Early enteral nutrition vs parenteral nutrition following pancreaticoduodenectomy: Experience from a single center

AIM: To analyze and compare postoperative morbidity between patients receiving total parenteral nutrition(TPN) and early enteral nutrition supplemented with parenteral nutrition(EEN + PN).METHODS: Three hundred and forty patients receiving pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) from 2009 to 2013 at our center were enrolled retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups depending on postoperative nutrition support scheme: an EEN + PN group(n = 87) and a TPN group(n = 253). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, preoperative biochemicalparameters, pathological diagnosis, intraoperative information, and postoperative complications of the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ in demographic characteristics, preoperative comorbidities, preoperative biochemical parameters or pathological findings(P > 0.05 for all). However, patients with EEN + PN following PD had a higher incidence of delayed gastric emptying(16.1% vs 6.7%, P = 0.016), pulmonary infection(10.3% vs 3.6%, P = 0.024), and probably intraperitoneal infection(18.4% vs 10.3%, P = 0.059), which might account for their longer nasogastric tube retention time(9 d vs 5 d, P = 0.006), postoperative hospital stay(25 d vs 20 d, P = 0.055) and higher hospitalization expenses(USD10397 vs USD8663.9, P = 0.008), compared to those with TPN.CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that TPN might be safe and sufficient for patient recovery after PD. Postoperative EEN should only be performed scrupulously and selectively.

T-tube vs no T-tube for biliary tract reconstruction in adult orthotopic liver transplantation:An updated systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Whether to use a T-tube for biliary anastomosis during orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT)remains a debatable question.Some surgeons chose to use a T-tube because they believed that it reduces the incidence of biliary strictures.Advances in surgical techniques during the last decades have significantly decreased the overall incidence of postoperative biliary complications.Whether using a T-tube during OLT is still associated with the reduced incidence of biliary strictures needs to be re-evaluated.AIM To provide an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on using a T-tube during adult OLT.METHODS In the electronic databases MEDLINE,PubMed,Scopus,ClinicalTrials.gov,the Cochrane Library,the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trails Register,and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,we identified 17 studies(eight randomized controlled trials and nine comparative studies)from January 1995 to October 2020.The data of the studies before and after 2010 were separately extracted.We chose the overall biliary complications,bile leaks or fistulas,biliary strictures(anastomotic or non-anastomotic),and cholangitis as outcomes.Odds ratios(ORs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)were calculated to describe the results of the outcomes.Furthermore,the test for overall effect(Z)was used to test the difference between OR and 1,where P≤0.05 indicated a significant difference between OR value and 1.RESULTS A total of 1053 subjects before 2010 and 1346 subjects after 2010 were included in this meta-analysis.The pooled results showed that using a T-tube reduced the incidence of postoperative biliary strictures in studies before 2010(P=0.012,OR=0.62,95%CI:0.42-0.90),while the same benefit was not seen in studies after 2010(P=0.60,OR=0.76,95%CI:0.27-2.12).No significant difference in the incidence of overall biliary complications(P=0.37,OR=1.41,95%CI:0.66-2.98),bile leaks(P=0.89,OR=1.04,95%CI:0.63-1.70),and cholangitis(P=0.27,OR=2.00,95%CI:0.59-6.84)was observed between using and not using a T-tube before 2010.However,using a T-tube appeared to increase the incidence of overall biliary complications(P=0.049,OR=1.49,95%CI:1.00-2.22),bile leaks(P=0.048,OR=1.91,95%CI:1.01-3.64),and cholangitis(P=0.02,OR=7.21,95%CI:1.37-38.00)after 2010.A random-effects model was used in biliary strictures(after 2010),overall biliary complications(before 2010),and cholangitis(before 2010)due to their heterogeneity(I2=62.3%,85.4%,and 53.6%,respectively).In the sensitivity analysis(only RCTs included),bile leak(P=0.66)lost the significance after 2010 and a random-effects model was used in overall biliary complications(before 2010),cholangitis(before 2010),bile leaks(after 2010),and biliary strictures(after 2010)because of their heterogeneity(I2=92.2%,65.6%,50.9%,and 80.3%,respectively).CONCLUSION In conclusion,the evidence gathered in our updated meta-analysis showed that the studies published in the last decade did not provide enough evidence to support the routine use of T-tube in adults during OLT.

Effect of low-dose aspirin administration on long-term survival of cirrhotic patients after splenectomy: A retrospective single-center study

BACKGROUND Cirrhosis is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Portal vein thrombosis is not uncommon after splenectomy in cirrhotic patients, and many such patients take oral anticoagulants including aspirin. However, the long-term impact of postoperative aspirin on cirrhotic patients after splenectomy remains unknown. AIM The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin administration on the development of HCC and longterm survival of cirrhotic patients after splenectomy. METHODS The clinical data of 264 adult patients with viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis who underwent splenectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from January 2000 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Among these patients, 59 who started taking 100 mg/d aspirin within seven days were enrolled in the aspirin group. The incidence of HCC and overall survival were analyzed.RESULTS During follow-up, 41 (15.53%) patients developed HCC and 37 (14.02%) died due to end-stage liver diseases or other serious complications. Postoperative longterm low-dose aspirin therapy reduced the incidence of HCC from 19.02% to 3.40% after splenectomy (log-rank test, P=0.028). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that not undertaking postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin therapy [odds ratio (OR)=6.211, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.142-27.324, P=0.016] was the only independent risk factor for the development of HCC. Similarly, patients in the aspirin group survived longer than those in the control group (log-rank test, P=0.041). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the only factor that independently associated with improved overall survival was postoperative long-term low-dose aspirin therapy [OR = 0.218, 95%CI: 0.049- 0.960, P=0.044]. CONCLUSION In patients with viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis, long-term post-splenectomy administration of low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of HCC and improves the long-term overall survival.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts acute kidney injury occurrence after gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery

BACKGROUND Postoperative acute kidney injury(AKI) is a complex pathological process involved intrarenal and systemic inflammation caused by renal hypoperfusion, nephrotoxic drugs and urinary obstruction. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) is a marker of inflammation reflecting the progress of many diseases. However, whether NLR at admission can predict the occurrence of AKI after surgery in the intensive care unit(ICU) remains unknown.AIM To clarify the relationship between NLR and the occurrence of AKI in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in the ICU.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 282 patients receiving surgical ICU care after gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in our hospital from December 2014 to December 2018 was performed.RESULTS Postoperative AKI occurred in 84 patients(29.79%) in this cohort. NLR by the multivariate analysis was an independent risk factor for occurrence of postoperative AKI in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in the ICU. In this cohort, receiver operating characteristic curves of AKI occurrence showed that the optimal cut-off value of NLR was 8.380. NLR was found to be significantly correlated with the white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, arterial lactate and dialysis(P < 0.05). Additionally, NLR value at admission was higher in AKI patients compared with the non-AKI patients and increased with the severity of AKI. Patients with NLR ≥ 8.380 exhibited significantly higher incidences of postoperative AKI and severe AKI than patients with NLR < 8.380(AKI: 38.12% vs 14.85%, P < 0.001;severe AKI: 14.36% vs 1.98%, P = 0.001).CONCLUSION NLR at admission is a predictor of AKI occurrence in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery in ICU. NLR should be included in the routine assessment of AKI occurrence.