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High End-Surgery Arterial Lactate Concentration (ES-ALC) predicts poor outcome after hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to identify intraoperative hemodynamic parameters predicting high ES-ALC during elective liver resection. Patients who underwent liver resection between 2017 and 2018, under FloTrac/EV1000TM hemodynamic monitoring, were included. The ES-ALC cutoff best predicting severe postoperative complications was identified. Association between high ES-ALC and preoperative and intraoperative variables was assessed. 108 patients were included; 90-day mortality was 0.9% and severe morbidity 14.8%. ES-ALC cutoff best discriminating severe complications was 5.05 mmol/L. Patients with ES-ALC > 5.0 mmol/L had a relative risk of severe complications of 2.8% (p = 0.004). High ES-ALC patients had longer surgery and ischemia duration, larger blood losses and higher requirements of fluids and blood transfusions. During surgery, hemoglobin concentration and oxygen delivery (DO2) decreased more significantly in patients with high ES-ALC, although they had similar values of stroke volume and cardiac output to those of other patients. At multivariate analysis, surgery duration and lowest recorded DO2 value were the strongest predictors of high ES-ALC. ES-ALC > 5.0 mmol/L in elective liver resection predicts postoperative morbidity and is essentially driven by the impaired DO2. Timely correction of blood losses might prevent the ES-ALC increase.

Competing Interests: Disclosure Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

If KRAS mutation status of primary colorectal tumor is representative of corresponding colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) mutational pattern, is controversial. Several studies have reported different rates of KRAS discordance, ranging from 4 to 32%. Aim of this study is to assess the incidence of discordance and its impact on overall survival (OS) in a homogenous group of patients. KRAS mutation status was evaluated in 107 patients resected for both primary colorectal tumor and corresponding CRLM at the same institution, between 2007 and 2018. Discordance rate was 15.9%. Its incidence varied according to the time interval between the two mutation analyses ( p = 0.025; Pearson correlation = 0.2) and it was significantly higher during the first 6 months from the time of primary tumor evaluation. On multivariable analysis, type of discordance (wild-type in primary tumor, mutation in CRLM) was the strongest predictor of poor OS ( p < 0.001). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, the number of CRLM >3 was an independent risk factor for the risk of KRAS discordance associated with the worst prognosis (OR = 4.600; p = 0.047). Results of our study suggested that, in the era of precision medicine, possibility of KRAS discordance should be taken into account within multidisciplinary management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

The liver represents the first metastatic site in 5-12% of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) cases. In absence of reliable evidence, liver metastasectomy (LM) could represent a possible therapeutic option for selected MBC patients (patients) in clinical practice. A retrospective analysis including MBC patients who had undergone an LM after a multidisciplinary Tumor Board discussion at the Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS in Rome, between January 1994 and December 2019 was conducted. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) after a MBC-LM; the secondary endpoint was the disease-free interval (DFI) after surgery. Forty-nine MBC patients underwent LM, but clinical data were only available for 22 patients. After a median follow-up of 71 months, median OS and DFI were 67 months (95% CI 45-103) and 15 months (95% CI 11-46), respectively. At univariate analysis, the presence of a negative resection margin (R0) was the only factor that statistically significantly influenced OS (78 months versus 16 months; HR 0.083, p < 0.0001) and DFI (16 months versus 5 months; HR 0.17, p = 0.0058). A LM for MBC might represent a therapeutic option for selected patients. The radical nature of the surgical procedure performed in a high-flow center and after a multidisciplinary discussion appears essential for this therapeutic option.

Background: Malnutrition in liver surgery is correlated with higher postoperative complications and longer length of hospital stay (LOHS), the same items that ERAS programs try to optimize. However, to date, standardized dietary protocols have not been defined within ERAS programs. Aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on LOHS and postoperative complications, of a personalized nutritional protocol (NutriCatt) with diet and oral branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation, adopted within the ERAS program., Methods: 1960 consecutive liver resections were performed from January 2000 to September 2018., Exclusion Criteria: perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, simultaneous colorectal and liver resections. Four groups for analysis: resections before 2009 (1st period); from 2009 to 2016 (2nd period, including laparoscopic resections); between 2016 and September 2017 (ERAS); after September 2017 (ERAS + NutriCatt)., Results: LOHS declined (p < 0.0001), from a median of 10 days (1st period) to 8, 7 and 6 in 2nd period, ERAS and ERAS + NutriCatt groups, respectively. At multivariable analysis for risk of LOHS > 8 days, the 2nd period, ERAS and ERAS + NutriCatt groups showed a protective effect. These results were confirmed for both minor and major resections. LOHS was significantly lower in ERAS + Nutricatt group than in ERAS group, without increasing risk of postoperative complications, although the rate of laparoscopic resections was similar in these two groups and complexity of liver resections was significantly higher in the last period., Conclusions: Adoption of a personalized nutritional protocol with BCAA supplementation within the ERAS program for liver resections was a safe and effective approach that may impact on reducing the LOHS.

