Search

Background: Intraoperative hyperfibrinolysis contributes to bleeding during adult orthotopic liver transplantation. We aimed to find out whether aprotinin, a potent antifibrinolytic agent, reduces blood loss and transfusion requirements.Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which six liver-transplant centres participated. Patients undergoing primary liver transplantation were randomly assigned intraoperative high-dose aprotinin, regular-dose aprotinin, or placebo. Primary endpoints were intraoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements. Secondary endpoints were perioperative fluid requirements, postoperative blood transfusions, complications, and mortality.Findings: 137 patients received high-dose aprotinin (n=46), regular-dose aprotinin (n=43), or placebo (n=48). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the aprotinin-treated patients, with a reduction of 60% in the high-dose group and 44% in the regular-dose group, compared with the placebo group (p=0.03). Total amount of red blood cell (homologous and autologous) transfusion requirements was 37% lower in the high-dose group and 20% lower in the regular-dose group, than in the placebo group (p=0.02). Thromboembolic events occurred in two patients in the high-dose group, none in the regular-dose group, and in two patients in the placebo group (p=0.39). Mortality at 30 days did not differ between the three groups (6.5%, 4.7%, and 8.3%; p=0.79).Interpretation: Intraoperative use of aprotinin in adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation significantly reduces blood-transfusion requirements and should be routinely used in patients without contraindications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: the relationship between past asbestos exposure and the onset of malignant mesothelioma (MM) is well established. However, defining the exposure is not always easy, as it occurs decades before the onset of the disease., Objectives: this report describes four cases of MM diagnosed in two different married couples, both exposed to asbestos fibers: husbands at work and wives for cohabiting and washing their work overalls., Design: case report., Methods: the information was collected through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed by occupational hygienists during the activity of epidemiological surveillance of this disease. The results of the mineral content of asbestos fibers performed on lung parenchymal from one of the female cases are available., Results: these two cases show a longer latency in the lesser exposed confirming what an occupational epidemiological study has recently highlighted., Conclusions: whenever good quality information collected during interviews are available, skilled occupational hygienists are able to reconstruct past exposures in quali-quantitative terms.

Aim: To describe the thromboelastography (TEG) "reference" values within a population of liver transplant (LT) candidates that underline the differences from healthy patients., Methods: Between 2000 and 2013, 261 liver transplant patients with a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score between 15 and 40 were studied. In particular the adult patients (aged 18-70 years) underwent to a first LT with a MELD score between 15 and 40 were included, while all patients with acute liver failure, congenital bleeding disorders, and anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet drug use were excluded. In this population of cirrhotic patients, preoperative haematological and coagulation laboratory tests were collected, and the pretransplant thromboelastographic parameters were studied and compared with the parameters measured in a previously studied population of 40 healthy subjects. The basal TEG parameters analysed in the cirrhotic population of liver candidates were as follows: Reaction time (r), coagulation time (k), Angle-Rate of polymerization of clot (α Angle), Maximum strenght of clot (MA), Amplitudes of the TEG tracing at 30 min and 60 min after MA is measured (A30 and A60), and Fibrinolysis at 30 and 60 min after MA (Ly30 and Ly60). The possible correlation between the distribution of the reference range and the gender, age, MELD score (higher or lower than 20) and indications for transplantation (liver pathology) were also investigated. In particular, a MELD cut-off value of 20 was chosen to verify the possible correlation between the thromboelastographic reference range and MELD score., Results: Most of the TEG reference values from patients with end-stage liver disease were significantly different from those measured in the healthy population and were outside the suggested normal ranges in up to 79.3% of subjects. Wide differences were found among all TEG variables, including r (41.5% of the values), k (48.6%), α (43.7%), MA (79.3%), A30 (74.4%) and A60 (80.9%), indicating a prevailing trend to hypocoagulability. The differences between the mean TEG values obtained from healthy subjects and the cirrhotic population were statistically significant for r (P = 0.039), k (P < 0.001), MA (P < 0.001), A30 (P < 0.001), A60 (P < 0.001) and Ly60 (P = 0.038), indicating slower and less stable clot formation in the cirrhotic patients. In the cirrhotic population, 9.5% of patients had an r value shorter than normal, indicating a tendency for faster clot formation. Within the cirrhotic patient population, gender, age and the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma or alcoholic cirrhosis were not significantly associated with greater clot firmness or enhanced whole blood clot formation, whereas greater clot strength was associated with a MELD score < 20, hepatitis C virus and cholestatic-related cirrhosis (P < 0.001; P = 0.013; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The range and distribution of TEG values in cirrhotic patients differ from those of healthy subjects, suggesting that a specific thromboelastographic reference range is required for liver transplant candidates., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the Authors have no conflict of interest related to the manuscript.

