Surgical Complications Requiring an Early Relaparotomy in HIV-Infected Liver Transplant Recipients: Risk Factors and Impact on Survival.

AIM: We aimed to analyze the risk factors for early surgical complications requiring relaparotomy and the related impact on overall survival (OS) in HIV-infected patients submitted to liver transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on a nationwide multicenter cohort of 157 HIV-infected patients submitted to liver transplantation in 6 Italian transplant units between 2004 to 2014. RESULTS: The median preoperative model for end-stage liver disease score was 18 (interquartile range 12-26.5). An early relaparotomy was performed in 24.8% of patients, and the underlying clinical causes were biliary leak (8.2%), bleeding (8.2%), intestinal perforation (4.5%), and suspected vascular complications (3.8%). The OS at 1, 3, and 5 years was 74.3%, 68.0%, and 60.0%, respectively, and an early relaparotomy was not a prognostic factor itself, but an increasing number of relaparotomies was associated with decreased survival (hazard ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.81, P = .01). In the multivariate analysis, preoperative refractory ascites (odds ratio 3.32, 95% CI 1.18-6.47, P = .02) and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy reconstruction (odds ratio 12.712, 95% CI 2.47-65.38, P ≤ .01) were identified as significant risk factors for early relaparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected liver transplant recipients, an increasing number of early relaparotomies due to surgical complications did negatively affect the OS. Preoperative refractory ascites reflecting a severe portal hypertension and a difficult biliary tract reconstruction requiring a Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy were associated with an increased risk of early relaparotomy.

Early post-liver transplant surgical morbidity in HIV-infected recipients: risk factor for overall survival? A nationwide retrospective study.

The aim of the study was to analyse the risk factors for early surgical complications requiring relaparotomy and the related impact on overall survival (OS) in HIV-infected patients submitted to liver transplantation. Thus a retrospective investigation was conducted on a nationwide multicentre cohort of 157 HIV patients submitted to liver transplantation in six Italian Transplant Units between 2004 and 2014. An early relaparotomy was performed in 24.8% of cases and the underlying clinical causes were biliary leak (8.2%), bleeding (8.2%), intestinal perforation (4.5%) and suspect of vascular complications(3.8%). No differences in terms of prevalence for either overall or cause-specific early relaparotomies were noted when compared with a non-HIV control group, matched for MELD, recipient age, HCV-RNA positivity and HBV prevalence. While in the control group an early relaparotomy appeared a negative prognostic factor, such impact on OS was not noted in HIV recipients. Nonetheless increasing number of relaparotomies were associated with decreased survival. In multivariate analysis, preoperative refractory ascites and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy reconstruction were significant risk factors for early relaparotomy. To conclude, in HIV liver transplanted patients, an increasing number of early relaparotomies because of surgical complications does negatively affect the OS. Preoperative refractory ascites reflecting a severe portal hypertension and a difficult biliary tract reconstruction requiring a Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy are associated with increased risk of early relaparotomy.

Very Early Introduction of Everolimus in De Novo Liver Transplantation: Results of a Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Trial.

Early everolimus (EVR) introduction and tacrolimus (TAC) minimization after liver transplantation may represent a novel immunosuppressant approach. This phase 2, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of early EVR initiation. Patients treated with corticosteroids, TAC, and basiliximab were randomized (2:1) to receive EVR (1.5 mg twice daily) on day 8 and to gradually minimize or withdraw TAC when EVR was stable at >5 ng/mL or to continue TAC at 6-12 ng/mL. The primary endpoint was the proportion of treated biopsy-proven acute rejection (tBPAR)-free patients at 3 months after transplant. As secondary endpoints, composite tBPAR plus graft/patient loss rate, renal function, TAC discontinuation rate, and adverse events were assessed. A total of 93 patients were treated with EVR, and 47 were controls. After 3 months from transplantation, 87.1% of patients with EVR and 95.7% of controls were tBPAR-free (P = 0.09); composite endpoint-free patients with EVR were 85% (versus 94%; P = 0.15). Also at 3 months, 37.6% patients were in monotherapy with EVR, and the tBPAR rate was 11.4%. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher with EVR, as early as 2 weeks after randomization. In the study group, higher rates of dyslipidemia (15% versus 6.4%), wound complication (18.32% versus 0%), and incisional hernia (25.8% versus 6.4%) were observed, whereas neurological disorders were more frequent in the control group (13.9% versus 31.9%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, an early EVR introduction and TAC minimization may represent a suitable approach when immediate preservation of renal function is crucial.