Hepatic resection is the gold standard treatment for patients affected by liver-limited colorectal metastases. Reports addressing the impact of multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation on survival are controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of MDT management in these patients in our Institution experience. The objective of the analysis was to compare survivals of patients managed within our MDT (MDT cohort) to those of patients referred to surgery from other hospitals without MDT discussion (non-MDT cohort). Of the 523 patients, 229 were included in the MDT cohort and 294 in the non-MDT cohort. No difference between the two groups was found in terms of median overall survival (52.5 vs 53.6 months; HR 1.13; 95% CI, 0.88-1.45; p = 0.344). In the MDT cohort there was a higher number of metastases (4.5 vs 2.7; p < 0.0001). The median duration of chemotherapy was lower in MDT patients (8 vs 10 cycles; p < 0.001). Post-operative morbidity was lower in the MDT cohort (6.2 vs 21.5%; p < 0.001). One hundred and ninety-seven patients in each group were matched by propensity score and no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of OS and DFS. Our study does not demonstrate a survival benefit from MDT management, but it allows surgery to patients with a more advanced disease. MDT assessment reduces the median duration of chemotherapy and post-operative morbidities.

Background: It is still unclear whether a positive surgical margin after resection of colorectal liver metastases remains a poor prognostic factor in the era of modern perioperative chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative chemotherapy has an impact on reducing local recurrence after R1 resection, and the impact of local recurrence on overall survival., Methods: Between 2000 and 2014, a total of 421 patients underwent resection for colorectal liver metastases at our unit after preoperative chemotherapy. The overall number of analyzed resection areas was 1,428., Results: The local recurrence rate was 12.8%, significantly higher after R1 resection than after R0 (24.5% vs 8.7%; P < .001). These results were also confirmed in patients with response to preoperative chemotherapy (23.1% after R1 vs 11.2% after R0; P < .001). At multivariate analysis, R1 resection was the only independent risk factor for local recurrence (P < .001). At the analysis of the 1,428 resection areas, local recurrence significantly decreased according to the increase of the surgical margin width (from 19.1% in 0 mm margin to 2.4% in ≥10 mm). At multivariable logistic regression analysis for overall survival, the presence of local recurrence showed a significant negative impact on 5-year overall survival (P < .001)., Conclusion: Surgical margin recurrence after modern preoperative chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases was still significantly higher after R1 resection than it was after R0 resection. Local recurrence showed a negative prognostic impact on overall survival. R0 resection should be recommended whenever technically achievable, as well as in patients treated by modern preoperative chemotherapy., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Definitive diagnosis of pediatric liver masses can be challenging, because clinical manifestations are nonspecific, and ultimate diagnosis may be delayed. We describe 2 patients with liver masses that initially were misdiagnosed and treated as infectious hepatic lesions. Only after histologic examination the correct diagnosis of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver was defined. Both patients underwent a complete tumor resection followed by chemotherapy with a favorable outcome.

Introduction: The Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) is a multifunctional oncoprotein involved in the proliferation and aggressiveness of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether strong YB-1 expression in neoplastic cells of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) may have an impact on liver disease-free survival following liver resection., Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate YB-1 in 66 patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM. YB-1 expression was classified as weak (low-staining intensity) and strong (high-staining intensity)., Results: YB-1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of all CRLM. YB-1 expression was weak in 17 patients (25.8%) and strong in 49 patients (74.2%). Liver recurrence rate was significantly higher in the strong than in the weak expression group: 55.1 vs. 23.5% (p = 0.023). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that YB-1 strong expression was the only independent risk factor for liver recurrence. The 5-year specific liver disease-free survival rate was 76.0% in the weak expression group and 41.5% in the strong expression group (p = 0.034). These results were not influenced by clinical prognostic factors of tumor recurrence., Conclusions: This is the first study showing that the degree of YB-1 expression in tissue specimens of CRLM predicts liver recurrence following liver resection.

