From portal to splanchnic venous thrombosis:What surgeons should bear in mind

The present study aims to review the evolution of surgical management of portal(PVT) and splanch-nic venous thrombosis(SVT) in the context of liver transplantation over the last 5 decades. PVT is more commonly managed by endovenous thrombectomy, while SVT requires more complex technical expedients. Several surgical techniques have been proposed, such as extensive eversion thrombectomy, anastomosis to collateral veins, reno-portal anastomosis, cavo-portal hemi-transposition, portal arterialization and combined liver-intestinal transplantation. In order to achieve satisfactory outcomes, careful planning of the surgical strategy is mandatory. The excellent results that are ob-tained nowadays confirm that, even extended, splanch-nic thrombosis is no longer an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation. Patients with advanced portal thrombosis may preferentially be referred to specialized centres, in which complex vascular approaches and even multivisceral transplantation are performed.

Prognostic role of artificial intelligence among patients with hepatocellular cancer:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Prediction of survival after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has been widely investigated,yet remains inadequate.The application of artificial intelligence(AI)is emerging as a valid adjunct to traditional statistics due to the ability to process vast amounts of data and find hidden interconnections between variables.AI and deep learning are increasingly employed in several topics of liver cancer research,including diagnosis,pathology,and prognosis.AIM To assess the role of AI in the prediction of survival following HCC treatment.METHODS A web-based literature search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines using the keywords“artificial intelligence”,“deep learning”and“hepatocellular carcinoma”(and synonyms).The specific research question was formulated following the patient(patients with HCC),intervention(evaluation of HCC treatment using AI),comparison(evaluation without using AI),and outcome(patient death and/or tumor recurrence)structure.English language articles were retrieved,screened,and reviewed by the authors.The quality of the papers was assessed using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool.Data were extracted and collected in a database.RESULTS Among the 598 articles screened,nine papers met the inclusion criteria,six of which had low-risk rates of bias.Eight articles were published in the last decade;all came from eastern countries.Patient sample size was extremely heterogenous(n=11-22926).AI methodologies employed included artificial neural networks(ANN)in six studies,as well as support vector machine,artificial plant optimization,and peritumoral radiomics in the remaining three studies.All the studies testing the role of ANN compared the performance of ANN with traditional statistics.Training cohorts were used to train the neural networks that were then applied to validation cohorts.In all cases,the AI models demonstrated superior predictive performance compared with traditional statistics with significantly improved areas under the curve.CONCLUSION AI applied to survival prediction after HCC treatment provided enhanced accuracy compared with conventional linear systems of analysis.Improved transferability and reproducibility will facilitate the widespread use of AI methodologies.

Transjugular portosystemic shunt for early-onset refractory ascites after liver transplantation

Liver transplantation(LT)is the most effective treatment for end-stage liver disease and complications of portal hypertension(PHT).However,PHT can relapse as a consequence of viral,alcoholic or metabolic chronic liver disease(CLD)recurrence,rejection,vascular abnormalities,small-for-size syndrome and technical complications(e.g.,portal or hepatic veins stenosis and/or thrombosis)[1].LT recipients with PHT may suffer from com plications similarly to non-transplanted cirrhotic patients(e.g.,refractory ascites,variceal hemorrhages and hydrothorax)although with higher morbidity and mortality due to their postoperative status and concomitant immunosuppressive therapy[2].

Pediatric T-tube in adult liver transplantation:Technical refinements of insertion and removal

BACKGROUND With the increasing use of extended-criteria donor organs,the interest around Ttubes in liver transplantation(LT)was restored whilst concerns regarding T-tuberelated complications persist.AIM To describe insertion and removal protocols implemented at our institution to safely use pediatric rubber 5-French T-tubes and subsequent outcomes in a consecutive series of adult patients.METHODS Data of consecutive adult LT patients from brain-dead donors,treated from March 2017 to December 2019,were collected(i.e.,biliary complications,adverse events,treatment after T-Tube removal).Patients with upfront hepaticojejunostomy,endoscopically removed T-tubes,those who died or received retransplantation before T-tube removal were excluded.RESULTS Seventy-two patients were included in this study;T-tubes were removed 158 d(median;IQR 128-206 d)after LT.In four(5.6%)patients accidental T-tube removal occurred requiring monitoring only;in 68(94.4%)patients Nelaton drain insertion was performed according to our protocol,resulting in 18(25%)patients with a biliary output,subsequently removed after 2 d(median;IQR 1-4 d).Three(4%)patients required endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)due to persistent Nelaton drain output.Three(4%)patients developed suspected biliary peritonitis,requiring ERCP with sphincterotomy and nasobiliary drain insertion(only one revealing contrast extravasation);no patient required percutaneous drainage or emergency surgery.CONCLUSION The use of pediatric rubber 5-French T-tubes in LT proved safe in our series after insertion and removal procedure refinements.