Aim: To describe our single-centre experience in liver transplantation (LT) with the infusion of high perioperative thymoglobulin doses. The optimal dosage and timing of thymoglobulin(®) [antithymocyte globulin (ATG)] administration during LT remains controversial. Cytokine release syndrome, haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, fever and serum sickness are potential adverse effects associated with ATG infusion., Methods: Between December 2009 and December 2010, 16 adult non-randomized patients (ATG group), receiving a liver graft from a deceased donor, received an intraoperative infusion (4-6 h infusion) of thymoglobulin (3 mg/kg, ATG: Thymoglobuline(®)). These patients were compared (case control approach) with 16 patients who had a liver transplant without ATG treatment (control group) to evaluate the possible effects of intraoperative ATG infusion. The matching parameters were: Sex, recipient age (± 5 years), LT indication including viral status, MELD score (± 5 points), international normalized ratio and platelet count (as close as possible). The exclusion criteria for both groups included the following: Multi-organ or living donor transplant, immunosuppressive therapy before transplantation, contraindications to the administration of any thymocyte globulin, human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity, thrombocytopenia [platelet < 50000/μL] or leukopenia [white blood cells < 1000/μL]. The perioperative side effects (haemodynamic alterations, core temperature variations, colloids and crystalloids requirements, and surgical time) possibly related to ATG infusion and the thromboelastographic (TEG) evaluation of the ATG effects on coagulation, blood loss and blood product transfusion were analysed during the operation and the first three postoperative days., Results: Intraoperative ATG administration was associated with longer surgical procedures [560 ± 88 min vs 480 ± 83 min (control group), P = 0.013], an intraoperative core temperature more than 37 °C (50% of ATG patients vs 6.2% of control patients, P = 0.015), major intraoperative blood loss [3953 ± 3126 mL vs 1419 ± 940 mL (control group), P = 0.05], higher red blood cell [2092 ± 1856 mL ATG group vs 472 ± 632 mL (control group), P = 0.02], fresh frozen plasma [671 ± 1125 mL vs 143 ± 349 mL (control group), P = 0.015], and platelet [374 ± 537 mL vs 15.6 ± 62.5 mL (control group), P = 0.017] transfusion, and a higher requirement for catecholamines (0.08 ± 0.07 μg/kg per minutes vs 0.01 ± 0.38 μg/kg per minutes, respectively, in the ATG and control groups) for haemodynamic support. The TEG tracings changed to a straight line during ATG infusion (preanhepatic and anhepatic phases) in 81% of the patients from the ATG group compared to 6.25% from the control group (P < 0.001). Patients from the ATG group compared to controls had higher post-op core temperatures (38 °C ± 1.0 °C vs 37.3 °C ± 0.5 °C; P = 0.02), an increased need of noradrenaline (43.7% vs 6.25%, P = 0.037), received more platelet transfusions (31.5% vs 0%, P = 0.04) and required continuous renal replacement therapy (4 ATG patients vs none in the control group; P = 0.10). ATG infusion was considered the cause of a fatal anaphylactic shock and of a suspected adverse reaction that led to intravascular haemolysis and acute renal failure., Conclusion: The side effects and the coagulation imbalance observed in patients receiving a high dosage of ATG suggest caution in the use of thymoglobulin during LT.