Background: Simple liver cysts (LCs) represent the most common benign liver disease, with a prevalence of 3-5%. Laparoscopic fenestration is considered the best treatment for symptomatic LCs, but few studies have analyzed the rate or type of recurrence during a long-term follow-up period (>5 years)., Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2010, 47 patients underwent laparoscopic fenestration for simple LCs. The indications were symptoms for 42 patients and an uncertain diagnosis for five patients. The follow-up assessment consisted of regular patient evaluations, with results of laboratory data and liver ultrasound., Results: Conversion to laparotomy was not necessary in any case. The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were nil. The mean follow-up period was 67 months (range 12-142 months), and 26 patients (55.3%) had a follow-up period longer than 5 years. During the follow-up period, 40 patients (85.1%) did not present with any type of recurrence. The overall recurrence rate was 14.9% (seven patients) based on five patients (10.6%) with radiologic asymptomatic recurrences detected by ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan and two patients (4.3%) with clinicoradiologic symptomatic recurrences. Both symptomatic recurrences involved LCs located in the right posterior segments., Conclusions: Laparoscopic fenestration provided complete relief of symptoms for about 95% of patients with simple LCs. Recurrence after surgery was experienced by 14.9% of the patients, but only in 4.3% (two patients) was this recurrence symptomatic requiring a second treatment. The site of recurrence was more frequently in the right posterior segments. Laparoscopic fenestration of symptomatic LCs can be considered a safe and effective procedure that can yield good long-term results.

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate the role of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in intrahepatic staging and the impact on surgical strategy for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM)., Methods: The study included 515 patients who had undergone liver resection for CRLM at two tertiary care referral centers. Data from a prospectively collected database were retrospectively analysed. Early intrahepatic recurrence was assessed at 3 and 6 months after resection and was considered as residual disease undetected by IOUS. Performance of imaging modalities was compared by analysis of studies on individual patients., Results: A total of 1,370 liver metastases were detected preoperatively with a median of 3 imaging modalities. MRI and PET were performed in 51 and 42 % of the patients, respectively. Median number of days between last imaging and surgery was 18. Contrast-enhanced IOUS was performed in 136 patients (26.4 %). Intraoperatively, 293 new nodules were found in 132 patients: on histology 280 were CRLM (17.6 %). Surgical strategy was changed in 140 patients (27.2 %). On multivariate analysis synchronous and bilobar metastases ≥ 3 in number, BMI ≥ 30, and time between last imaging and surgery longer than 18 days resulted in predictive factors indicating new nodules detected by IOUS. Early intrahepatic recurrences were 3.7 and 7.9 % at 3 and 6 months. Performance of CT, MRI, FDG-PET, and intraoperative staging was compared: sensitivity was 63.6, 68.8, 53.6, and 92 % and specificity was 91, 92.3, 95.8, and 97.8 %, respectively, Conclusions: The use of IOUS continues to be mandatory for correct staging of patients with CRLM undergoing liver resection.

Background: Portal vein embolization (PVE) is an effective procedure to increase the future remnant liver (FRL) before major hepatectomy. A controversial issue is that PVE may stimulate tumor growth and can be associated with poor prognosis after liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of PVE on long-term survival following major hepatectomy for CRLM., Methods: Between 1998 and 2010, 100 right and extended-right hepatectomies for unilobar, right-sided CRLM were performed. Of the group, 20 patients underwent preoperative PVE (group A). The control patients (group B; 20 patients) were selected by matching with the group A patients., Results: It was found that 25 patients (25/40; 62.5%) had developed tumor recurrence. The rate of global recurrence was not significantly different in groups A and B (65% vs 60%, respectively; P = .744). The specific overall intrahepatic recurrence rate was 42.5% (17 of 40 patients) and was not significantly different in groups A and B (45% vs 40%, respectively; P = .749). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were similar in groups A and B (42.9% and 33.6% vs 42.1% and 27.7%, respectively). The 5-year specific liver-disease-free survival was 45.3% in group A and 53.5% in group B (P = .572). On multivariate analysis of all 100 hepatectomies, R1 resection (P = .013) was found to be the only independent predictor of liver-disease-free survival., Conclusion: This study showed that PVE did not affect overall survival and specific liver-disease-free survival in patients undergoing right or right-extended hepatectomy for unilobar, right-sided CRLM., (Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hepatic resection is considered to be feasible when all malignant nodules can be technically excised. The goal of the surgical approach is to optimize the oncologic resection (negative margins), sparing the non-cancerous hepatic parenchyma. The outflowing hepatic vein (HV) of that particular liver remnant must be intact in order to preserve its function. The purpose of this article is to familiarize radiologists with anatomy and anatomical variants of HVs, with special emphasis on segmental venous drainage for presurgical planning of hepatic resections. We focus on information which radiologist should give to hepatic surgeon to choose proper surgical approach. Radiologist's familiarity with the anatomy and anatomical variants of HVs is essential for accurate surgical planning to avoid venous congestion as postoperative complication. Any clinically important hepatic vein variation detected on presurgical imaging should be carefully recorded in the radiology report.

