[Study on the application of self-fixing and self-detachable drainage stent in pancreaticojejunostomy].

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the self-fixing and self-detachable drainage stent in pancreaticojejunostomy and to provide supportive data for the follow clinical trials. Methods: This is an experimental research in animals which completed from February 2022 to September 2022. A self-fixing and self-detachable pancreaticojejunostomy drainage stent was designed for Hong's pancreaticojejunostomy technique based on the theory of "fistula healing" in pancreaticojejunostomy. Ten biocompatibility tests were completed in vitro before this study. Twenty-five Bama minipigs were selected and double-ligated in the neck of the pancreas to dilate the distal main pancreatic duct. Twenty-three of them were successfully modelled and divided into three groups by a stratified random method: pancreaticojejunostomy drainage stent group (referred to as stent group) with 11 pigs, pancreatic duct to jejunal mucosa anastomosis group (referred to as manual suture group) with 8 pigs, sham operation group with 4 pigs. The anastomic time,amylase content in postoperative abdominal drainage fluid and the tolerable pressure value of pancreaticojejunostomy were compared between the stent group and the manual suture. An abdominal X-ray fluoroscopy examination was adopted to detect the detach time of the stent. A postoperative pathological examination was performed to verify the healing time,the type of treatment and the stricture rate of pancreaticojejunostomy. Quantitative data was analyzed by independent sample t-test. The classified data were analyzed by Pearson χ2 test. Results: There were no significant differences in the diameter of the pancreatic duct and pancreatic texture,the time of pancreaticojejunostomy,the amylase content in postoperative peritoneal drainage fluid,and the tolerable pressure value of the pancreaticojejunostomy between the stent group and the manual suture group(all P>0.05). Abdominal X-ray fluoroscopy showed that the stents gradually detached and were removed from the body 21 days after operation,and all stents were detached in the follow 3 months after operation. Pancreaticojejunostomy healed 7 days after operation based on fistula formation in the stent group,and 14 days in the manual suture group. The incidence of anastomotic stricture within 35 days after operation was 2/8 in the stent group and 6/8 in the manual suture group (χ2=4.000,P=0.046). Conclusion: The stent method is safer and simpler than the manual suture method in pancreaticojejunostomy of Bama minipigs, with shorter anastomotic healing time and lower stricture rate.

[Advancements and controversies in conversion therapy for biliary tract malignant tumors with insufficient future liver remnant].

Due to the unique location and aggressive tumor biology,hilar cholangiocarcinoma,intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,and gallbladder cancer often present with obstructive jaundice and require extensive liver resection,also exhibit high rates of recurrence and metastasis after radical excision. Therefore,surgeons should make treatment decisions based on the biliary anatomy of patients and the biological characteristics of tumors as it significantly affects patient's prognosis. Treatment strategy should be made to ensure the successful implementation of radical resection for biliary tract malignant tumors while maximizing the survival benefits of patients. Firstly,conversion of liver function by relieving jaundice technology and conversion of tumor biological characteristics through systematic therapy,followed by the conversion of future liver remnant. Currently,there are still controversies surrounding indications,methods,standards of relieving jaundice,and treatment plans,cycles,evaluation of therapeutic effects for systematic conversion therapy,and the standards and techniques of conversion therapy for future liver remnant.This article discusses these issues through literature analysis and the author's experience in the hope of resonating with colleagues.

[Progress in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava].

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common malignancies of the digestive system,which is prone to be associated with microvascular or macrovascular invasion. Among them,HCC with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus(IVCTT) or right atrium tumor thrombus(RATT) is rare and has a poor prognosis. However,surgical treatment of HCC with IVCTT and (or) RATT is rarely reported and summarized. The review described the classification of HCC tumor thrombus with IVCTT and (or) RATT, summarized the progress of surgical approaches and surgical operations,and introduced a case of thrombectomy after pushing from the outer surface of the atrium,rendering the RATT to the inferior vena cava under non-cardiopulmonary bypass. The review also proposed the prospective treatments for HCC with IVCTT or RATT,providing clinical guidance to hepatobiliary surgeons.

[The clinical value of radical resection of retroperitoneal lipo-lymphatic layer for pancreatic head cancer].

