Impact of Preoperative Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Cholangiography on Postoperative Resection Margin Status in Patients Operated due to Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to analyse the value of 3-dimensional computed tomography cholangiography (3D-ERC) compared to conventional retrograde cholangiography in the preoperative diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) with special regard to the resection margin status (R0/R1). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All hepatic resections performed between January 2011 and November 2013 in patients with HC at the Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery of the RWTH Aachen University Hospital were analysed. All patients underwent an ERC and contrast-enhanced multiphase CT scan or a 3D-ERC. RESULTS: The patient collective was divided into two groups (group ERC: n = 17 and group 3D-ERC: n = 16). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to patient characteristics or intraoperative data. Curative liver resection with R0 status was reached in 88% of patients in group ERC and 87% of patients in group 3D-ERC (p = 1.00). We could not observe any differences with regard to postoperative complications, hospital stay, and mortality rate between both groups. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, preoperative imaging with 3D-ERC has no benefit for operative planning and R0 resection status. It cannot replace the exploration by an experienced surgeon in a centre for hepatobiliary surgery.

Risk factors for morbidity after appendectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the risk factors for postoperative complications after an appendectomy with special regard to both the time period from hospital admission to operation and night time surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent an appendectomy due to acute appendicitis and were admitted to the University Hospital Aachen between January 2003 and January 2014 were included in this retrospective analysis. Regarding the occurrence of postoperative complications, patients were divided into the following two groups: the group with complications (group 1) and the group without complications (group 2). RESULTS: Of the 2136 patients who were included in this study, 165 patients (group 1) exhibited complications, and in 1971 patients (group 2), no complications appeared. After a univariate logistic regression analysis, six predictors for postoperative complications were found and are described as follows: (1) complicated appendicitis (odds ratio (OR) 4.8 (3.46-6.66), p < 0.001), (2) operation at night (OR 1.62 (1.17-2.24), p = 0.004), (3) conversion from laparoscopic to open access (OR 37.08 (12.95-106.17), p < 0.001), (4) an age > 70 years (OR 6.00 (3.64-9.89), p < 0.001), (5) elevated CRP (OR 1.01 (1.01-1.01), p < 0.001) and (6) increased WBC count (OR 1.04 (1.01-1.07), p = 0.003). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, a significant association was demonstrated for complicated appendicitis (1.88 (1.06-3.32), p < 0.031), conversion to open access (OR 16.33 (4.52-58.98), p < 0.001), elevated CRP (OR 1.00 (1.00-1.01), p = 0.017) and an age > 70 years (OR 3.91 (2.12-7.21), p < 0.001). The time interval between hospital admission and operation was not associated with postoperative complications in the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. However, the interaction between complicated appendicitis and the time interval to operation was significant (OR 1.024 (1.00-1.05), p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, surgical delay in the case of appendicitis and operation at night did not increase the risk for postoperative complications. However, the mean waiting time was less than 12 h and patients aged 70 years or older were at a higher risk for postoperative complications. Furthermore, for the subgroup of patients with complicated appendicitis, the time interval to surgery had a significant influence on the occurrence of postoperative complications. Therefore, the contemporary operation depending on the clinical symptoms and patient age remains our recommendation.

Effect of Age on Liver Function in Patients Undergoing Partial Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postresectional liver failure is the most frequent cause of fatal outcome following liver surgery. Diminished preoperative liver function in the elderly might contribute to this. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate preoperative liver function in patients <60 or >70 years of age scheduled for liver resection. METHODS: All consecutive patients aged <60 or >70 years who are about to undergo elective liver surgery between 2011 and 2013 and underwent the methacetin breath liver function test (LiMAx) preoperatively were included. Histologic assessment of the resected liver gave insight into background liver disease. Correlation between age and liver function was calculated with Pearson's test. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were included, 31 were aged <60 and 28 were aged >70 years. General patient characteristics and liver function LiMAx values (340 (137-594) vs. 349 (191-530) µg/kg/h, p = 0.699) were not significantly different between patients aged <60 and >70 years. Moreover, no correlation between age and preoperative liver function LiMAx values was found (R = 0.04, p = 0.810). CONCLUSION: Liver function did not seem to differ between younger and older patients.

ALPPS Procedure in Insufficient Hypertrophy After Portal Vein Embolization (PVE).

BACKGROUND: The main limiting factor for major liver resections is the volume and function of the future remnant liver (FLR). Portal vein embolization (PVE) is now standard in most centers for preoperative hypertrophy of FLR. However, it has a failure rate of about 20-30 %. In these cases, the "Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy" (ALPPS) may represent a suitable and possibly the only alternative. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of nine patients who had ALPPS following an insufficient hypertrophy after PVE. Computed tomography volumetry were performed before and after PVE as well as the first step of ALPPS. Furthermore, complications, 30-day mortality and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: The FLR volume rose significantly by 77.7 ± 40.7 % (FLR/TLV: 34.9 ± 9.7 %) as early as 9 days after the first stage despite insufficient hypertrophy after preoperative portal vein embolization. Major complications (Grade > IIIb) occurred in 33 % of the patients, and 30-day mortality was 11.1 %. The OS at 1 and 2 years was 78 and 44 %. Four patients are presently still alive at a median of 33.4 (range 15-48) months (survival rate 44.4 %). CONCLUSION: The ALPPS procedure could be a suitable alternative for patients following insufficient PVE or indeed the last chance of a potentially curative treatment in this situation. Nevertheless, the high morbidity and mortality rates and the lack of data on the long-term oncological outcome must also be taken into account.