Background/aims: Surgical indications in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer are debated. To analyze outcomes of surgery and the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NeoCTx)., Methodology: Consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for gastric metastases between January 1997 and December 2008 were analyzed., Results: Liver metastases were synchronous in 9 patients and multiple in 5. Eight patients received NeoCTx. NeoCTx and non-NeoCTx groups had similar characteristics. Mortality was nil, morbidity was 40%. After a mean follow-up of 42.5 months, 5-year survival rate was 33.2%. Presence of multiple metastases was a negative prognostic factor (p=0.029), while synchronous presentation and NeoCTx were not. Disease-free survival rates were significantly different by stratifying patients according to response to chemotherapy: at 5 years 32.4% in non-NeoCTx group, 0% in disease progression (PD) while on NeoCTx group and 60.0% in non-PD while on NeoCTx group (p=0.018). One-year recurrence rates were 40%, 100% and 0%, (p=0.020)., Conclusions: Liver resection for gastric metastases achieves good long-term results, especially in solitary metastases. NeoCTx helps to select candidates for surgery and, in patients without PD, is associated with improved disease-free survival

Background: Survival with long-term follow-up following liver resection for unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) downsized by chemotherapy has rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the chance of cure following liver resection for initially unresectable CRLM., Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2009, 61 patients underwent hepatectomy for unresectable liver-only CRLM downsized after chemotherapy. Cure was defined as a recurrence-free interval of at least 5 years after primary hepatectomy., Results: Resectability of CRLM was achieved after a mean number of 11 courses, and 42.6 % of patients underwent liver resection after ≥10 courses. Postoperative mortality was nil, and morbidity rate was 19.7 %. The 5- and 10-year actuarial overall survival rates were 42.6 and 16.0 %. Of 30 patients with a follow-up ≥5 years, 11 were alive, yielding a 5-year actual overall survival rate of 36.7 %, and 7 (23.3 %) were considered cured because they are alive without recurrence. On multivariate analysis, response to chemotherapy was the only independent predictor of both overall and disease-free survival., Conclusions: Cure can be achieved in about 23 % of patients resected for initially unresectable CRLM downsized by chemotherapy. Liver resection can be safely performed in selected patients even after multiple courses of chemotherapy.

Background: Liver hemangiomas are rarely large, symptomatic, or presenting atypical imaging patterns. Surgery is rarely needed; indications and choice of the best technique remain not precisely defined., Methods: Features of hemangiomas and surgical indications were assessed in 74 patients (mean follow-up 63.2 months). In 40 operated patients, the results of liver resection versus enucleation were compared., Results: Most hemangiomas (60/74, 81.1%) showed no size increment. In 40 operated patients (40/74, 54.1%) the mean tumor size (11.9 cm, range 2.6-46.0) was larger than in nonoperated patients (11.9 vs 6.0 cm, P = .0002). Surgical indications were specific symptoms, tumor enlargement, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, and uncertain diagnosis. Mortality (nil), morbidity (10.0%), and transfusion rate (15.0%) were similar for 28 liver resections versus 12 enucleations; bleeding was more related to large hemangioma size than to the choice of either technique. Liver ischemia techniques, autotransfusion, and intraoperative blood salvage reduced the risk of transfusion., Conclusions: Surgery is rarely indicated, has a low risk, and has similar results for liver resection versus enucleation. Risk of bleeding is related more to the large size of the hemangioma than to the type of surgery (resection or enucleation). In these patients, management, the need for surgery, and the choice of technique should be carefully individualized., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Liver resection may represent the only hope of cure for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) but long-term results are still far from satisfactory and the impact of prognostic factors is still controversial. Fifty-five patients underwent hepatectomy for IHC between 1997 and 2008 in our unit. Features of the patients and the tumors, operations, postoperative and long-term results were retrospectively assessed. Twenty-one patients had HBV/HCV infection, four had congenital biliary dilatation. Thirty-two patients had increased CA 19-9; 12 had multiple (≥ 4) tumors. Operations included 43 major resections, with 9 resections of biliary confluence, 40 regional lymphadenectomies. Operative mortality and morbidity were 0 and 27.3%, respectively. There were 44 R0-resections (80.0%). Lymphadenectomy yielded lymph node metastases in 14 cases (14/40; 35.0%). Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 30.2 and 27.5%, respectively. At multivariate analysis the strongest poor prognostic factor for overall survival was tumor stage. This factor, with multiplicity of lesions (≥ 4) and tumor grading > 2, was significant predictor of recurrence. CA19-9 > 100 IU/mL and tumor grading > 2 were found to be significantly related with early multinodular hepatic recurrence. Patients with lymph node metastases had significantly lower overall and disease-free survival but patients who underwent lymph node dissection with negative lymph nodes at final pathology showed significantly higher 5-year disease-free survival than patients who did not underwent lymphadenectomy. In conclusion, these results support the role of hepatectomy with regional lymphadenectomy as the best available treatment for IHC. Prognosis after liver resection correlates with clinical stage and multiplicity of lesions.