Unlabelled: Patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation are at high risk of bleeding complications. Several Authors have shown that thromboelastography (TEG)-based coagulation management and the administration of fibrinogen concentrate reduce the need for blood transfusion., Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort observational study (Modena Polyclinic, Italy) on 386 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation. We assessed the impact on resource consumption and patient survival after the introduction of a new TEG-based transfusion algorithm, requiring also the introduction of the fibrinogen functional thromboelastography test and a maximum amplitude of functional fibrinogen thromboelastography transfusion cutoff (7 mm) to direct in administering fibrinogen (2012-2014, n = 118) compared with a purely TEG-based algorithm previously used (2005-2011, n = 268)., Results: After 2012, there was a significant decrease in the use of homologous blood (1502 ± 1376 vs 794 ± 717 mL, P < 0.001), fresh frozen plasma (537 ± 798 vs 98 ± 375 mL, P < 0.001), and platelets (158 ± 280 vs 75 ± 148 mL, P < 0.005), whereas the use of fibrinogen increased (0.1 ± 0.5 vs 1.4 ± 1.8 g, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in 30-day and 6-month survival between the 2 groups., Conclusions: The implementation of a new coagulation management method featuring the addition of the fibrinogen functional thromboelastography test to the TEG test according to an algorithm which provides for the administration of fibrinogen has helped in reducing the need for transfusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation with no impact on their survival.

Pancreatic cancer remains a significant and unresolved therapeutic challenge. Currently, the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer is surgical resection. Pancreatic surgery represents a technically demanding major abdominal procedure that can occasionally lead to a number of pathophysiological alterations resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Systemic, rather than surgical complications, cause the majority of deaths. Because patients are increasingly referred to surgery with at advanced ages and because pancreatic surgery is extremely complex, anaesthesiologists and surgeons play a crucial role in preoperative evaluations and diagnoses for surgical intervention. The anaesthetist plays a key role in perioperative management and can significantly influence patient outcome. To optimise overall care, patients should be appropriately referred to tertiary centres, where multidisciplinary teams (surgical, medical, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists and anaesthetists) work together and where close cooperation between surgeons and anaesthesiologists promotes the safe performance of major gastrointestinal surgeries with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. In this review, we sought to provide simple daily recommendations to the clinicians who manage pancreatic surgery patients to make their work easier and suggest a joint approach between surgeons and anaesthesiologists in daily decision making.

Temporary portocaval shunt and total hepatectomy is a technique used in the presence of toxic liver syndrome because of fulminant hepatic failure, hepatic trauma, primary non-function (PNF), and eclampsia. We performed this technique on four patients. An indication for anhepatic state was severe hemodynamic instability in three of them. Etiologies of these three patients were as follows: PNF after liver transplantation, ischemic hepatitis after right hepatic artery embolization, and massive reperfusion syndrome during a liver transplantation. In the fourth patient, during the liver transplantation when hepatic artery was ligated, a kidney carcinoma in the donor graft was discovered. We decided to complete the hepatectomy and to construct a temporary portocaval shunt. Mean anhepatic phases were 19 h and 15 min. All patients survived the two-stage liver transplantation procedure without major complications. Our cases demonstrated that temporary portocaval shunt while awaiting urgent liver transplantation could be an effective "bridge" in selected patients who develop toxic liver syndrome; however, a short time between portocaval shunt and transplantation and careful intensive care managements are mandatory.

This report describes a 38-year-old man admitted to hospital for a massive rectal bleeding and syncope. He was known to have idiopathic thrombocytopenia but he had never complained of bleeding until he was admitted to hospital with uncontrolled hemorrhage. Upper and lower endoscopic examination, performed 6 hours after occurrence of bleeding, were negative for ulcers or other bleeding lesions. However, capsule endoscopy did detect diffuse areas of petechial hemorrhage and erosions in the small bowel. Thromboelastography performed on the day of admission showed a marked decrease in platelet aggregation rate, that normalized two days after. The patient recovered with conservative treatment only. Thorough questioning did not evidence relevant events apart from inhalation of a massive quantity of acetylsalicylic acid: the patient, working as a farmer, had prepared, without protection, fodder for the animals containing a great amount of acetylsalicylic acid. Bleeding had started few hours thereafter. After recovery, bleeding did not recur despite persistent thrombocytopenia.

