BACKGROUND: Optimal surgical technique plays a key role in preventing the postoperative recurrence of hepatolithiasis. Tian et al developed the subcutaneous tunnel and hepatocholangioplasty using the gallbladder (STHG...BACKGROUND: Optimal surgical technique plays a key role in preventing the postoperative recurrence of hepatolithiasis. Tian et al developed the subcutaneous tunnel and hepatocholangioplasty using the gallbladder (STHG) technique and applied it in hepatolithiasis patients who had an approximately normal gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi. However, the technique is controversial. In the present study, a canine model was established for hepatocholangioplasty (HC) and hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) to simulate STHG and Roux-en-Y cholangiojejunostomy in the clinic, respectively. Then, the alterations of bile components in the vicinity of the anastomosis were compared. This may provide an experimental guide for choosing an optimal technique for the treatment of hepatolithiasis in the clinic. METHODS: The animals were randomly separated into a control group (5 dogs) and a model group (stenosis of the common bile duct; 24 dogs). The 24 dogs in the model group were randomly divided into an HC group and an HJ group (12/group). Bile was collected from the bile duct at I and 5 months after the operation, and the bile components were determined. RESULTS: The levels of total bile acid, cholesterol, total bilirubin, and phospholipid in the HC group were higher than those in the HJ group (P<0.05). However, no statistical difference was seen in unconjugated bilirubin and calcium ions. The mucin level in bile in the HC group was lower than that in the HJ group at 5 months after the operation (P<0.05). The postoperative lipid peroxidation level was remarkably lower than that in the HJ group (P<0.05). However, the superoxide dismutase level was remarkably higher than that in the HJ group (P<0.05). Finally, a significant difference was found in the positive bacterial culture rate in bile between the groups. CONCLUSION: Changes of bile components near the anastomosis after HC might be more preferable for preventing hepatolithiasis formation than HJ.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has evolved as a successful treatment for patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Postoperative survival rates have increased to 90% in I year and 80% in 5 ye...BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has evolved as a successful treatment for patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Postoperative survival rates have increased to 90% in I year and 80% in 5 years as a result of improvements in immunosuppresion, perioperative management and surgical techniques. However, a wide range of postoperative complications are of technical or medical origin. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between the technical improvements and optimal timing of surgery and its outcome. METHODS: From April 1999 to October 2005, typical orthotopic or piggyback liver transplantation was performed in 70 patients (58 men and 12 women, aged 19-74 years). Twenty-four patients had liver carcinoma and cirrhosis, and 46 had benign liver disease. RESULTS: All patients survived the operation and 14 died in the first month after surgery because of respiratory failure (6), respiratory failure accompanied by acute renal failure (4), intra-abdominal hemorrhage and infection (2), and cerebral edema (2). A total of 76 complications occurred in the 70 patients after operation: pneumonia (34), right pleural effusion (11), bile leakage (7), postoperative intra-abdominal hemorrhage and infection (4), acute renal failure (4), acute rejection (3), wound infection (2), biliary tract stenosis (2), severe cholangitis derived from cholelith (2), morphological alteration of biliary tree (2), cerebral edema (2), empyema (1), chronic rejection (1), and wound hematoma (1). Finally, 33 patients survived more than 6 months, 16 more than I year, 4 more than 2 years, and 2 more than 6 years after operation. The perioperative survival rate was 80% in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. To obtain good results, improvements of surgical technique, optimal timing and better postoperative care are needed.展开更多
The Editor welcomes submissions for possible publication in the Letters to the Editor section that consist of commentary on an article published in the Journal or other relevant issues.