Value of HCC-MELD Score in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

CONTEXT: Liver transplantation (LT) is considered the ideal therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) having cirrhosis but the shortage of liver donors and the risk of dropout from the wait list due to tumor progression severely limit transplantation. A new prognostic score, the HCC-model for end-stage liver disease (HCC-MELD), was developed by combining α-fetoprotein (AFP), MELD, and tumor size, to improve risk stratification of dropout in patients with HCC. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the ability of the HCC-MELD score in predicting the posttransplant for patients fulfilling Milan criteria (MC). DESIGN: Two hundred patients with stage II tumor were retrospectively reviewed from a total of 1290 transplants performed at our institution from October 1997 through April 2015. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the prognostic factors impacting the posttransplant survival. RESULTS: Overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 89.3%, 71.1%, and 67.2%, whereas disease-free survival was 86.4%, 66.5%, and 52.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed HCC-MELD score (hazard ratio [HR] 39.6, P < .001) and microvascular invasion (HR 2.41, P = .002) to be independent risk factors for recurrence, whereas HCC diameter (HR 1.15, P = .041), HCC-MELD (HR 15.611, P = .006), and grading (HR 2.17, P = .03) proved to be predictive factors of poor overall survival. CONCLUSION: Our study showed the validity of the HCC-MELD equation in the evaluation of patients undergoing LT for HCC. This score offers a reliable method to assess the risk of waiting list dropout and predict posttransplantation outcomes.

Predictive value of nodule size and differentiation in HCC recurrence after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is considered the best treatment option for HCC patients with cirrhosis. However, the scarce availability of liver donors and the risk of dropout from the waiting list due to the tumor progression severely limit LT for HCC. In this study, we evaluate the survival and recurrence in a cohort of patients undergoing LT for HCC fulfilling "Milan Criteria" (MC) pre-LT. In this study, we propose the development of a new prognostic score which could improve the accuracy in predicting recurrence post-LT. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2011, out of 1010 LT performed in our unit, 131 patients had T2 staged HCC (inside MC). The prognostic model predicting HCC recurrence post-LT was derived from Cox regression analysis. The performance of this model was validated in an external cohort of 198 HCC patients transplanted at another center. RESULTS: Overall survival at 1-3-5 years was 87%, 74.4%, 68.2%, whereas recurrence-free survival was 94.1%, 81.4%, 77.6%, respectively. Predictive factors for recurrence-free survival included high tumor grading (HR 5.01; p = 0.006) and tumor diameter (HR 1.46; p = 0.045). According to this model, the estimated relative risk of HCC recurrence after LT is given by this formula: 0.382 × (Tumor size [cm]) + 1.613 × (if Grading 3-4). The ROC curve was 0.878 (p < 0.001) in predicting HCC recurrence. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study showed that the use of this new prognostic score, taking into account maximal tumor diameter and tumor differentiation, improves the accuracy of Milan criteria in predicting HCC recurrence.

The successful management of a Bronchoesophageal fistula after lung transplantation: a case report.

We describe an unprecedented, disastrous complication after bilateral lung transplantation (BLT), a bilateral bronchial dehiscence with a right bronchoesophageal fistula leading to life-threatening septic shock. We also report the successful endoscopic management of this complication by double stenting and stress the efficacy of the multidisciplinary approach to this critical case.

Extended right split liver graft for primary transplantation in children and adults.

Skepticism remains about the use of the extended right (ER) split graft (segments I, IV-VIII) for adult liver transplantation. We analyzed the results of primary liver transplantation performed with an ER graft in adult and in pediatric recipients. At our Institution, between October 1997 and June 2005, 32 primary liver transplantations with an ER graft were performed in 22 adult and 10 pediatric recipients. All the splitting procedures were performed in situ. Actuarial patient and graft survival among the adult recipients of the ER graft were 100% and 100% at 1 year, and 94% and 94% at 5 years. In the pediatric recipients, patient and graft survival were 90% and 79% both at 1 and 5 years. No hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in the adult group, while in the pediatric recipients HAT occurred in two cases. A higher biliary morbidity occurred in the ER graft group when compared with the whole size graft 34% versus 13% (P = 0.03). However, this did not affect patient and graft survival. The results of this study may represent a further argument in favor of extensive splitting of all suitable grafts.