Hepatic vein reconstruction during hepatectomy:A feasible and underused technique

Complete surgical resection(R0)of liver tumors,primary or metastatic,remains the main objective in management of primary and metastatic liver tumors[1].Tumors invading to the proximity of the hepatic venous outflow pose a peculiar challenge to achieve R0 resections,because this location may render a tumor unresectable.The median survival of patients with liver tumor without surgery is less than 12 months[2].Even with surgery,post-hepatectomy liver failure and subsequently increased mortality are the main problems associated with complex resection[3].Moreover,when the vein is affected,vein resection and subsequent reconstruction are necessary.Vascular resection is a standard practice in liver resection and transplantation[4],for example,hepatic vein reconstruction during a living-donor liver transplant,porto-mesenteric axis reconstruction during resection of advanced pancreatic cancer and caval reconstruction during resection of retroperitoneal tumors.Thus,novel techniques like total hepatic vascular exclusion(HVE)[5],veno-venous bypass[6]and ex vivo hepatic resection[7,8]have facilitated curative resections of tumors close to one or more major hepatic veins.

Management of distal cholangiocarcinoma with arterial involvement: Systematic review and case series on the role of neoadjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND The use of neoadjuvant therapy(NAT)in distal cholangiocarcinoma(dCCA)with regional arterial or extensive venous involvement,is not widely accepted and evidence is sparse.AIM To synthesise evidence on NAT for dCCA and present the experience of a highvolume tertiary-centre managing dCCA with arterial involvement.METHODS A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidance to identify all studies reporting outcomes of patients with dCCA who received NAT.All patients from 2017 to 2022 who were referred for NAT for dCCA at our centre were retrospectively collected from a prospectively maintained database.Baseline characteristics,NAT type,progression to surgery and oncological outcomes were collected.RESULTS Twelve studies were included.The definition of“unresectable”locally advanced dCCA was heterogenous.Four studies reported outcomes for 9 patients who received NAT for dCCA with extensive vascular involvement.R0 resection rate ranged between 0 and 100%but without survival benefit in most cases.Remaining studies considered either NAT in resectable dCCA or inclusive with extrahepatic CCA.The presented case series includes 9 patients(median age 67,IQR 56-74 years,male:female 5:4)referred for NAT for borderline resectable or locally advanced disease.Three patients progressed to surgery and 2 were resected.One patient died at 14 months with evidence of recurrence at 6 months and the other died at 51 months following recurrence 6 months postoperatively.CONCLUSION Evidence for benefit of NAT is limited.Consensus on criteria for uniform definition of resectability for dCCA is required.We propose using the established National-Comprehensive-Cancer-Network®criteria for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Successful surgical management of ruptured umbilical hernias in cirrhotic patients

Acute umbilical hernia rupture in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites is an unusual,but potentially lifethreatening complication,with postoperative morbidity about 70% and mortality between 60%-80% after supportive care and 6%-20% after urgent surgical repair.Management options include primary surgical repair with or without concomitant portal venous system decompression for the control of the ascites.We present a retrospective analysis of our centre's experience over the last 6 years.Our cohort consisted of 11 consecutive patients(median age:53 years,range:36-63 years) with advanced hepatic cirrhosis and refractory ascites.Appropriate patient resuscitation and optimisation with intravenous fluids,prophylactic antibiotics and local measures was instituted.One failed attempt for conservative management was followed by a successful primary repair.In all cases,with one exception,a primary repair with non-absorbable Nylon,interrupted sutures,without mesh,was performed.The perioperative complication rate was 25% and the recurrence rate 8.3%.No mortality was recorded.Median length of hospital stay was 14 d(range:4-31 d).Based on our experience,the management of ruptured umbilical hernias in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis and refractory ascites is feasible without the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt routinely in the preoperative period,provided that meticulous patient optimisation is performed.

Incidental non-benign gallbladder histopathology after cholecystectomy in an United Kingdom population: Need for routine histological analysis?

AIM To analyse the range of histopathology detected in the largest published United Kingdom series of cholecystectomy specimens and to evaluate the rational for selective histopathological analysis.METHODS Incidental gallbladder malignancy is rare in the United Kingdom with recent literature supporting selective histological assessment of gallbladders after routine cholecystectomy.All cholecystectomy gallbladder specimens examined by the histopathology department at our hospital during a five year period between March 2008 and March 2013 were retrospectively analysed.Further data was collected on all specimens demonstrating carcinoma,dysplasia and polypoid growths.RESULTS The study included 4027 patients.The majority(97%) of specimens exhibited gallstone or cholecystitis related disease.Polyps were demonstrated in 44(1.09%),the majority of which were cholesterol based(41/44).Dysplasia,ranging from low to multifocal high-grade was demonstrated in 55(1.37%).Incidental primary gallbladder adenocarcinoma was detected in 6 specimens(0.15%,5 female and 1 male),and a single gallbladder revealed carcinoma in situ(0.02%).This large single centre study demonstrated a full range of gallbladder disease from cholecystectomy specimens,including more than 1% neoplastic histology and two cases of macroscopically occult gallbladder malignancies.CONCLUSION Routine histological evaluation of all elective and emergency cholecystectomies is justified in a United Kingdom population as selective analysis has potential to miss potentially curable life threatening pathology.