Cardiac preload is traditionally considered to be represented by its filling pressures, but more recently, estimations of end diastolic volume of the left or right ventricle have been shown to better reflect preload. One method of determining volumes is the evaluation of the continuous right ventricular end diastolic volume index (cRVEDVI) on the basis of the cardiac output thermodilution technique. Because preload and myocardial contractility are the main factors determining cardiac output during liver transplantation (LTx), accurate determination of preload is important. Thus, monitoring of cRVEDVI and cRVEF should help with fluid management and with the assessment of the need for inotropic and vasoactive agents. In this multicenter study, we looked for possible relationships between the stroke volume index (SVI) and cRVEDVI, cRVEF, and filling pressures at 4 predefined steps in 244 patients undergoing LTx. Univariate and multivariate autoregression models (across phases of the surgical procedure) were fitted to assess the possible association between SVI and cRVEDVI, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP), and central venous pressure (CVP) after adjustment for cRVEF (categorized as < or =30, 31-40, and >40%). SVI was strongly associated with both cRVEDVI and cRVEF. The model showing the best fit to the data was that including cRVEDVI. Even after adjustment for cRVEF, there was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship between SVI and cRVEDVI with a regression coefficient (slope of the regression line) of 0.25; this meant that an increase in cRVEDVI of 1 mL m(-2) resulted in an increase in SVI of 0.25 mL m(-2). The correlations between SVI and CVP and PAOP were less strong. We conclude that cRVEDVI reflected preload better than CVP and PAOP.

The distinction between Spitz nevus and melanoma is currently possible, applying a set of definite histological criteria. However, in certain lesions deviating from the stereotypical morphology of classic Spitz nevi ("atypical Spitz tumors"), the differentiation between benign and malignant cases appears problematic because objective criteria for a reliable diagnosis are lacking. We report the clinicopathologic findings of 12 patients with atypical Spitz tumors, who underwent sentinel node biopsy. All the tumors, composed of spindle and/or epithelioid cells, histologically showed features referable to Spitz nevi mixed to features generally found in malignant melanomas. Nine patients were females and three males, ranging in age from 2 to 48 years (mean, 23.2 years). The size of lesions ranged from 5 to 9 mm, the thickness from 1.12 to 5.70 mm. Nodal micrometastases were found in 4 (33.3%) patients. Among the patients with positive sentinel node, two showed minimal nodal involvements; one patient showed additional tumor deposits in one nonsentinel regional node. All patients are alive and free of disease with a follow-up of 2 to 90 months (mean, 26.3 months). Metastasizing and nonmetastasizing cases appeared clinically and histologically indistinguishable. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups. Results suggested that all the reported cases may constitute a relatively homogeneous morphological group of lesions with a relevant metastatic potential that may be underdiagnosed.

An epidural catheter is used in some institutions for postoperative analgesia after liver surgery. However, anesthesiologists may not feel comfortable leaving a catheter in the epidural space because of concern about coagulation disturbances and possible bleeding complications caused by impaired liver function. In this study, we tested a single-shot intrathecal morphine technique and compared it to a continuous epidural naropine infusion for postoperative analgesia in liver surgery. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to an epidural analgesia group (EP group; n = 25) and an intrathecal analgesia group (IN group; n = 25). The quality of analgesia assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS), the side effects, and the additional IV analgesic requirements were recorded. We did not observe any signs of cord compression. Time to first pain drug requirement was longer in the EP group compared to the IN group (25 +/- 18.5 h versus 12 +/- 10.3 h; P < 0.05). In both groups, the VAS remained less than 30 mm throughout the 48-h follow-up period. Consumption of IV morphine with a patient-controlled analgesia device in the IN group was larger (mostly from 24 to 48 h after surgery) than the EP group (12.0 +/- 5.54 mg versus 3.1 +/- 2.6 mg, respectively; P < 0.01). The incidence of vomiting was 4% in both groups, whereas the incidence of pruritus (16% versus 0%) and nausea (16% versus 4%) was more frequent in the IN group. No postdural puncture headache and no spinal hematoma occurred. After liver resection, a single dose of intrathecal morphine followed by patient-controlled morphine analgesia can provide satisfactory postoperative pain relief. The quality of this treatment, according to the VAS, is not inferior to continuous epidural analgesia up to 48 h after surgery.

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) has been shown to be effective as a pretreatment immunosuppressive agent in liver transplantation because of the ability to wean tacrolimus monotherapy after 4 months in pretreated recipients. However, the use of ATG can be complicated by serious side effects. Reported side effects include severe cardiopulmonary reactions, adult respiratory distress syndrome and hematological disorders. We report a case of a patient with a medical history of cirrhosis scheduled for orthotopic liver transplantation that, during the operation, showed swelling, hyperthermia, tachycardia and hypotension after the administration of ATG. Acute renal failure (ARF) was another serious side effect that our patient developed during ICU stay; we ascribed the occurrence of ARF to the serum sickness disease triggered by the ATG administration. Only one case has been reported of ARF after ATG-therapy before our experience. Therefore, severe hyperthermia and signs of cardiovascular dysfunction early after the beginning of ATG administration should be carefully evaluated and may need to consider the immediate ATG therapy withdrawal to prevent ARF.

