Morbidity analysis of left hepatic trisectionectomy for hepatobiliary disease and live donor.

BACKGROUND: Despite remarkable advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, left hepatic trisectionectomy (LHT) remains a challenging procedure with a somewhat high postoperative morbidity rate compared with less-extensive resections. This study aimed to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of LHT and identify factors associated with the postoperative morbidity of this technically demanding surgical procedure. METHODS: The medical records of 53 patients who underwent LHT between June 2005 and October 2019 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. The independent prognostic factor of postoperative morbidity was analyzed using the logistic regression model. RESULTS: Hepatocellular carcinoma was the most common indication for surgery (n = 21), followed by hilar cholangiocarcinoma (n = 14), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 10), and other pathologies (including colorectal liver metastasis, hepatolithiasis, gallbladder cancer, living donor, hemangioma, and multilocular biliary cyst; n = 8). The rates of postoperative morbidities of Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher and 90-day mortality were 39.6% and 1.9%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 81.1%, 61.4%, and 44.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative jaundice [hazard ratio (HR) = 6.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-24.17, P = 0.009] and operative time > 420 min (HR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.27-17.17, P = 0.021) were independent predictors of postoperative morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The in-hospital mortality of LHT surgery can be minimalized by a reliable preoperative evaluation of liver function and selection of the dominant anatomic features of right posterior sector, active and appropriate preoperative management for obstructive cholangitis and compensatory hypertrophy of the future remnant posterior sector, and the experience of the surgeon.

Half-mirror biofeedback exercise in combination with three botulinum toxin A injections for long-lasting treatment of facial sequelae after facial paralysis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The present study was conducted to develop a new method for maintaining the effect of botulinum toxin treatment for facial sequelae. We used a combination strategy including the administration of botulinum toxin three times at 6-8-month intervals followed by daily newly developed half-mirror biofeedback rehabilitation for about 2 years from the first injection. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective study. METHODS: Seventeen patients with unilateral facial palsy for >1 year were included in the study. The amount injected per site varied from 1.5 to 3 U. The purpose of the first injection was to reduce the most inconvenient facial problem such as facial synkinesis or hyperkinetic movement at the points of the periocular area and the zygomaticus major and minor muscles with an average dosage of 17.4 ± 13.9 U. The second injection was to enhance facial symmetry at prominent hypertrophic areas on the contralateral side with 36.5 ± 15.4 U, and the third injection was to add cosmetic configuration at the points of deep furrows and creases caused by facial muscular hyperkinesis or atrophy with 15.6 ± 8.4 U. RESULT: After three injections of botulinum toxin A and 2 years of half-mirror biofeedback exercises, all patients showed marked relief of facial synkinesis and facial asymmetry. Before treatment, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) Sunnybrook (SB) score was 36.8 ± 8.76. After the first injection, the score increased by 11.4. After the second injection, the score increased by 14.6; it further increased by 15.6 after the third injection. CONCLUSION: This facial rehabilitation strategy, consisting of three injections of botulinum toxin and half-mirror biofeedback exercises, proceeds over the course of 2 years and offers a long-lasting cure for facial synkinesis and facial symmetry as well as improved facial aesthetics.

Relationship between electrically evoked auditory brainstem response and auditory performance after cochlear implant in patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pattern of electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR) in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) patients and to compare their performances with controls. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Eleven patients with ANSD and 9 control subjects with sensorineural hearing loss who did not have neural pathology. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients and control subjects each received a cochlear implant (CI) and underwent EABR. EABR threshold, wave V latency, and amplitude were measured as EABR parameters. The results of EABR were categorized as good response, variable response, or no response. Speech perception ability was assessed by the categories of auditory performance (CAP) score. RESULTS: All controls responded to EABR, whereas 6 of the 11 ANSD patients did not respond to EABR. The EABR threshold of the ANSD patients was measured almost within the value of disease controls. However, the Wave V latency displayed variable lengths, and the amplitude showed a wider distribution compared with the value of the disease control. The EABR response group among the ANSD patients showed relatively good performance after CI. In contrast, the nonresponse group demonstrated variable outcomes, although all of them still benefited from CI. CONCLUSION: The data suggested that all ANSD patients require CI and that EABR results can help establish realistic expectations about future performance. Even if electrical stimulation fails to generate sufficiently synchronized signal for eliciting EABR, CI provides at least partial, measurable auditory benefit in ANSD.

Botulinum toxin injection of both sides of the face to treat post-paralytic facial synkinesis.

OBJECTIVE: An attempt has been made to produce a new 'balance' in facial dynamics between a paralysed and a non-paralysed face with reduction of synkinesis, by concomitant injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) on both sides in patients with long-lasting facial sequelae. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients who recovered partially from facial nerve paralysis were enrolled for this study. The amount injected per site of the paralysed side with synkinesis varied from 1.5 to 2.5 U, and the total dose used per patient was 10-26 U (mean 17.12±5.3 U). That of the non-paralysed side with muscular hypertrophy varied from 2.5 to 5 U, and the total dose used per patient was 35-72 U (mean 52.6±9.7 U). All patients had been evaluated by the Sunnybrook (SB) facial nerve grading systems and developed dynamic facial asymmetry ratio. RESULTS: After administration of injection of BTX-A on both sides of the face, relief of facial synkinesis and enhancement of facial symmetry were observed in all patients. Before the injection, the patients showed an SB score of 38.8±10.68. After the injection, changes of synkinesis and symmetry score were 7.9±1.81 and 8.4±3.25, respectively, resulting in a 58.4±12.46 score at the last evaluation. Before the administration, the mean±standard deviation (SD) value of dynamic facial asymmetry was 0.83±0.06 and it was increased significantly to 0.90±0.05 1 month after administration. CONCLUSION: After BTX-A injection on both sides for synkinesis and contralateral hypertrophy, the patients showed significant suppression of the synkinesis and improvement of facial symmetry with resulting elevated quality of life, social interaction, personal appearance and food intake.