After surgery, in sepsis and various critical illnesses, factors such as severity of the acute phase response, liver dysfunction, and hemodilution from blood loss have cumulative impacts in decreasing cholesterol; therefore, degree of hypocholesterolemia often reflects severity of illness. The direct correlation between cholesterol and several plasma proteins is mediated by the parallel impact of commonly shared determinants. Cholestasis is associated with a moderation of the degree of hypocholesterolemia. In human sepsis, the poor implications of hypocholesterolemia seem to be aggravated by the simultaneous development of hypertriglyceridemia. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels reflect altered lipoprotein patterns, and the issue is too complex and too poorly understood to be reduced to simple concepts; nevertheless, these simple measurements often represent helpful adjunctive clinical tools., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Survival analyses after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) mostly address tumor-related factors; this study has simultaneously evaluated interventional factors which may be influenced by the surgeon., Methods: Operative and long-term results of 251 consecutive patients undergoing hepatectomy for CRLM between 1992 and 2007 were analyzed., Results: Mortality was 0.8%, morbidity 22.9%, intraoperative blood transfusion rate 23.1% (19.4% with pedicle clamping, 35.0% without clamping, P = 0.01), R0-resection 93.6% (2/3 with tumor-free margin >5 mm). The 3-, 5-, 10-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 55.2%, 38.9%, 24.2%, and 37.1%, 28.2%, 25.4%. Univariate analysis: lower survival was related to transfusion requirement, tumor size >5 cm, tumor-free margin < or =5 mm, major hepatectomy, R1-resection, multiplicity of CRLM, preoperative CEA > or =50 ng/ml. Multivariate analysis: intraoperative transfusion remained the only independent predictor of survival; tumor-free margin < or =5 mm and multiplicity of CRLM remained independent predictors of disease-free survival within 12 months from hepatectomy; intraoperative transfusion became again the prominent predictor for later recurrences., Conclusions: Two factors may be influenced by the surgeon: bleeding with requirement for blood transfusion (through the protective effect of pedicle clamping) and width of tumor-free surgical margin. These factors have prominent roles on long-term outcomes after hepatectomy for CRLM.

The aim of this study was to review a series of patients submitted to hepatectomy for primary intrahepatic lithiasis to evaluate early and late results with an assessment of indications, methods and long-term outcomes. From January 1992 to December 2007, 40 patients (25 males and 15 females with a mean age of 51 years) underwent surgery for primary intrahepatic lithiasis in our Hepato-biliary Surgery Unit. Left hepatectomy (20 patients) and left lateral segmentectomy (12 patients) were the most common procedures performed. A cholangiocarcinoma was found in 4 patients (10%) and only two of these underwent liver resection, while an exploratory laparotomy was performed in the remaining two patients for an unresectable tumour, unexpected before surgery. There was no postoperative mortality. The morbidity rate was 22.5% with a prevalence of infectious complications related to bile leakage. Long-term results, assessed in 30 patients with a follow-up longer than 12 months, were good or fair in 28 patients (93.3%). Primary intrahepatic lithiasis is diagnosed increasingly in Western countries as a result of the improvement in imaging techniques. The stones originate inside the liver at the level of dilatations of the bile ducts above congenital strictures of the main hilar ducts. Biliary pain and cholangitis are the most common presenting symptoms, whereas cholangiocarcinoma represents the unfavourable complication of the disease. In the majority of cases, a single liver lobe or segment is involved and liver resection allows definitive treatment of the disease and prevention of cancer.

Renal cell carcinoma is an aggressive tumor which is often advanced at the time of diagnosis; its distant spread can take a lymphatic route or, more often, a vascular route (renal vein and inferior vena cava), but tumor thrombosis of left portal vein extending into the round ligament (the umbilical vein) coming from this tumor, to our knowledge, has never been described. We report the case of a metastatic thrombosis of left portal vein and of the umbilical vein from renal cell carcinoma, developed 13 years after nephrectomy, which was successfully treated with left hepatectomy. The experience with hepatectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma has been rarely reported. Nevertheless radical hepatectomy is considered to be the only opportunity for curative treatment for selected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: The aim of the present study was to highlight the advantages of treatment of bile duct injury (BDI) occurring during cholecystectomy on the basis of a multidisciplinary cooperation of expert surgeons, radiologists, and endoscopists., Methods: Sixty-six patients had major BDIs or short- or long-term failures of repair. BDI was diagnosed intraoperatively in 27 patients (40.9%) and postoperatively in 39 (59.1%) patients. Among referred patients, 30 had complications from bile leak, 15 from obstructive jaundice, and 20 from recurrent cholangitis. Two patients died from sepsis after delayed referral before repair was attempted. Eleven additional patients had minor BDIs with bile leak both with and without choleperitoneum., Results: Of patients with major BDI, surgical repair was performed in 41 (64.1%). Postsurgical morbidity rate was 15.8%, and there was no mortality. The rate of excellent or good results after surgical repair was 78.0% (32 of 41 patients), and this increased to 87.8% (36 of 41 patients) by continuing treatment with stenting in postsurgical strictures. Biliary stenting alone was performed in 23 patients (35.9%), with excellent or good results in 17 (73.9%). More than 200 endoscopic and percutaneous procedures were performed for initial assessment, treatment of sepsis, nonsurgical repair, contribution to repair, and follow-up. Patients with minor BDIs underwent various combinations of surgical and endoscopic or percutaneous treatments, always with good results., Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach was of paramount importance in many phases of treatment of BDI: initial assessment, treatment of secondary complications, resolution of sepsis, percutaneous stenting before surgical repair, dilatation of strictures after repair, final treatment in patients not repaired surgically, and follow-up.