Background: Loss of vascular access in patients with intestinal failure is considered an indication for intestinal transplantation. Such patients often have one or more occluded vein sites. Venous access could be classified according to the number of occluded vessels, to facilitate pre- and postoperative management., Methods: At the VIIIth International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium in September 2003, a new classification of vascular access in patients who were candidates for bowel transplant was proposed. The classification was then applied to stratify all patients that underwent intestinal transplantation at the University of Miami between 1998 and 2003. Data were collected on Doppler ultrasonography, angiography, and vein angioplasty in such patients., Results: A total of 106 cases in 91 patients were included in the study. Based on Doppler ultrasound results, 51.9% of patients fell into class I (no thrombosed vessels), 21.7% were in class II (one occluded vessel, or positive risk factors for thrombosis), 24.5% were in class III (multiple thrombosed vessels), and 1.9% were in class IV (all vessels thrombosed). Fifteen percent of the patients required preoperative angiography to better evaluate venous access. Most of the patients that required angiography were in class III or IV, and 53.3% of patients requiring angiography needed additional venous angioplasty to achieve access., Conclusions: All patients that are referred for intestinal transplantation should undergo preliminary mapping of their venous access by Doppler ultrasound and then be assigned to a vascular access class. Those patients with multiple thrombosed vessels (class III and above) should be strongly considered for additional angiographic evaluation.

Aim: Isolated small bowel transplantation is becoming the treatment of choice for adult patients with serious parenteral nutrition (PN) related complications: we report our three-year experience (December 2000-December 2003) from a single Italian center (Modena-Italy), with one of the larger European series., Methods: We transplanted 14 patients, with a previous mean PN course of 27 months and a mean 21-month post-transplantation follow-up (range 3-36 months), obtaining a one-year actuarial survival rate of 92.3% with no intraoperative deaths., Results: We lost 1 patient (7.2%), died for post-transplantation overwhelming sepsis following Cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis. Thirteen patients are alive, with one-year actuarial graft survival rate of 85.1%: 1 patient underwent graft removal (7.2%) for intractable severe acute rejection. Our immunosuppressive regimen was based on tacrolimus and 3 induction protocols: daclizumab (8 patients) with steroids, alemtuzumab (4 patients) and thymoglobulin (2 patients) without steroids. In 9 cases, we added sirolimus. Nine recipients experienced 22 episodes of acute cellular rejection (ACR), treated successfully in all cases but one. One patient (7.2%) was treated successfully for Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD) and is disease-free after 8 months., Conclusions: Small bowel transplantation can achieve optimal results depending on appropriate immunosuppressive management and candidate selection, added to shorter ischemia time and careful donor and graft selection.

Small-for-size syndrome in LDLT is associated with graft exposure to excessive portal perfusion. Prevention of graft overperfusion in LDLT can be achieved through intraoperative modulation of portal graft inflow. We report a successful LDLT utilising the left lobe with a GV/SLV of only 20%. A 43 year-old patient underwent to LDLT at our institution. During the anhepatic phase a porto-systemic shunt utilizing an interposition vein graft anastomosed between the right portal branch and the right hepatic vein was performed. After graft reperfusion splenectomy was also performed. Portal vein pressure, portal vein flow and hepatic artery flow were recorded. A decrease of portal vein pressure and flow was achieved, and the shunt was left in place. The recipient post-operative course was characterized by good graft function. Small-for-size syndrome by graft overperfusion can be successfully prevented by utilizing inflow modulation of the transplanted graft. This strategy can permit the use of left lobe in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.