Para-aortic lymph node involvement should not be a contraindication to resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Para-aortic lymph nodes(PALN)are found in the aortocaval groove and they are staged as metastatic disease if involved by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC).The data in the literature is conflicting with some studies having associated PALN involvement with poor prognosis,while others not sharing the same results.PALN resection is not included in the standard lymphadenectomy during pancreatic resections as per the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery and there is no consensus on the management of these cases.AIM To investigate the prognostic significance of PALN metastases on the oncological outcomes after resection for PDAC.METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of data retrieved from a prospectively maintained database on consecutive patients undergoing pancreatectomies for PDAC where PALN was sampled between 2011 and 2020.Statistical comparison of the data between PALN+and PALN-subgroups,survival analysis with the Kaplan-Meier method and risk analysis with univariable and multivariable time to event Cox regression analysis were performed,specifically assessing oncological outcomes such as median overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS).RESULTS 81 cases had PALN sampling and 17(21%)were positive.Pathological N stage was significantly different between PALN+and PALN-patients(P=0.005),while no difference was observed in any of the other characteristics.Preoperative imaging diagnosed PALN positivity in one case.OS and DFS were comparable between PALN+and PALN-patients with lymph node positive disease(OS:13.2 mo vs 18.8 mo,P=0.161;DFS:13 mo vs 16.4 mo,P=0.179).No difference in OS or DFS was identified between PALN positive and negative patients when they received chemotherapy either in the neoadjuvant or in the adjuvant setting(OS:23.4 mo vs 20.6 mo,P=0.192;DFS:23.9 mo vs 20.5 mo,P=0.718).On the contrary,when patients did not receive chemotherapy,PALN disease had substantially shorter OS(5.5 mo vs 14.2 mo;P=0.015)and DFS(4.4 mo vs 9.8 mo;P<0.001).PALN involvement was not identified as an independent predictor for OS after multivariable analysis,while it was for DFS doubling the risk of recurrence.CONCLUSION PALN involvement does not affect OS when patients complete the indicated treatment pathway for PDAC,surgery and chemotherapy,and should not be considered as a contraindication to resection.

Surgical management of hepato-pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma

AIM To investigate the outcomes of liver and pancreatic resections for renal cell carcinoma(RCC) metastatic disease. METHODS This is a retrospective, single centre review of liver and/or pancreatic resections for RCC metastases between January 2003 and December 2015. Descriptive statistical analysis and survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier estimation were performed.RESULTS Thirteen patients h ad 7 pancreatic and 7 liver resections, with median follow-up 33 mo(range: 3-98). Postoperative complications were recorded in 5 cases, with no postoperative mortality. Three patients after hepatic and 5 after pancreatic resection developed recurrent disease. Median overall survival was 94 mo(range: 23-94) after liver and 98 mo(range: 3-98) after pancreatic resection. Disease-free survival was 10 mo(range 3-55) after liver and 28 mo(range 3-53) after pancreatic resection. CONCLUSION Our study shows that despite the high incidence of recurrence, long term survival can be achieved with resection of hepatic and pancreatic RCC metastases in selected cases and should be considered as a management option in patients with oligometastatic disease.

Incidental gallbladder cancer diagnosis confers survival advantage irrespective of tumour stage and characteristics