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of the novel approach,radical resection of the retroperitoneal lipo-lymphatic layer (RRRLLL),in the surgical treatment of resectable pancreatic head cancer. Methods: Between June 2020 and June 2022,a total of 221 patients with pancreatic head cancer underwent surgical treatment using the RRRLLL approach(RRRLLL group),while 107 patients received traditional surgical treatment(traditional group) in five high-volume pancreatic centers in China. Data from surgical technique and clinical perioperative outcomes,including lymph node harvested,surgical time,and complications,were analyzed. The RRRLLL group consisted of 144 males and 77 females with an age of (67.5±9.0) years(range:41.3 to 81.1 years). The traditional group included 71 males and 36 females,with an age of (66.3±8.1) years(range:45.1 to 79.2 years). Statistical analysis was performed using the K-S test,Z test,or χ2 test. Results: Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed successfully in all patients,achieving R0 resection. RRRLLL group surgery required mobilization of retroperitoneal adipose and lymphatic tissues starting from the right edge of the inferior vena cava and extending to the left side,up to the superior mesenteric artery,down to the inferior mesenteric artery,and left to the left side of the aorta,including the perineural and lymphatic tissues around the superior mesenteric artery and the sheath of the mesenteric artery. However,the traditional group did not include the areas mentioned above in the scope of clearance. There were no statistically significant differences between the RRRLLL group and the traditional group in terms of age,sex,tumor size,T stage,and vascular invasion (all P>0.05). However,the number of lymph nodes harvested in the RRRLLL group was significantly higher at 28.7±9.0 (range: 18 to 39) compared to 18.2±8.0 (range: 12 to 21) in the traditional group (Z=-10.691,P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the number of positive lymph nodes,N staging,and postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusion: The RRRLLL approach improved lymph node dissection compared to the traditional approach,potentially leading to reduced recurrence rates.

[Application of membrane anatomy in hepatopancreatobiliary and splenic surgery].

Understanding of a variety of membranous structures throughout the body,such as the fascia,the serous membrane,is of great importance to surgeons. This is especially valuable in abdominal surgery. With the rise of membrane theory in recent years,membrane anatomy has been widely recognized in the treatment of abdominal tumors,especially of gastrointestinal tumors. In clinical practice. The appropriate choice of intramembranous or extramembranous anatomy is appropriate to achieve precision surgery. Based on the current research results,this article described the application of membrane anatomy in the field of hepatobiliary surgery,pancreatic surgery,and splenic surgery,with the aim of blazed the path from modest beginnings.

[Ten-year retrospect of ALPPS in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma:an eternal concept with cautious technologic choice].

Clinical practice using associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy(ALPPS) or its modified procedures in treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) with insufficient future liver remnant(FLR) in the past 10 years has failed to meet our expectations both in achieving decreased perioperative complications and mortality.The efficacy of ALPPS in improving long-term survival outcome of HCC still remains poor.Due to the trauma of two surgery within a short period,and patients with inadequate FLR are all diagnosed at advanced disease stages,ALPPS can only achieve surgical rather than biological tumor-curability.Previous studies have demonstrated comparable 5-year survival rates between early and advanced stages of HCC who underwent regional treatments.Therefore,tumor biological conversion is the key strategy prior to liver remnant volume conversion in improving treatment outcomes for HCC patients with insufficient FLR.Target therapy,immunotherapy together with locally treatment were expected to improve the conversion efficacy.Looking back at the development of ALPPS for the last decade,the rapid proliferation of FLR should be passed on,while the technology costs high risks and result in poor long-term outcome must be cautiously selected.

[The clinical value of terminal branches portal vein embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with insufficient future liver remnant].

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of terminal branches portal vein embolization(TBPVE) for the increment of FLR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and to introduce its clinical value with transcatheter chemoembolization(TACE) in the treatment of HCC patients without surgery. Methods: One hundred and fifty HCC patients from three clinical centers of china underwent TBPVE technique from December 2016 to May 2021,including 89 males and 61 females. The average age was 51.9 years(range:18 to 79 years).One hundred and one patients were diagnosed with a background of HBV infection,including 27 patients with portal venous hypertension.TACE was performed simultaneously with TBPVE in 102 patients.Fifty-three patients underwent hepatectomy,who were subdivided into HBV positive and HBV negative groups,with TACE and without TACE groups to analyze the increment of future liver remnant (FLR), complications and survival data.These data were also analyzed in other 97 patients without hepatectomy. Results: All the patients reached adequate FLR successfully in 14 days after TBPVE including patients with portal venous hypertension.The average increment rates of FLR was 56.2% in 7 days and 57.8% in 14 days after TBPVE. There was no significant difference neither between HBV positive and HBV negative groups(7 days:(55.0±27.3)% vs.(57.8±20.9)%,t=0.885,P=0.373; 14 days:(57.3±24.6)% vs.(58.3±23.7)%;t=0.801,P=0.447),or between with TACE and without TACE groups(7 days:(62.3±26.3)% vs. (48.8±20.6)%;t=1.788,P=0.077;14 days:(64.4±25.0)% vs.(55.2±23.1)%;t=1.097,P=0.257).The morbidity and mortality rates were 20.8% and 1.9% in patients with hepatectomy.The 1-,3-year overall survival(OS) and disease-free(DFS) rates were 87.5%,64.5% and 64.7%,40.6% for patients underwent surgery.There was no significant difference of 1-,3-year OS and DFS between HBV positive and negative groups,but there were different between TACE and without TACE groups.The 1-,3-year OS for patients underwent TBPVE and TACE but without surgery were 80.1%, 53.7%. Conclusion: TBPVE is a good alternative technique for modulation of FLR for staged hepatectomy even in HBV positive HCC patients and can be applied with TACE procedure simultaneously as an option treatment for patients with no intend to surgery.