Hypothesis: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis occurs frequently in East Asia but is rare in Western countries. Biliary pain and episodes of cholangitis are the most common presenting symptoms, whereas intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma represents a long-term unfavorable complication of the disease. When a single liver lobe or segment is involved, partial hepatectomy may be regarded today as an effective method of treatment., Design: Retrospective study., Setting: Hepatobiliary unit in a tertiary care hospital., Patients: The clinical records of 35 patients treated for primary intrahepatic lithiasis between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2005, were reviewed and clinical data, cholangiograms, operative procedures, and early and late results were examined., Interventions: Thirty-four patients underwent liver resection; left hepatectomy (18 patients) and left lateral segmentectomy (10 patients) were the most frequently performed procedures. A cholangiocarcinoma was found in 3 patients (8.6%): 2 underwent liver resection and 1, who was found unresectable at surgery, underwent only explorative laparotomy., Main Outcome Measures: Survival, quality of life, laboratory data, and need for further treatments., Results: There was no postoperative mortality. Morbidity was 20.0% with a prevalence of infectious complications related to bile leakage. Long-term results, assessed in 26 patients with follow-up longer than 12 months (range, 12-170 months; mean, 63 months), were good or fair in 24 patients (92.3%), including 3 patients who needed subsequent endoscopic removal of biliary stones., Conclusions: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis more commonly involves 1 single liver segment or lobe. Partial hepatectomy is a safe and effective procedure, allowing definitive treatment of the disease and prevention of cancer.

A multicenter, open labelled, randomized study was carried out to compare the prophylactic efficacy of Cefepime and Ceftriaxone in patients undergoing biliary tract surgery. Two hundred and nine patients were included in the study and randomized to receive preoperative infusion of 2 g Cefepime (n=107) or 2 g Ceftriaxone (n=102) both in a single i.v. administration. Antimicrobial prophylaxis was successful in preventing infections in 98.9% of patients in the Cefepime group and 97.7% in the Ceftriaxone group (p=0.3871). Both regimens were well tolerated without any adverse drug-related reactions. A single dose of Cefepime seems to be a very useful alternative to other regimens for antibiotic prophylaxis of postoperative infectious complications in the elective surgical treatment of cholelithiasis.

Background: Hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) may offer good long-term survival. The impact of the tumor-free surgical margin on long-term results remains controversial, and we have assessed this component in 185 patients., Methods: Between 1992 and 2005, 185 patients underwent primary hepatectomy with curative intent for CRLM (which originated from colon/rectum 133/52, synchronous/metachronous 66/119, and single/multiple 100/85). In this study, 105 major and 80 minor hepatectomies were evaluated; 133 hepatectomies had pedicle clamping., Results: Operative mortality was 1.1%, morbidity was 25.7%, and blood transfusion requirement was 27.6%. Stratification of tumor-free margin in the patients with R0 liver resection was greater than or equal to 10 mm (63.0% of patients), 6-9 mm (11.4% of patients), 3-5 mm (16.5% of patients), and less than or equal to 2 mm (9.1% of patients), with infiltrated margin in the remainder (R1 liver resection 4.9% of the total number of patients). The 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were 54.9%, 37.9%, and 22.9%, respectively. Global and surgical margin recurrence rates increased as the tumor-free margin decreased (P = .01 and P < .001, respectively). At univariate analysis, the width of surgical margin (P < .001), transfusion requirement, major hepatectomy, R1 resection, number of metastases, high preoperative CEA, and increasing tumor size (P value from .001 to .03) were associated with lesser rates of long-term survival. A similar association was found with disease-free survival. At multivariate analysis, width of surgical margin was the only independent predictor of both overall (P = .003) and disease-free (P < .001) survival. Although smaller margins were associated with synchronicity, increasing number of, and with bilobar distribution of, metastases which contributed to explain recurrences away from the margin), the width of surgical margin maintained the prominent impact on outcome., Conclusions: In our patients, the width of the surgical margin was a powerful prognostic factor after hepatectomy for CRLM. A resection margin less than or equal to 5 mm was associated with a greater risk of recurrence on the surgical margin, with a lesser rate of overall and disease-free survival.