Ischemic-type biliary lesions after ortothopic liver transplantation: diagnosis with magnetic resonance cholangiography.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography for detection of ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) following orthotropic liver transplantation (OLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR cholangiography was performed in 16 patients with established diagnosis of ITBL following OLT. Two blinded observers reviewed all images in consensus and recorded diagnostic features including presence of intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary strictures, dilatations, beading, pruning, and filling defects. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy of MR cholangiography were calculated. Final diagnosis was established at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. RESULTS: MR cholangiography proved to be a valuable tool for the detection of stenoses and dilatations in patients with ITBL following OLT. Sensitivity of the different diagnostic features ranged between 71% and 100%, specificity between 50% and 100%, accuracy between 81% and 100%, and positive predictive value between 87% and 100%. CONCLUSION: MR cholangiography proved to be an accurate imaging technique to noninvasively detect biliary complications in patients with ITBL after OLT.

[Magnetic resonance cholangiographic (MRCP) features of ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL): a case-control study]. / Magnetresonanz-Cholangiografie (MRCP) bei Patienten mit Ischemic-Type Biliary Lesions (ITBL): eine Fall-Kontroll-Studie.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the spectrum of MR cholangiography (MRCP) features of ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients (16 m, 14 f) with an average age of 52 years (9 - 69 y) were examined in two 1.5 MR units using breath-hold 2D-SS-FSE-sequences and 3D-MRCP sequences. 20 of the 30 patients had an established ITBL, and the remaining 10 patients were post-OLT controls. MRCPs were evaluated independently by two experienced radiologists that were blinded to the clinical history as well as the results of other imaging modalities. All images were analyzed for the presence of 16 different pathological features. Differences between ITBL patients and controls were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney-U Test. Inter-rater variability was tested using the Cohen's Kappa test. RESULTS: Abnormal findings of bile ducts were seen in all patients. The most common findings were (in percentage for reader 1 / 2) intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (95 % / 95 %) and extrahepatic bile duct stenoses (95 % / 85 %), followed by intrahepatic main duct stenoses (90 % / 95 %) and segmental duct stenoses (85 % / 85 %). Differences between ITBL patients and controls were significant for most of the analyzed features (Mann-Whitney-U test, p < 0.05). For 12 of 16 features, there was substantial or almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.61 - 1.00), for 2 of 16 features moderate agreement (κ = 0.41- 0.60) and for 2 of 16 features fair agreement (κ < 0.40). CONCLUSION: In patients with ITBL, MR cholangiography reveals characteristic features that may allow differentiation from other biliary complications after liver transplantation.

Strategies for diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic tracheal ruptures.

BACKGROUND: Management of tracheal ruptures in critically ill patients is challenging. Conservative treatment has been described, but in mechanically ventilated patients with distal tracheal ruptures surgical repair might be inevitable. Strategies for diagnosis and treatment of tracheal ruptures and handling of mechanical ventilation remain to be clarified. Our aim was to comprise a structured diagnostic and treatment protocol for patients suspicious of tracheal injury, including detailed principles of mechanical ventilation and specific indications for conservative or surgical treatment. METHODS: Patients with tracheal ruptures were compared in accordance to the need of mechanical ventilation and to indication for surgical repair. In patients suffering from tracheal ruptures affecting the whole tracheal wall and with protrusion of mediastinal structures into the lumen surgery was indicated. We compared ventilatory, hemodynamic and clinical parameters between the different patient groups. We report our structured approach in diagnostics and treatment of tracheal ruptures and place special emphasis on respiratory management. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with tracheal rupture were identified. In 8 patients surgical repair was performed 1.8±1.5 days after diagnosis. Previous to surgery, ventilation parameters improved significantly: plateau pressure decreased, percentage of assisted spontaneous breathing increased and compliance improved. Conservative treatment was successful in long-term ventilated patients (13.7±8 days) even when suffering from distal lesions. CONCLUSION: Invasiveness of mechanical ventilation and obstruction of tracheal lumen might indicate conservative or surgical treatment strategies in long-term ventilated patients suffering from iatrogenic tracheal rupture. Indications for surgical repair remain to be further clarified.

