Pancreas preserving distal duodenectomy: A versatile operation for a range of infra-papillary pathologies

AIM To investigate the range of pathologies treated by pancreas preserving distal duodenectomy(PPDD) and present the outcome of follow-up.METHODS Neoplastic lesions of the duodenum are treated conventionally by pancreaticoduodenectomy. Lesions distal to the major papilla may be suitable for a pancreas-preserving distal duodenectomy, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality. We present our experience with this procedure. Selective intraoperative duodenoscopy assessed the relationship of the papilla to the lesion. After duodenal mobilisation and confirmation of the site of the lesion, the duodenumwas transected distal to the papilla and beyond the duodenojejunal flexure and a side-to-side duodenojejunal anastomosis was formed. Patients were identified from a prospectively maintained database and outcomes determined from digital health records with a dataset including demographics, co-morbidities, mode of presentation, preoperative imaging and assessment, nutritional support needs, technical operative details, blood transfusion requirements, length of stay, pathology including lymph node yield and lymph node involvement, length of follow-up, complications and outcomes. Related published literature was also reviewed. RESULTS Twenty-four patients had surgery with the intent of performing PPDD from 2003 to 2016. Nineteen underwent PPDD successfully. Two patients planned for PPDD proceeded to formal pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) while three had unresectable disease. Median post-operative follow-up was 32 mo. Pathologies resected included duodenal adenocarcinoma(n = 6), adenomas(n = 5), gastrointestinal stromal tumours(n = 4) and lipoma, bleeding duodenal diverticulum, locally advanced colonic adenocarcinoma and extrinsic compression(n = 1 each). Median postoperative length of stay(LOS) was 8 d and morbidity was low [pain and nausea/vomiting(n = 2), anastomotic stricture(n = 1), pneumonia(n = 1), and overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis(n = 1, asplenic patient)]. PPDD was associated with a significantly shorter LOS than a contemporaneous PD series [PPDD 8(6-14) d vs PD 11(10-16) d, median(IQR), P = 0.026]. The 30-d mortality was zero and 16 of 19 patients are alive to date. One patient died of recurrent duodenal adenocarcinoma 18 mo postoperatively and two died of unrelated disease(at 2 mo and at 8 years respectively).CONCLUSION PPDD is a versatile operation that can provide definitive treatment for a range of duodenal pathologies including adenocarcinoma.

L-carnitine supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)dominates the landscape of modern hepatology.Affecting 25%of the general population,there is critical unmet need to identify broadly available,safe and cost-effective treatments.Cumulative evidence in animal and human models suggests that intrahepatic and skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation is impaired in NAFLD,such that lipid accretion is not matched by efficient utilisation.L-carnitine is a crucial mediator of fatty acid metabolism in vivo,promoting mitochondrial lipidβ-oxidation and enhancing tissue metabolic flexibility.These physiological properties have generated research interest in L-carnitine as a potentially effective adjunctive therapy in NAFLD.AIM To systematically review randomised trials reporting effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on liver biochemistry,liver fat and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD.METHODS Search strategies,eligibility criteria and analytic methods were specified a priori(PROSPERO reference:CRD42018107063).Ovid MEDLINE,Ovid EMBASE,PubMed,Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception until April 2019.Outcome measures included serum concentrations of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase(ALT and AST),liver fat and insulin sensitivity assessed by the homeostasis model of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).A random effects meta-analysis was performed for,ALT,AST and HOMA-IR measures separately.Between-study heterogeneity was measured using I2 statistics.RESULTS Five eligible randomised trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis(n=338).All of the 5 included trials assessed the effect of L-carnitine on serum ALT,identified from Italy,South Korea and Iran.Weighted mean difference(WMD)for ALT between L-carnitine and control groups after intervention was-25.34 IU/L[95%CI:-41.74-(-8.94);P=0.002].WMD for AST between L-carnitine and control groups was-13.68 IU/L(95%CI:-28.26-0.89;P=0.066).In three studies(n=204),HOMA-IR was evaluated.WMD for HOMA-IR between L-carnitine and control groups was-0.74 units[95%CI:-1.02-(-0.46);P<0.001].Two studies using validated outcome measures reported a significant reduction in liver fat in L-carnitine vs control groups post-intervention(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Pooled results indicate that L-carnitine supplementation attenuates ALT,liver fat and insulin resistance in NAFLD cohorts,confirming a beneficial effect of Lcarnitine for a highly prevalent condition with a growing economic burden.

Comparison of the reverse bevel versus Franseen type endoscopic ultrasound needle

BACKGROUND Reverse bevel(RB)needle is widely used for endoscopic ultrasound fine needle biopsy(EUS-FNB).A 3-plane symmetrical needle with Franseen geometry(FG)has recently become available.AIM To compare the clinical efficacy of FG to that of RB needle.METHODS A retrospective cohort study of all adult patients who underwent EUS-FNB for solid and mixed lesions either with 22G RB needle or 22G FG needle between January 2016 and February 2019 was undertaken.All cytology slides were reviewed by an independent gastrointestinal cytopathologist blinded to the needle used and the initial cytology report.The primary and secondary outcomes were to assess the sample adequacy using Euro-cytology criteria and the number of cell clusters,respectively.RESULTS Two hundred and twenty six procedures were included in the study.RB needle was used in 128 procedures and FG needle in 98 procedures.The baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable.On multivariable analysis,FG needle(P=0.02)and location of the lesion(P<0.01)were independently associated with adequate tissue.Further,the use of FG needle(P=0.04)and the size of the lesion(P=0.02)were independently associated with acquisition of increased number of cell clusters.CONCLUSION FG needle is superior to RB needle in acquiring adequate tissue and attaining higher number of cell clusters for solid and mixed lesions.