Background: Bleeding is the most relevant operative risk during mesohepatectomy because of the wideness of the resection surfaces and the exposure of main intrahepatic vascular structures. Preliminary extraparenchymal exposure of the main hepatic veins, with the possibility of clamping them in association with the Pringle maneuver, and the maintenance of a low central venous pressure during mesohepatectomy, can contribute to substantially reducing operative bleeding., Study Design: We report the results obtained in 18 mesohepatectomies, performed for liver metastases (13 patients) and for hepatocellular carcinoma (5 patients). Liver resection was performed without preliminary exposure of the main hepatic veins in nine patients (group A) and with preliminary looping of the main hepatic veins in nine patients (group B), without complications related to the maneuver., Results: Intermittent pedicle clamping was used in all patients; in six patients in group B (66.7%), clamping of the main hepatic veins was also performed (mean duration, 37 minutes; range 16 to 68 minutes). Intraoperative blood transfusions were needed in 5 patients (5 of 18, 27.8%): 4 belonged to group A (44.4%) and 1 to group B (11.1%). Mortality was nil and morbidity was 33.3%, involving four patients in group A and two in group B (none related to the exposure, looping, and clamping of the main hepatic veins)., Conclusions: Preliminary control of the main hepatic veins is a safe maneuver. During mesohepatectomy, clamping of these veins, associated with pedicle clamping, is effective in reducing operative bleeding. In our patients, this resulted in a low blood transfusion rate, similar to that of classic major hepatectomies, despite the higher complexity of mesohepatectomy.

Background: The aim of this study was to provide an improved outline of the patterns and correlates of changes in plasma bilirubin after partial hepatectomy., Methods: A large series of blood measurements and complementary variables were prospectively collected from 85 patients undergoing liver resection, and bilirubin correlations were assessed by regression analysis., Results: Early postoperatively, the best simultaneous correlates of increasing bilirubin were the preoperative value, the duration of surgery, and the number of blood transfusions (r2 = 0.74, p < 0.001). Subsequently, increasing bilirubin became related to the number of resected liver segments, the duration of intraoperative liver ischemia, the use of continuous vs. intermittent ischemia, and the presence of sepsis (r2 = 0.82, p < 0.001); these were also the best simultaneous correlates of peak bilirubin. This pattern was characterized by prominently conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, hypocholesterolemia, and moderately increased alkaline phosphatase, and occurred in the absence of obstructive cholestasis., Conclusions: Major hepatectomy, parenchymal ischemia, and sepsis have similar and synergistic impacts as determinants of prominently conjugated hyperbilirubinemia after liver resection. This is likely related to impaired hepatocellular bilirubin transport and occurs in the absence of obstructive components.

This study was performed prospectively to assess the effect of systemic chemotherapy (FOLFIRI protocol) in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and, after performing liver resection in patients with downsized metastases, to compare the postoperative and long-term results with those of patients with primarily resectable CRLM. Records from a prospective database including all consecutive admissions for CRLM between June 2000 and June 2004 were reviewed. The analysis addressed all patients who underwent hepatectomy for primarily resectable CRLM (Group A), or underwent chemotherapy for primarily unresectable CRLM and among these, particularly the patients who were finally resected after downsizing of CRLM (Group B). There were 60 primarily resected patients (Group A). Forty-two other patients underwent chemotherapy; after an average of nine courses, 18 of them (42.8%) with significantly downsized lesions were explored and 15 (35.7%, Group B) were resected, whereas three had peritoneal metastases. Group B differed from Group A for a significantly higher rate of synchronous CRLM upon diagnosis of colorectal cancer, a larger size of CRLM upon evaluation in our center, and a lower rate of major hepatectomies (20.0% vs. 51.6 %) at surgery. No patient in Group B had positive margins of resection. Operative mortality was nil and morbidity was 20.0% in both groups. In Group B vs. Group A median survival after hepatectomy was 46 vs. 47 months (n.s), 3-year survival rate was 73% vs. 71% (n.s.), disease-free survival rate was 31% vs. 58% (p = 0.04) and, at a median follow-up of 34 months, tumor recurrence rate was 53.3% vs. 28.3% (n.s.). Four out of the eight Group B patients with recurrence underwent a re-resection, and were alive at 9 to 67 months after the first resection. These results show that in about one-third of the patients with primarily unresectable CRLM, downsizing of the lesions by chemotherapy (FOLFIRI protocol) permitted a subsequent curative resection. In these patients, operative risk and survival did not differ from the figures observed in primarily resectable patients and, in spite of a lower disease-free survival with more frequent recurrence, re-resection still represented a valid option to continue treatment.

