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Background: The aim of this study was to look into our experience of resection for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in a tertiary Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Unit in the UK., Methods: A retrospective analysis of our prospective database was carried out., Results: 715 cases of HCC were seen. 100 (13.9%) underwent hepatic resection and 159 (22.2%) orthotopic liver transplant. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival following resection was 75.3, 37.0 and 21.5% respectively. Factors affecting long-term survival included resection margin (p < 0.001), recurrence (p < 0.007), alpha-fetoprotein >50 (p < 0.001) and serum albumin (p < 0.03). On multivariate analysis, recurrence (p < 0.001) and histological grade (p < 0.044) were significant. The 1- and 3-year recurrence rates were 27.3 and 72.5% respectively. Histological grade (p < 0.007), alpha-fetoprotein >50 (p < 0.033), female gender (p < 0.016) and portal vein involvement (p < 0.016) were significant in recurrence., Conclusions: Resection data from the East may not be comparable to the West owing to the higher transplant activity in the latter. Liver function tests and imaging would be sufficient to assess liver function prior to hepatic resection. HCC with cirrhosis should be assessed by a transplant unit prior to any treatment. The MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score would be a valuable preoperative tool in the assessment of cirrhotics.

Aim: To document the prevalence and to evaluate the management strategies of haemorrhagic complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)., Methods: All patients who underwent PD from 1/2000 to 10/2005 and experienced at least one episode of haemorrhage during the 30 first days postoperatively were recorded. Etiology of haemorrhage, treatment strategy and mortality rate were recorded and analyzed., Results: A total of 362 patients underwent PD during this period and 32 (8.8%) had haemorrhage postoperatively of whom 15 died (47% mortality rate). Primary intraluminal haemorrhage was recorded in 13 patients, primary intra-abdominal haemorrhage in 5 patients and secondary haemorrhage in 14 patients. Successful management of haemorrhage with angioembilization occurred in 2 patients in the study group. Statistical analysis revealed sepsis and sentinel bleed as risk factors for post-PD haemorrhage and pancreatic leak and sentinel bleed as risk factors for secondary haemorrhage (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Haemorrhage after PD is a life-threatening complication. Sepsis, pancreatic leak, and sentinel bleed are statistical significant factors predicting post-PD haemorrhage. Sentinel bleed is not statistically significant associated with postoperative mortality, but with the onset of secondary haemorrhage. The effectiveness of therapeutic angioembolization was not demonstrated in our study., (Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: Management of pancreatic leak and haemorrhage is complex with high mortality rates. In this study, the results of completion pancreatectomy which was performed as a last resort option were analysed., Patients and Methods: 25 patients who had completion pancreatectomy from among 677 patients who had pancreatoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy over a period of 18 years were analysed in terms of the indications for completion pancreatectomy, outcome and survival data., Results: Indications for completion pancreatectomy include pancreatic leak in 12 patients (48%), both bleeding and pancreatic leak in 8 (32%), and haemorrhage alone in 5 (20%) patients. 18 (72%) patients also had splenectomy. Median ITU stay was 4 and 8 days for those who survived and died post-completion pancreatectomy, respectively. 36% patients had septicaemia and 32% patients had multiple organ failure. 12 patients survived the operation with a median survival of 52 months., Conclusion: 25 (3.6%) patients required surgical intervention for pancreatic complications. The incidence of splenectomy was 84.6% in those who died after completion pancreatectomy compared to 58.3% of those who survived (Fisher's exact test two-sided 0.20). Despite significant morbidity and mortality, completion pancreatectomy has a role in the management of post-pancreatic surgical complications., (Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aims: Neuroendocrine tumours of pancreatic and duodenal origin (NETP) are rare and we present a significant experience from a single centre., Methods: Data was collected on 44 patients who underwent surgery between 1988 and 2002. Since 1997, data have been recorded prospectively on a dedicated database., Results: Twenty-four patients had functioning tumours (16 insulinomas, 3 gastrinomas, 2 somatostatinomas, 1 vipoma, 1 glucagonoma and 1 carcinoid tumour). Nine functioning tumours and 13 non-functioning had a malignant phenotype. Twenty pancreaticoduodenectomies, 9 local excisions, 7 distal and 2 total pancreatectomies, 5 bypasses and 1 exploratory laparotomy were performed. Fourteen patients (31.8%) had surgical complications, 1 died peri-operatively (2.3%). The overall actuarial survival for resected cases was 74.4 and 42.5% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Lymph node invasion and metastases were significant predictors of survival by univariate analysis and only the presence of metastases retained significance on multivariate analysis., Conclusion: Surgical resection is the only curative treatment for NETP. Resection can be safely carried out in a specialist centre and is associated with good long-term survival. The presence of metastases was a significant predictive factor for survival in patients with NEPT in this series., (Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aims: To present the surgical experience in a regional unit, analysing the post-operative outcome, and determining risk factors for survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary and pancreatic head carcinoma., Methods: Data were collected on 251 patients with pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (133), ampullary carcinomas (88) and distal common bile duct (30), between 1987 and 2002. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinical, surgical and histopathological records were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis to identify the independent prognostic predictors of survival., Results: Median actuarial survival for carcinoma of the pancreatic head, ampulla and distal bile duct were 13.4, 35.5 and 16 months, respectively; p < 0.0001. On univariate analysis for the whole series, the age < or =60, tumour of the head of the pancreas, lymph node positive, resection margin R1, poorly differentiated tumours, and portal vein invasion significantly decreased survival. On multivariate analysis, poor tumour differentiation, surgical margin, lymph node metastases, and age independently influence survival. Mortality and morbidity were 4.8 and 29.9%, respectively., Conclusions: Pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic and periampullary tumours is the only therapy that may cure patients and can be performed safely in centres with significant experience., (Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Background: Hydatid disease of the liver though endemic in many countries, is rare in the UK. We evaluated a 16-year experience of treating hydatidosis using a management protocol combining surgery with anti-scolicidals., Patients and Methods: There were 30 patients. 14 (47%) males, median age 41 (range 25-72) years, of whom 21 (70%) were symptomatic. Diagnosis was by serological tests and imaging. All had disease confined to the liver and received peri-operative anti-scolicidal drug therapy., Results: The initial 4 (13%) patients received praziquantel combined with albendazole for 2 weeks and the following 26 (87%) patients received two cycles of albendazole 400 mg twice daily for 28 days, with a 14-day break in between. However, 2 (7%) patients could not tolerate albendazole, one due to GI side effects and the other developed deranged liver functions. These 2 patients subsequently received praziquantel for 2 weeks. All patients underwent surgery. Subtotal cystectomy was carried out on 29 (96%) patients and 1 patient required a segmentectomy. Cystobiliary communications were identified in 15 (50%) of patients which were oversewn using fine absorbable sutures. Of these, 7 had the bile ducts decompressed using a T tube, with only 1 developing a post-operative bile leak. In comparison, 8 were not drained of which 6 leaked (p = 0.03). The median post-operative hospital stay was 8 days (range 5-24). Patients who developed post-operative bile leaks, however, needed prolonged abdominal drainage for a median of 21 days (range 18-24). Two (7%) patients developed histologically proven recurrent disease. The median follow-up was 56 months (range 3-87)., Conclusion: Surgery combined with anti-scolicidal therapy proved effective. Cystobiliary communications are common and, when identified, should result in the biliary system being drained, to avoid post-operative bile leaks.