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Background: Transarterial radioembolization in HCC for LT as downstaging/bridging has been increasing in recent years but some indication criteria are still unclear., Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of primary research publications conducted in PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases until November 2022. Relevant data about patient selection, HCC features and oncological outcomes after TARE for downstaging or bridging in LT were analyzed., Results: A total of 14 studies were included (7 downstaging, 3 bridging and 4 mixed downstaging and bridging). The proportion of whole liver TARE was between 0 and 1.6%. Multiple TARE interventions were necessary for 16.7% up to 28% of the patients. A total of 55 of 204 patients across all included studies undergoing TARE for downstaging were finally transplanted. The only RCT included presents a higher tumor response with the downstaging rate for LT of TARE than TACE (9/32 vs. 4/34, respectively). Grade 3 or 4 adverse effects rate were detected between 15 and 30% of patients., Conclusions: TARE is a safe therapeutic option with potential advantages in its capacity to necrotize and reduce the size of the HCC for downstaging or bridging in LT.

Background: The physiological changes of pregnancy increase the risk of gallstone formation and choledocholithiasis. Traditionally, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the main approach for managing choledocholithiasis during pregnancy, but recent progress in laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LBDE) has demonstrated this technique as a safe and effective alternative option., Methods: A retrospective multicenter study of all patients who underwent LBDE during pregnancy from five centers with proven experience in LBDE between January 2010 and June 2020 was performed. The primary endpoint was to analyze the role of LBDE during pregnancy and to further characterize its position as a safe and effective alternative for the management of choledocholithiasis. A systematic review of the published literature relating to LBDE during pregnancy until February 2022 was also performed., Results: Five institutions reported performing LBDE during pregnancy in 8 patients. Median surgical time was 75 min (range: 60-140 min). The bile duct was cleared successfully in all patients, and the median hospital stay was 2 days (range: 1-3 days). The literature review identified a total of 7 patients with a successful CBD clearance rate of 86%. There were no major maternal, fetal, or pregnancy-related complications in any of the total 15 patients included. The symptomatic common bile duct lithiasis with deranged liver function tests was the most frequent indication (n=7)., Conclusion: LBDE during pregnancy appears to be safe and effective. More evidence reporting outcomes of LBDE during pregnancy is needed before any strong recommendations can be made., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purspose: Iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDI) with intrahepatic involvement are a serious and challenging surgical complication that can have disastrous consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality., Methods: We collected the patients with IBDI type (E4) between January 1991 and March 2020 in our hospital. The objective of the study was to present the long-term results of a extraglissonian approach and intraglissonian biliary reconstruction in a series of patients with intrahepatic bile duct injuries after cholecystectomy. We also detail our preoperative management and the standardization of the technique., Results: An extraglissonian approach with partial hepatic resection of the base of segments 4b and 5 and intraglissonian Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for biliary reconstruction using to several branches was performed in 10 patients with E4 Strassberg type intrahepatic lesions. Only one patient had postoperative bile leak (Clavien 3a). Surgical time was 260 min (IQR, 210-490). We left transanastomotic catheter (between 2 and 5) in situ for 3 and 6 months after surgery. The patients remained asymptomatic over a median follow-up of 169 months (IQR 129-234)., Conclusion: This biliary reconstruction technique obtains positive long-term outcomes in patients with severe intrahepatic lesions., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

We have read with interest the case published by Plua-Muñiz as an example of how endovascular treatment may be an acceptable and safe option even in an emerging situation as long as swift action is taken and the patient is stabilized previously. Hepatic artery aneurysms are an infrequent entity and their management is a great challenge. In the following letter we show our point of view and what the literature says about its management.

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), but it must be recognized in clinical practice, as it may be a potentially lethal condition in case of rupture and haemorrhage. This anatomic alteration is extremely rare as less than a hundred cases are reported in the scientific literature. The aim of this work is to report a case of PAVM presented as upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and successfully treated by transarterial embolization.

Our main objective was to compare liver transplant (LT) results between donation after circulatory death (DCD) and donation after brainstem death (DBD) in our hospital and to analyze, within the DCD group, the influence of age on the results obtained with DCD donors aged >70 years and up to 80 years. All DCD-LTs performed were analyzed prospectively. The results of the DCD group were compared with those of a control group who received a DBD-LT immediately after each DCD-LT. Later, the results obtained within the DCD group were analyzed according to the age of the donors, considering 2 subgroups with a cut-off point at 70 years. Survival results for LT with DCD and super rapid recovery were not inferior to those obtained in a similar group of patients transplanted with DBD livers. However, the cost of DCD was a higher rate of biliary complications, including ischemic cholangiopathy. Donor age was not a negative factor., (© 2019 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.)

We present the case of a male diagnosed with a giant hepatic artery aneurysm, which first presented with pain and hemorrhage due to a partial rupture of the aneurysm. After discarding treatment with a stent or surgery due to the wide extension, we chose to embolize the hepatic artery with coils. However, the progress was unfavorable after the procedure, with the appearance of liver failure that was resolved by an urgent liver transplantation. Giant hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms are an infrequent entity and their management is a great challenge. The diagnosis is usually delayed due to non-specific clinical signs and the life of the patient may be threatened in the case of rupture. Thus, endovascular or surgical treatment is recommended. Aneurysm embolization or ligation has been described in the literature as a valid treatment option in cases where revascularization by stent or bypass is not possible, as it preserves the viability of the liver due to the portal flow and collateral arteries. However, in the case of the failure of these treatments, liver transplantation is a rescue option.