Background: The increase in plasma aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferase after liver resection is multifactorial, and a major problem is the difficult quantification of the impact of each factor involved., Methods: Regression analysis of a large series of measurements for 92 hepatectomy patients was carried out to assess in detail the postoperative evolution of AST and ALT, together with related components., Results: The best correlate of increased AST and ALT on postoperative day 1 was the duration of surgery (T-surg) (r(2)=0.31 and 0.29), with a lower correlation for intraoperative liver ischemia (T-isch) (r(2)=0.22 and 0.17, respectively; p<0.001 for all). Subsequently AST decreased more quickly than ALT and both followed an inverse exponential pattern. T-surg, T-isch, time after surgery and plasma bilirubin explained 77% and 51% of the variability of AST and ALT, respectively, for all postoperative measurements (p<0.001 for both). The best correlate of T-isch was a delayed increase in bilirubin, detected on postoperative day 7, attenuated by the use of intermittent liver ischemia., Conclusions: These data show that T-isch may not be the main determinant of increased transaminases after hepatectomy, and provide a quantitative analysis of the main impact of the trauma of liver resection, liver ischemia, and other factors on the postoperative evolution of transaminases.

Background: Changes in plasma uric acid concentration (UA, mumol/L) in postoperative and critical illness have pathophysiological and clinical relevance and may alter plasma antioxidant capacity. This issue is poorly understood because UA is simultaneously affected by multiple factors with impacts that have never been definitively characterized., Methods: Data from 1050 measurements of UA and additional variables obtained in 151 patients were processed using regression analysis., Results: The main direct correlate of UA was plasma creatinine (Cr), even in the absence of renal failure. UA was also related directly to sodium, glucose, cholesterol, albumin and other variables, and inversely to bilirubin. Postoperatively UA decreased, remaining related to preoperative UA and decreasing further with sepsis. In parenterally fed patients, UA was also inversely related to the amino acid dose. The following best fit explained three-quarters of its variability: UA=85.0(ln Cr, micromol/L)+0.6(preoperative UA)+4.3 (sodium, mmol/L)+5.4(glucose, mmol/L)-0.2(bilirubin, micromol/L)-28.9(amino acid dose, g/kg/day)-935.6; n=231, r(2)=0.74, p<0.0001. A contribution of extremely low UA to impaired plasma antioxidant capacity was suggested in severe sepsis., Conclusions: These data show the combined effect of several factors on UA. The results may help to evaluate changes in UA in the clinical setting and pathophysiological events related to oxidative stress, and provide evidence of impaired plasma antioxidant capacity in severe sepsis.

Port-site recurrence represents a severe complication in the case of incidental gallbladder cancer (ICG) discovered after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and is reported to occur in 17% of cases. For this reason port-sites excision is an essential surgical step during the second operation, which includes liver resection (segments 4b and 5) and lymph node dissection (hepatic pedicle and retroduodeno-pancreatic region). In this article we describe a simple technique to obtain a radical port-site excision with the aim to standardize this surgical step and to perform it in a radical way. Port-sites excision is the accurate and complete excision of the parietal channel created by the trocar during the previous cholecystectomy. This channel is often Z-shaped. In the second operation, the presence of peritoneal adhesions helps to identify exactly the previous site of entry of the trocar in the peritoneal cavity. Trocar reinsertion through the abdominal wall along the correctly identified original path allows the excision of a perfect cylinder of abdominal wall including all of the layers from the skin to the peritoneum.

Objective: We report the case of an external lymphatic fistula that appeared through an abdominal drainage after laparoscopic resection of the rectum and sigmoid colon for cancer, with lymphadenectomy. There was no chylous ascites because of controlled external drainage., Methods: The fistula was managed conservatively by interruption of oral feeding and administration of total parenteral nutrition and subcutaneous octreotide and management then shifted to intravenous somatostatin, with decreased lymph output through the fistula to 100 to 200 mL/d., Results and Conclusion: Somatostatin seemed to be more effective than subcutaneous octreotide. At postoperative day 18, refusal of treatment by the patient with oral resumption of clear liquids resulted in a transient increase in lymph output to 600 mL/d, and treatment was resumed. Subsequently, progressive withdrawal of the abdominal drainage was associated with complete healing of the fistula. The drain was removed at day 28, treatment was interrupted at day 30 after verifying by ultrasound the absence of chyloperitoneum, and the patient was discharged without further problems.