BACKGROUND: Fulminant hepatic failure manifests a rapid onset, serious complications, and a high mortality, but still there is a possibility of recovery. Once the patient is able to pass a crisis, the liver is able to...BACKGROUND: Fulminant hepatic failure manifests a rapid onset, serious complications, and a high mortality, but still there is a possibility of recovery. Once the patient is able to pass a crisis, the liver is able to regenerate completely and regain its normal function. Therefore it is of vital importance to determine the eligible timing for transplantation. Premature surgery might result in a loss of the chance of internal medical treatment and misuse of liver resources, whereas delayed surgery might increase the difficulty of treatment in the preoperative period and the possibility of complications and medical expense, which eventually result in decreased rate of success and survival. This problem remains worldwide how to choose the optional timing of operation. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with severe hepatitis were treated by orthotopic liver transplantation. The distribution of MELD scores in these patients was: 10-19 in 8 patients, 20-29 in 10, 30-39 in 11, and 40 in 7. They were divided into two groups: MELD score <30 and MELD score >= 30. Parameters (1-year survival rate, complications, preoperative use of artificial liver, operative time, volume of bleeding and blood transfusion, and average hospital costs) were examined as prognostic factors after liver transplantation. RESULTS: The I-year survival rate of the MELD score <30 group was higher than that of the >= 30 group (77.8% and 33.3%, P=0.007), and the rate of complications in the <30 group was lower (P=0.012). There were no differences in the timing of artificial liver treatment, operative time, operative hemorrhage, and transfusion between the two groups (P=0.742). But the average daily hospital cost in the MELD score >= 30 group was higher (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: This study shows that when the MELD score is <30 it may be the optimal time to perform liver transplantation for patients with severe hepatitis.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND: Optimal surgical technique plays a key role in preventing the postoperative recurrence of hepatolithiasis. Tian et al developed the subcutaneous tunnel and hepatocholangioplasty using the gallbladder (STHG) technique and applied it in hepatolithiasis patients who had an approximately normal gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi. However, the technique is controversial. In the present study, a canine model was established for hepatocholangioplasty (HC) and hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) to simulate STHG and Roux-en-Y cholangiojejunostomy in the clinic, respectively. Then, the alterations of bile components in the vicinity of the anastomosis were compared. This may provide an experimental guide for choosing an optimal technique for the treatment of hepatolithiasis in the clinic. METHODS: The animals were randomly separated into a control group (5 dogs) and a model group (stenosis of the common bile duct; 24 dogs). The 24 dogs in the model group were randomly divided into an HC group and an HJ group (12/group). Bile was collected from the bile duct at I and 5 months after the operation, and the bile components were determined. RESULTS: The levels of total bile acid, cholesterol, total bilirubin, and phospholipid in the HC group were higher than those in the HJ group (P<0.05). However, no statistical difference was seen in unconjugated bilirubin and calcium ions. The mucin level in bile in the HC group was lower than that in the HJ group at 5 months after the operation (P<0.05). The postoperative lipid peroxidation level was remarkably lower than that in the HJ group (P<0.05). However, the superoxide dismutase level was remarkably higher than that in the HJ group (P<0.05). Finally, a significant difference was found in the positive bacterial culture rate in bile between the groups. CONCLUSION: Changes of bile components near the anastomosis after HC might be more preferable for preventing hepatolithiasis formation than HJ.
文摘BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has evolved as a successful treatment for patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Postoperative survival rates have increased to 90% in I year and 80% in 5 years as a result of improvements in immunosuppresion, perioperative management and surgical techniques. However, a wide range of postoperative complications are of technical or medical origin. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between the technical improvements and optimal timing of surgery and its outcome. METHODS: From April 1999 to October 2005, typical orthotopic or piggyback liver transplantation was performed in 70 patients (58 men and 12 women, aged 19-74 years). Twenty-four patients had liver carcinoma and cirrhosis, and 46 had benign liver disease. RESULTS: All patients survived the operation and 14 died in the first month after surgery because of respiratory failure (6), respiratory failure accompanied by acute renal failure (4), intra-abdominal hemorrhage and infection (2), and cerebral edema (2). A total of 76 complications occurred in the 70 patients after operation: pneumonia (34), right pleural effusion (11), bile leakage (7), postoperative intra-abdominal hemorrhage and infection (4), acute renal failure (4), acute rejection (3), wound infection (2), biliary tract stenosis (2), severe cholangitis derived from cholelith (2), morphological alteration of biliary tree (2), cerebral edema (2), empyema (1), chronic rejection (1), and wound hematoma (1). Finally, 33 patients survived more than 6 months, 16 more than I year, 4 more than 2 years, and 2 more than 6 years after operation. The perioperative survival rate was 80% in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. To obtain good results, improvements of surgical technique, optimal timing and better postoperative care are needed.
文摘The Editor welcomes submissions for possible publication in the Letters to the Editor section that consist of commentary on an article published in the Journal or other relevant issues.
文摘BACKGROUND: Fulminant hepatic failure manifests a rapid onset, serious complications, and a high mortality, but still there is a possibility of recovery. Once the patient is able to pass a crisis, the liver is able to regenerate completely and regain its normal function. Therefore it is of vital importance to determine the eligible timing for transplantation. Premature surgery might result in a loss of the chance of internal medical treatment and misuse of liver resources, whereas delayed surgery might increase the difficulty of treatment in the preoperative period and the possibility of complications and medical expense, which eventually result in decreased rate of success and survival. This problem remains worldwide how to choose the optional timing of operation. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with severe hepatitis were treated by orthotopic liver transplantation. The distribution of MELD scores in these patients was: 10-19 in 8 patients, 20-29 in 10, 30-39 in 11, and 40 in 7. They were divided into two groups: MELD score <30 and MELD score >= 30. Parameters (1-year survival rate, complications, preoperative use of artificial liver, operative time, volume of bleeding and blood transfusion, and average hospital costs) were examined as prognostic factors after liver transplantation. RESULTS: The I-year survival rate of the MELD score <30 group was higher than that of the >= 30 group (77.8% and 33.3%, P=0.007), and the rate of complications in the <30 group was lower (P=0.012). There were no differences in the timing of artificial liver treatment, operative time, operative hemorrhage, and transfusion between the two groups (P=0.742). But the average daily hospital cost in the MELD score >= 30 group was higher (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: This study shows that when the MELD score is <30 it may be the optimal time to perform liver transplantation for patients with severe hepatitis.