The risks and benefits of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation need to be carefully evaluated. Anesthetic management includes postoperative epidural pain relief; however, even patients with a normal preoperative coagulation profile may suffer transient postoperative coagulation derangement. This study explores the possible causes of postoperative coagulation derangement after donor hepatectomy and the possible implications on epidural analgesia. Thirty donors, American Society of Anesthesiology I, with no history of liver disease were considered suitable for the study. A thoracic epidural catheter was inserted before induction and removed when laboratory values were as follows: prothrombin time (PT) > 60%, activated partial thromboplastin time < 1.24 (sec), and platelet count > 100,000 mmf pound sterling (mm3). Standard blood tests were evaluated before surgery, on admission to the recovery room, and daily until postoperative day (POD) 5. The volumes of blood loss and of intraoperative fluids administered were recorded. Coagulation abnormalities observed immediately after surgery may be related mostly to blood loss and to the diluting effect of the intraoperative infused fluids, although the extent of the resection appears to be the most important factor in the extension of the PT observed from POD 1. In conclusion, significant alterations in PT and platelet values were observed in our patients who underwent uncomplicated major liver resection for living donor liver transplantation. Because the potential benefits of epidural analgesia for liver resection are undefined according to available data, additional prospective randomized studies comparing the effectiveness and safety of intravenous versus epidural analgesia in this patient population should be performed.

Intestinal transplantation (ITx) has become a life-saving procedure for patients with irreversible intestinal failure who can no longer be maintained on parenteral nutrition (PN). This report presents the results of our experience on ITx in patients suffering from chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO). Between December 30, 2000 and May 30, 2003 six adult patients affected by CIPO underwent primary ITx at our Center. Pre-transplant evaluation, indication for ITx and surgical technique are reported. On December 30 2003, the mean follow-up was 25.0 months. No peri-operative deaths occurred in the study population and five out of six patients are alive, with 1-year patient and graft survival of 83.3% and 66.6%. Although our series is limited by the number of patients, our experience suggests that ITx transplantation should be considered in adult patients suffering from CIPO and PN life-threatening complication.

To evaluate the short and long term outcome of liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. A retrospective analysis was performed on 106 consecutive cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma resected between June 1974 and September 2002 at the Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni" - University of Rome "La Sapienza" and at the Liver and Multivisceral Transplant Unit of the University of Modena. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on several clinicopathological variables to analyze factors affecting the long-term outcome and intrahepatic recurrence. Overall mortality and morbidity were 10.7% and 26% respectively. These rates significantly decreased in the last years: from 1997 to 2002 no hospital mortality has been recorded. After a median follow-up of 19 months (interquartile range: 10-36), tumour recurrence appeared in 25 patients (23,5%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 86,6%, 70,3%, and 60,6%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 86,3%, 58,1%, and 40,7%. On univariate analysis, viral ethiology of cirrhosis (p=0.03), presence of multiple nodules (p=0.02) and vascular invasion (p=0.05) were found to be related to a worse long-term survival. At the multivariate analysis only the viral ethiology of cirrhosis and the presence of multiple nodules were confirmed as indipendent prognostic factors. Early results after hepatic resection for HCC can be improved by using a limited surgical approach. The viral ethiology of cirrhosis, the presence of multiple nodules and vascular invasion negatively affected recurrence rate and long-term survival.

Aim: The study compares the intraoperative effects of combined versus general anesthesia during major liver surgery., Methods: In this prospective randomized study, 70 patients were divided into 2 group of 35 subjects. Group A received general anesthesia (thiopentone, fentanyl, vecuronium, sevoflurane in a closed circuit) 15 minutes after placement of an epidural catheter (D9-D10) and induction of epidural anesthesia (6 ml 2% naropine). Continuous epidural infusion was initiated before surgical incision and continued with 0.2% naropine (7 ml/h) until the end of the operation. Group B received combined intraoperative anesthesia wit fentanyl doses according to hemodynamic parameters and 0.1 mg/kg morphine 30-4 minutes before cutaneous suture. Hemodynamic values were measured at base line (T0), and then at 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after induction of general anesthesia (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively). On recovery, patients were assessed for pain at rest and on movement reported on a visual analog scale; degree of motor blockade according to the Bromage scale; appearance of side effects; use af analgesic., Results: A statistically significant decrease in the mean arterial blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate (HR) was noted within each group at 15 minutes after induction of general anesthesia. Significant differences in ABP were found between the 2 groups at T1 to T5, whereas HR values were substantially similar. The mean intraoperative use of fentanyl was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A, as was that of vecuronium. Pain intensity on recovery in patients who received epidural anesthesia was lower both at rest and on movement; only the patients in Group B required additional analgesics. No motor blockade was observed in either group. Nausea and vomiting were more frequent in Group B; hypotension was more frequent in Group A., Conclusion: The study confirms the safety of locoregional anesthesia in liver surgery, with good hemodynamic stability and absence of major side effects. The lower intraoperative use of opioids and muscle relaxants in patients who received epidural anesthesia confirms the neurovegetative protection this method provides. The data support the hypothesis that greater intraoperative use of opioids may be responsible for the higher incidence of side effects. Therefore, the intraoperative use of combined low-concentration anesthetic agents alone appears to offer a reasonable treatment option that provides adequate pain control at recovery from general anesthesia, with only minor side effects typically associated with analgesic (motor blockade) and opioids (nausea and vomiting). Given the complications associated with the technique, it should be performed by an expert anesthetist.

