Intraoperative stent placement for the treatment of acute portal vein complications in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: Pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in low weight recipients remains one of the most complex surgical procedures, with portal vein (PV) complications occurring in up to 19% of cases. When decreased PV flow is diagnosed intra- or perioperatively, intraoperative stent placement is a good substitute for surgical adjustment. Still, at the present moment, little is known about the technical feasibility, safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome of intraoperative stenting in LDLT. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2017, seven pediatric recipients underwent PV stent placement during the transplant or in the immediate post-operative setting. Preoperative, operative, and post-operative parameters were documented retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, nine stents were placed in seven patients. Procedures were technically successful in all patients. During the mean imaging follow-up period of 1313 days, none of the patients showed PV abnormality and PV stent remained patent throughout the post-transplant course. There were no deaths or graft loses during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative stenting through the inferior mesenteric vein approach offers both a high feasibility and satisfactory results, with the potential for excellent long-term primary patency despite continued growth in children.

Laparoscopic Transcystic Common Bile Duct Exploration in the Emergency Is as Effective and Safe as in Elective Setting.

BACKGROUND: Emergent laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE) has been reported to be on the increase in some institutions, reflecting the growing confidence with the technique. However, no study has focused on the outcomes of LTCBDE in the non-elective setting. The aim of this study is to investigate whether LTCBDE can be performed effectively and safely in the emergency. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 500 consecutive patients with choledocholithiasis subjected for LTCBDE at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires from January 2009 to January 2018. Procedures were classified according to the setting as emergent or elective. Demographic data and perioperative parameters were compared between groups. RESULTS: Throughout the period comprised, 500 patients were admitted for choledocholithiasis and gallstones. A single-step treatment combining LTCBDE and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted: 211 (42.2%) were performed electively and the 289 (57.8%) as an emergency. There was no significant difference in the success rate of LTCBDE (93.9% versus 93.8%, p = 0.975) for the two groups. The operative time was slightly longer in the emergency group (122 ± 63 versus 106 ± 53 min, p = 0.002). Postoperative recovery was slower in the emergency group, as reflected by a higher rate of prolonged postoperative stay (21.1% vs 5.7%, p < .001). The rates of postoperative complications were similar between groups (2.8% vs 5.9%, p = 0.109). CONCLUSION: Emergent LTCBDE can be performed with equivalent efficacy and morbidity when compared to an elective procedure. Patients undergoing emergent procedures have longer procedures and hospital stays.

Acute Pancreatitis After Laparoscopic Transcystic Common Bile Duct Exploration: An Analysis of Predisposing Factors in 447 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: In laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE), the risk of acute pancreatitis (AP) is well recognized. The present study assesses the incidence, risk factors, and clinical impact of AP in patients with choledocholithiasis treated with LTCBDE. METHODS: A retrospective database was completed including patients who underwent LTCBDE between 2007 and 2017. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by logistic regression. RESULTS: After exclusion criteria, 447 patients were identified. There were 70 patients (15.7%) who showed post-procedure hyperamylasemia, including 20 patients (4.5%) who developed post-LTCBDE AP. Of these, 19 were edematous and one was a necrotizing pancreatitis. Patients with post-LTCBDE AP were statistically more likely to have leukocytosis (p < 0.004) and jaundice (p = 0.019) before surgery and longer operative times (OT, p < 0.001); they were less likely to have incidental intraoperative diagnosis (p = 0.031) or to have biliary colic as the reason for surgery (p = 0.031). In the final multivariate model, leukocytosis (p = 0.013) and OT (p < 0.001) remained significant predictors for AP. Mean postoperative hospital stay (HS) was significantly longer in AP group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The risk of AP is moderate and should be considered in patients with preoperative leukocytosis and jaundice and exposed to longer OT. AP has a strong impact on postoperative HS.