BACKGROUND Incidental gallbladder cancer(IGBC)represents 50%-60%of gallbladder cancer cases.Data are conflicting on the role of IGBC diagnosis in oncological outcomes.Some studies suggest that IGBC diagnosis does not affect outcomes,while others that overall survival(OS)is longer in these cases compared to non-incidental diagnosis(NIGBC).Furthermore,some studies reported early tumour stages and histopathologic characteristics as possible confounders,while others not.AIM To investigate the role of IGBC diagnosis on patients’overall survival,especially after surgical treatment with curative intent.METHODS Retrospective analysis of all patient referrals with gallbladder cancer between 2008 and 2020 in a tertiary hepatobiliary centre.Statistical comparison of patient and tumour characteristics between IGBC and NIGBC subgroups was performed.Survival analysis for the whole cohort,surgical and non-surgical subgroups was done with the Kaplan-Meier method and the use of log rank test.Risk analysis was performed with univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis.RESULTS The cohort included 261 patients with gallbladder cancer.65%of cases had NIGBC and 35%had IGBC.A total of 90 patients received surgical treatment(66%of IGBC cases and 19%of NIGBC cases).NIGBC patients had more advanced T stage and required more extensive resections than IGBC ones.OS was longer in patients with IGBC in the whole cohort(29 vs 4 mo,P<0.001),as well as in the non-surgical(14 vs 2 mo,P<0.001)and surgical subgroups(29 vs 16.5 mo,P=0.001).Disease free survival(DFS)after surgery was longer in patients with IGBC(21.5 mo vs 8.5 mo,P=0.007).N stage and resection margin status were identified as independent predictors of OS and DFS.NIGBC diagnosis was identified as an independent predictor of OS.CONCLUSION IGBC diagnosis may confer a survival advantage independently of the pathological stage and tumour characteristics.Prospective studies are required to further investigate this,including detailed pathological analysis and molecular gene expression.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency after pancreaticoduodenectomy: Current evidence and management

Pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD)is the commonest procedure performed for pancreatic cancer.Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency(PEI)may be caused or exacerbated by surgery and remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.The aim of this review was to ascertain the incidence of PEI,its consequences and management in the setting of PD for indications other than chronic pancreatitis.A literature search of databases(MEDLINE,EMBASE,Cochrane and Scopus)was carried out with the MeSH terms“pancreatic exocrine insufficiency”and“Pancreaticoduodenectomy”.Studies that analysed PEI and its complications in the setting of PD for malignant and benign disease were included.Studies reporting PEI in the setting of PD for chronic pancreatitis,conference abstracts and reviews were excluded.The incidence of PEI approached 100%following PD in some series.The pre-operative incidence varied depending on the characteristics of the patient cohort and it was higher(46%-93%)in series where pancreatic cancer was the predominant indication for surgery.Variability was also recorded with regards to the method used for the diagnosis and evaluation of pancreatic function and malabsorption.Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is the mainstay of the management.PEI is common and remains undertreated after PD.Future studies are required for the identification of a welltolerated,reliable and reproducible diagnostic test in this setting.

Colonic and anal metastases from pancreato-biliary malignancies

Pancreato-biliary malignancies often present with locally advanced or metastatic disease.Surgery is the mainstay of treatment although less than 20%of tumours are suitable for resection at presentation.Common sites for metastases are liver,lungs,lymph nodes and peritoneal cavity.Metastatic disease carries poor prognosis,with median survival of less than 3 mo.We report two cases where metastases from pancreato-biliary cancers were identified in the colon and anal canal.In both cases specific immunohistochemical staining was utilised in the diagnosis.In the first case,the pre-senting complaint was obstructive jaundice due to an ampullary tumour for which a pancreato-duodenectomy was carried out.However,the patient re-presented 4wk later with an atypical anal fissure which was found to be metastatic deposit from the primary ampullary adenocarcinoma.In the second case,the patient presented with obstructive jaundice due to a biliary stricture.Subsequent imaging revealed sigmoid thickening,which was confirmed to be a metastatic deposit.Distal colonic and anorectal metastases from pancreatobiliary cancers are rare and can masquerade as primary colorectal tumours.The key to the diagnosis is the specific immunohistochemical profile of the intestinal lesion biopsies.

Resection of isolated liver oligometastatic disease in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma:Is there a survival benefit?A systematic review

BACKGROUND Presence of liver metastatic disease in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),either synchronous or metachronous after pancreatic resection,is a terminal diagnosis that warrants management with palliative intent as per all international practice guidelines.However,there is an increasing interest on any potential value of surgical treatment of isolated oligometastatic disease in selected cases.AIM To present the published evidence on surgical management of PDAC liver metastases,synchronous and metachronous,and compare the outcomes of these treatments to the current standard of care.METHODS A systematic review was performed in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines to compare the outcomes of both synchronous and metachronous liver metastases resection to standard care.RESULTS 356 studies were identified,31 studies underwent full-text review and of these 10 were suitable for inclusion.When synchronous resection of liver metastases was compared to standard care,most studies did not demonstrate a survival benefit with the exception of one study that utilised neoadjuvant treatment.However,resection of metachronous disease appeared to confer a survival advantage when compared to treatment with chemotherapy alone.CONCLUSION A survival benefit may exist in resection of selected cases of metachronous liver oligometastatic PDAC disease,after disease biology has been tested with time and systemic treatment.Any survival benefit is less clear in synchronous cases;however an approach with neoadjuvant treatment and consideration of resection in some selected cases may confer some benefit.Future studies should focus on pathways for selection of cases that may benefit from an aggressive approach.