Aprotinin reduces blood transfusion requirements in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Concern has been voiced about the potential risk for thrombotic complications when aprotinin is used. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of aprotinin on the two components of the hemostatic system (coagulation and fibrinolysis) in patients undergoing OLT. As part of a larger, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we compared coagulation (fibrinogen level, activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], prothrombin time, and platelet count) and fibrinolytic variables (tissue-type plasminogen activator [tPA] antigen and activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor activity, and D-dimer), as well as thromboelastography (reaction time [r], clot formation time, and maximum amplitude) in 27 patients administered either high-dose aprotinin (2 x 10(6) kallikrein inhibitor units [KIU] at induction, continuous infusion of 1 x 10(6) KIU/h, and 1 x 10(6) KIU before reperfusion; n = 10), regular-dose aprotinin (2 x 10(6) KIU at induction and continuous infusion of 0.5 x 10(6) KIU/h; n = 8), or placebo (n = 9) during OLT. Blood samples were drawn at seven standardized intraoperative times. Baseline characteristics were similar for the three groups. During the anhepatic and postreperfusion periods, fibrinolytic activity (plasma D-dimer and tPA antigen levels) was significantly lower in aprotinin-treated patients compared with the placebo group. Interestingly, coagulation times (aPTT and r) were significantly more prolonged in aprotinin-treated patients than the placebo group. No difference was seen in the incidence of perioperative thrombotic complications in the entire study population (n = 137). Aprotinin has an anticoagulant rather than a procoagulant effect. Its blood-sparing (prohemostatic) effect appears to be the overall result of a strong antifibrinolytic and a weaker anticoagulant effect. These findings argue against a prothrombotic effect of aprotinin in patients undergoing OLT.

Cervicothoracoabdominal and cervicoabdominal approach are routinely adopted for total or subtotal esophagectomy. We propose a modification of the Nanson's patient position to optimize sequential or simultaneous left cervicotomy, laparotomy, and eventual right thoracotomy with one or two surgical teams. This technique permits better control of the operative field for each phase of the procedure with coordinated operating of two surgical teams on the neck, abdomen, and chest.

Eighteen myasthenic patients have been operated on under general anaesthesia; 14 subjected to thymectomy and 2 to emergency procedures (caesarean section and laparotomy because of intestinal obstruction). Atracurium (0.3 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.06 mg/kg) exhibited a long duration of action only in the two cases affected by the more severe signs and symptoms of the disease.

Right ventricular (RV) function was assessed in 20 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation to determine its role in the hemodynamic instability frequently seen during this procedure. A modified pulmonary artery catheter equipped with a fast response thermistor was used to determine RV ejection fraction (EFrv), allowing for calculation of RV end-diastolic volume index (EDVIrv, as the ratio of stroke index [SI] to EFrv) and RV end-systolic volume index (ESVIrv, as the difference between EDVIrv and SI). The above hemodynamic measures were taken during dissection for hepatectomy (stage I), during the anhepatic stage (stage II), and after reperfusion of the grafted liver, the neohepatic stage (stage III). No patient had pulmonary hypertension during the study interval. No correlation was observed between right atrial pressure (Pra) and EDVIrv, indicating that Pra is a less reliable clinical indicator of RV preload. RV function appeared to be well preserved throughout the procedure, as indicated by a relatively constant and supranormal EFrv, although a small and probably clinically unimportant decrease in EFrv was observed during the anhepatic stage (0.52, 0.50, and 0.55 during stages I, II, and III, respectively). There was a strong correlation between SI and EDVIrv for pooled data over a wide range of EDVIrv (60-185 mL.m-2). Although unstable central blood temperature precluded the determination of EFrv within the first 5 min after reperfusion, RV function was unaltered otherwise during uncomplicated orthotopic liver transplantation using venovenous bypass, indicating that orthotopic liver transplantation per se is not associated with significant RV dysfunction.