Risk factors and outcomes of pyogenic liver abscess in adult liver recipients: a matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Adult liver recipients (ALR) differ from the general population with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) as they exhibit: reconstructed biliary anatomy, recurrent hospitalizations, poor clinical condition and are subjected to immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with PLA in ALR and to analyze the management experience of these patients. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2016, 879 adult patients underwent liver transplantation (LT), 26 of whom developed PLA. Patients and controls were matched according to the time from transplant to abscess in a 1 to 5 relation. A logistic regression model was performed to establish PLA risk factors considering clusters for matched cases and controls. Risk factors were identified and a multivariate regression analysis performed. RESULTS: Patients with post-LT PLA were more likely to have lower BMI (p = 0.006), renal failure (p = 0.031) and to have undergone retransplantation (p = 0.002). A history of hepatic artery thrombosis (p = 0.010), the presence of Roux en-Y hepatojejunostomy (p < 0.001) and longer organ ischemia time (p = 0.009) were independent predictors for the development of post-LT PLA. Five-year survival was 49% (95%CI 28-67%) and 89% (95%CI 78%-94%) for post-LT PLA and no post-LT PLA, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: history of hepatic artery thrombosis, the presence of hepatojejunostomy and a longer ischemia time represent independent predictors for the development of post-LT PLA. There was a significantly poorer survival in patients who developed post-LT PLA compared with those who did not.

Sodium hydroxide as a sclerosing agent in patients with neoplastic pleural effusion non-candidates for VATS: results of a minimally invasive protocol.

Symptomatic neoplastic pleural effusion (SNPE) is a significant cause of morbidity in patients with advanced neoplastic disease. These patients often present a deteriorated general condition which prevents them from undergoing pleurodesis with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We developed a minimally invasive therapeutic protocol specially designed for this population, achieved by combining chemical pleurodesis with placement of small-bore pleural catheters (PC), which resulted in early hospital discharge, low morbimortality and good therapeutic results. This study reports the safety and efficacy of administration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) through PC in 60 patients diagnosed with SNPE who were admitted to Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires between January 2012 and December 2015. Successful pleurodesis was achieved in 96% of procedures. Recurrence occurred in 25% of patients during follow-up, with recurrence occurring earlier than 30 days after pleurodesis in 8% of patients. There were no reports of major morbidity or associated mortality. In total, 44% of patients were discharged within 48 h of pleurodesis. Administration of NaOH through a small-bore PC represents an effective and safe method of pleurodesis in patients who are not candidates for talc pleurodesis by VATS.

Percutaneous Biliary Balloon Dilation: Impact of an Institutional Three-Session Protocol on Patients with Benign Anastomotic Strictures of Hepatojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous biliary balloon dilation (PBBD) stands as a safe, useful, and inexpensive treatment procedure performed on patients with benign anastomotic stricture of Roux-en-Y hepatojejunostomy (BASH). However, the optimal mode of application is still under discussion. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients admitted between 2008 and 2015 with diagnosis of BASH. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I (n = 22), included patients treated after the implementation of an institutional protocol of 3 PBBD sessions within a fixed time interval and group II (n = 24) consisted of our historical control of patients who underwent one or 2 dilation sessions. Patency at one-year post procedure was assessed with the classification proposed by Schweizer. Symptomatic response to treatment was analyzed using the Terblanche classification. RESULTS: Patients in group I exhibited more excellent/good results (90 vs. 50%, p = 0.003) and less poor results (5 vs. 42%, p = 0.005) according to the Schweizer classification and more grade I/excellent results according to Terblanche classification (p = 0.003). Additionally, group I showed lower serum total bilirubin (p = 0.001), direct bilirubin (p = 0.002), alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.322), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.029), and alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: A protocol of 3 consecutive PBBD sessions within a fixed time interval may yield a high rate of patency, with a positive clinical, biochemical, and radiological impact on patients with BASH.

Pyogenic liver abscess: current status and predictive factors for recurrence and mortality of first episodes.

BACKGROUND: In times of modern surgery, transplantation and percutaneous techniques, pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has essentially become a problem of biliary or iatrogenic origin. In the current scenario, diagnostic approach, clinical behavior and therapeutic outcomes have not been profoundly studied. This study analyzes the clinical and microbiological features, diagnostic methods, therapeutic management and predictive factors for recurrence and mortality of first episodes of PLA. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted including 142 patients admitted to the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, between 2005 and 2015 with first episodes of PLA. RESULTS: Prevailing identifiable causes were biliary diseases (47.9%) followed by non-biliary percutaneous procedures (NBIPLA, 15.5%). Seventeen patients (12%) were liver recipients. Eleven patients (7.8%) died and 18 patients (13.7%) had recurrence in the first year of follow up. The isolation of multiresistant organisms (p = 0.041) and a history of cholangitis (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrence. Mortality was associated with serum bilirubin >5 mg/dL (p = 0.022) and bilateral involvement (p = 0.014) in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: NBPLA and PLA after transplantation may be increasing among the population of PLA in referral centers. History of cholangitis is a strong predictor for recurrence. Mortality is associated to hiperbilirrubinemia and anatomical distribution of the lesions.