Liver transplantation for alcohol-related cirrhosis: a single centre long-term clinical and histological follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation today. Due to the general organ shortage and continuous deaths on the waiting list there has been some debate on the issue of indication and ethical problems. It was the aim of this study to critically analyse the outcome of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis transplanted at our centre with special emphasis on alcohol-recurrence frequency and long-term histological follow-up. METHODS: Three hundred five patients who received LT for alcoholic cirrhosis at our institution were followed over a period of 3-10 years after transplantation. Biopsies were taken 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after LT. Specimens were analysed and staged concerning inflammation, rejection, fatty involution, and fibrosis/cirrhosis. Clinical characteristics as well as serological parameters, immunosuppressive protocols, rejection episodes, and patient and graft survival were recorded. RESULTS: Recurrence of alcohol abuse occurred in 27% of all patients analysed. Regardless of alcohol consumption, 5-year graft and patient survival were excellent; after 10 years abstinent patients showed significantly better survival (82% vs. 68%; P=0.017). Histological changes were slightly more pronounced among recurrent drinkers, no significant difference regarding inflammation or fibrosis was detected. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing LT for alcohol-induced cirrhosis show excellent long-term survival rates with stable graft function. Alcohol recurrence impairs long-term prognosis; however, compared to other patient sub-populations (HCC, HCV) results are clearly above average.

[Hepatobiliary anastomosis techniques]. / Hepatobiliäre Anastomosentechniken.

The success of hepatobiliary anastomoses is influenced by the diameter of the bile duct, the location within the biliary tract, the situation of primary or revision surgery and accompanying infections. The exact preoperative diagnostics of the anatomy of the biliary tract are indispensable for low complication rates. Within reconstructive surgery, hepaticojejunostomy has been established as the standard technique and a biliodigestive anastomosis is performed proximal to the cystic duct and 2-3 cm below the fork in the hepatic duct. In general, end-to-end anastomoses of the common bile duct are not recommended due to the high risk for stenosis. Within the liver hilus an exact preparation of all tubular structures is mandatory. With regard to possible perioperative complications operations on the hepatic duct or segmental bile ducts should be performed in specialized centers. Methods of drainage in hepatobiliary surgery are percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD), internal-external drainage, internal drainage with endoscopic or surgically placed stents, external-internal-external drainage and the T-drain.

Bronchial fistulae in ARDS patients: management with an extracorporeal lung assist device.

Patients with bronchial tree lesions feature, in particular, a high risk for developing bronchial fistulae after surgical repair when the clinical situation is complicated by acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and mechanical ventilation is needed. The current authors hypothesised that extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal would significantly decrease inspiratory airway pressures, thus promoting the protection of surgical bronchial reconstruction. Four patients were studied after surgical reconstruction of bronchial fistulae in whom ALI/ARDS developed and mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure was required. Gas exchange, tidal volumes, airway pressures, respiratory frequency, vasopressor and sedation requirements were analysed before and after initiation of a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist device (pECLA; NovaLung, Talheim, Germany). Initiation of pECLA treatment enabled a reduction of inspiratory plateau airway pressures from 32.4 to 28.6 cmH(2)O (3.2 to 2.8 kPa), effectively treated hypercapnia (from 73.6 to 53.4 mmHg (9.8 to 7.1 kPa)) and abolished respiratory acidosis (from pH 7.24 to 7.41). All patients survived and were discharged to rehabilitation clinics. In patients after surgical bronchial reconstruction that was complicated by acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, use of pumpless extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal was safe and efficient. Initiation of a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist device enabled a less invasive ventilator management, which may have contributed to healing of surgical bronchial repair.

PEG-hirudin/iloprost coating of small diameter ePTFE grafts effectively prevents pseudointima and intimal hyperplasia development.

OBJECTIVES: Small diameter PTFE grafts are prone to thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia development. Heparin graft coating has beneficial effects but also potential drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the experimental efficacy of PEG-hirudin/iloprost coated small caliber PTFE grafts. METHODS: Thirty-six femoro-popliteal ePTFE grafts (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, diameter 4 mm) were inserted into 18 pigs. Grafts were randomised individually for each leg and grouped for 3 groups. Group I consisted of native ePTFE grafts, group II were grafts coated with a polylactide polymer (PLA) without drugs and group III grafts were coated with PLA containing a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-hirudin/iloprost combination. The follow-up period was 6 weeks. Patency rates were calculated and development of pseudointima inside the grafts was noted. Thickness of intimal hyperplasia at the distal anastomoses was measured using light microscopy. RESULTS: Patency rates for group I were 6/9 (67%), for group II 9/10 (90%) and 12/12 (100%) for group III. In groups I and II there was a significant reduction of blood flow proximal to the graft at graft harvest, to 29+/-12 and 28+/-20 ml/min respectively (both p<0.01 versus preoperative value), whilst in group III blood flow, 99+/-21 ml/min, remained at the preoperative level. Subtotal stenosis due to development of pseudointima was noted in each of the native and PLA coated grafts but not in group III grafts. Intimal hyperplasia at the distal anastomosis was lowest in group III. CONCLUSIONS: The PEG-hirudin/iloprost coating of ePTFE prostheses effectively reduced pseudointima and intimal hyperplasia development and led to superior graft patency.