or postoperative complications: 3.74% vs 7.04%, P = 0.325. The follow-up period recurrence rate was 1.89% with no significant differences between the two groups (3.03% vs 0%, P = 0.447). Overall 5-year survival rate was 98.76% and survival rates were similar between the two groups: 98.99% vs 98.39%, P = 0.623 (unfavorable vs favorable, respectively). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach for gastric GISTs is safe and feasible with well-accepted oncological surgical outcomes. Strategies for laparoscopic resection should be selected according to the location and size of the tumor. Laparoscopic treatment of gastric GISTs in unfavorable locations should not be restricted in gastrointestinal centers.

Results of adjuvant radiation therapy for locoregional perihilar cholangiocarcinoma after curative intent resection.

PURPOSE: This study sought to define the role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) for patients with curative intent resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: By using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry, 1,917 patients with non-metastatic pCCA who underwent surgical resection from 1988 to 2009 were included in this study. Propensity score methods were used to compare the survival outcomes of patients treated with and without adjuvant RT after controlling for selection bias. RESULTS: Of the 1,917 patients, 762 (39.7%) received adjuvant RT. In the unmatched population, median overall survival (OS) for patients receiving adjuvant RT compared with those undergoing surgery alone was 23 versus 22 months (P=0.651). Patients who received adjuvant RT were younger (65 vs 68 years, P<0.001), had more regional diseases (86.0% vs 76.7%, P<0.001), and had more positive lymph nodes (43.8% vs 32.2%, P<0.001). In the matched population, adjuvant RT did not show better OS (22 vs 23 months, P=0.978) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) (17 vs 18 months, P=0.554). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant RT is not associated with improved survival of patients with resected pCCA. These data suggest that adjuvant RT should not be routinely used to treat patients with pCCA outside research trials. Ideally, prospective randomized trials should be performed to verify the conclusion of this study.

Antiproliferative effects of cinobufacini on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells detected by atomic force microscopy.

AIM: To investigate the antiproliferative activity of cinobufacini on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and the possible mechanism of its action. METHODS: HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of cinobufacini. Cell viability was measured by methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Cytoskeletal and nuclear alterations were observed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin and DAPI staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. Changes in morphology and ultrastructure of cells were detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the nanoscale level. RESULTS: MTT assay indicated that cinobufacini significantly inhibited the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. With the concentration of cinobufacini increasing from 0 to 0.10 mg/mL, the cell viability decreased from 74.9% ± 2.7% to 49.41% ± 2.2% and 39.24% ± 2.1% (P < 0.05). FCM analysis demonstrated cell cycle arrest at S phase induced by cinobufacini. The immunofluorescence studies of cytoskeletal and nuclear morphology showed that after cinobufacini treatment, the regular reorganization of actin filaments in HepG2 cells become chaotic, while the nuclei were not damaged seriously. Additionally, high-resolution AFM imaging revealed that cell morphology and ultrastructure changed a lot after treatment with cinobufacini. It appeared as significant shrinkage and deep pores in the cell membrane, with larger particles and a rougher cell surface. CONCLUSION: Cinobufacini inhibits the viability of HepG2 cells via cytoskeletal destruction and cell membrane toxicity.

Laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy with trans-orally inserted anvil (OrVil™): a single institution experience.

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) using trans-orally inserted anvil (OrVil™) in terms of operative characteristics and short term outcomes. RESULTS: Characteristics of 27 patients with gastric cancer who underwent LATG from October 2009 to October 2012 in the Foshan Affiliated Hospital of South Medical University were retrospectively reviewed. Among these patients, six were reconstructed by mini-laparotomy and 21 by OrVil™. The clinicopathological characteristics, total operation time, total blood loss, abdominal incision and complications of anastomosis including stenosis and leakage, were compared between the groups undergoing LATG with OrVil™ and the group undergoing mini-laparotomy. RESULTS: The operations were successfully performed on all the patients without intraoperative complications or conversion to open surgery. Two (10%) patients received palliative procedure under laparoscope who were prepared for LATG preoperatively. One case had hepatic metastatic carcinoma and 1 case had tumor recurrence near the anastomosis 8 mo after surgery. The mean follow-up duration was 10 mo (range, 2-24 mo). Operation time was significantly reduced by the use of OrVil™ (198.42 ± 30.28 min vs 240.83 ± 8.23 min). The postoperative course with regard to occurrence of stenosis and leakage was not different between the two groups. There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss. The upper abdominal incision was smaller in OrVil™ group than in mini-laparotomy group (4.31 ± 0.45 cm vs 6.43 ± 0.38 cm). CONCLUSION: LATG using OrVil™ is a technically feasible surgical procedure with sufficient lymph node dissection, less operation time and acceptable morbidity.

Management of acquired bronchobiliary fistula: A systematic literature review of 68 cases published in 30 years.

AIM: To outline the appropriate diagnostic methods and therapeutic options for acquired bronchobiliary fistula (BBF). METHODS: Literature searches were performed in Medline, EMBASE, PHMC and LWW (January 1980-August 2010) using the following keywords: biliobronchial fistula, bronchobiliary fistula, broncho-biliary fistula, biliary-bronchial fistula, tracheobiliary fistula, hepatobronchial fistula, bronchopleural fistula, and biliptysis. Further articles were identified through cross-referencing. RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases were collected and reviewed. BBF secondary to tumors (32.3%, 22/68), including primary tumors (19.1%, 13/68) and hepatic metastases (13.2%, 9/68), shared the largest proportion of all cases. Biliptysis was found in all patients, and other symptoms were respiratory symptoms, such as irritating cough, fever (36/68) and jaundice (20/68). Half of the patients were treated by less-invasive methods such as endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage. Invasive approaches like surgery were used less frequently (41.7%, 28/67). The outcome was good at the end of the follow-up period in 28 cases (range, 2 wk to 72 mo), and the recovery rate was 87.7% (57/65). CONCLUSION: The clinical diagnosis of BBF can be established by sputum analysis. Careful assessment of this condition is needed before therapeutic procedure. Invasive approaches should be considered only when non-invasive methods failed.