[The new classifications of biliary tract diseases based on actual anatomy].

In order to facilitate the treatment strategies for biliary tract injury, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct tumor thrombus, cholangiocellular carcinoma and bile duct cystic dilatation, many classifications have been made, even more than 10 types for one disease. Each type is represented by numbers or English alphabet, which are not only confusing but also difficult to remember. The Academician Mengchao Wu divided the liver into five sections and four segments base on its anatomy, this classification is very direct and visual, thus had been using till now. In order to overcome those complicated problems, it is considered to develop a new classification based on actual anatomic location similar to that for liver cancer, which is easy to remember and to directly determine the treatment strategy. All kinds of classifications have their own characteristics and advantages and disadvantages. This practical classifications avoid the complexity and may be useful for clinicians.

Cisplatin induces apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma LM3 cells via down-regulation of XIAP.

OBJECTIVE: Cisplatin is an important anti-cancer drug. However, the molecular mechanism of cisplatin on inhibition of the proliferation of liver cancer cells is unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the regulatory role of cisplatin on the growth and apoptosis of hepatoma LM3 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LM3 cells were treated with cisplatin (2 µmol/L) for 48 h. MTT assay, flow cytometry, and caspase-3 activity assay were used to detect the growth, proliferation and apoptosis of LM3 cells. Western blot was applied to detect the expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein, XIAP. siRNA was used to knockdown the level of XIAP followed by cisplatin (2 µmol/L) treatment, and then the apoptosis of LM3 cells was measured. RESULTS: The treatment of cisplatin significantly inhibited the growth but induced the apoptosis of LM3 cells. Cisplatin also downregulated the expression of XIAP. The downregulation of XIAP by using siRNA enhanced the apoptosis of LM3 cells induced by cisplatin. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of XIAP enhanced the proapoptotic effect of cisplatin on LM3 cells, suggesting that XIAP might be used as a potential target in the treatment of liver cancer.

[Clinical effect of terminal branches portal vein embolization combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on liver neoplasms].

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of branches portal vein embolization (TBPVE) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on liver neoplasms. Methods: From August 2016 to May 2017, there were 13 patients including 11 males and 2 females with primary hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent TBPVE+ TACE , among whom there were 11 cases with a history of HBV infection.Average age of the 13 patients was (60.8±6.2)years. The live function of all patients were Child-Pugh A classification.The CT or MRI images of each patient was reconstructed and the standard liver volume(SLV) before TBPVE+ TACE was (1 181.2±49.3)ml, estimated future liver remnant(FLR) was (326.1±72.1)ml and FLR/SLV was (27.6±6.0)%.The puncture site for TBPVE was determined by the three-dimensional reconstruction of portal vein.CT scan or MRI, AFP and liver function test were repeated after one and two weeks after TBPVE+ TACE.FLR and FLR/SLV were calculated respectively.Hepatectomy would be performed if the patients agreed.The postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: On the 7thday after TBPVE+ TACE, the FLR/SLV was(42.6±8.0)% and the FLR increasement was(56.0±24.6)%.The level of AFP decreased from(87.9±81.8)µg/L to (29.7±20.9)µg/L.On the 14thday after TBPVE+ TACE, the FLR/SLV was(45.8±6.2)% and the FLR increasement was(71.8±29.0)%.Four patients underwent surgery which including 2 right hepatectomies and 2 right trisegmentectomies in 2 weeks after TBPVE+ TACE.Nine patients were performed with targeting intratumoral lactic acidosis TACE (TILA-TACE). No severe complication occurred in all patients. Conclusions: TBPVE could induce a rapid growth of the liver remnant but still with the concern of inducing the growth of neoplasms at the same time.To combine TACE in TBPVE therapy not also can the growth of neoplasms be prevented but also inducing its shrinking.This method might be a new mode for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[The role of Hong's single-stitch duct to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy].

Objective: To investigate the role of "Hong's single-stitch duct to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy(HSDMP)" in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). Methods: The clinical data including perioperative and short-term outcomes of 51 cases of LPD with HSDMP which performed in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital(33 cases) and Frist Clinical Hospital of Jilin University(18 cases) between April and October 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 31 male patients and 20 female patients. The mean age was(59±11)years. Body mass index (BMI) was 18 to 28 kg/m(2) and the average BMI was (23.2±4.4)kg/m(2). Preoperative diagnosis: 18 cases with pancreatic mass, 26 cases with peri-ampullary tumor, 3 cases with intra-ductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 2 cases with duodenal carcinoma, 2 cases with serous cystadenoma. Results: Fifty-one patients accepted LPD using HSDMP. One patient underwent LPD combined with resection of superior mesentery vein. The mean operation time was (307±69)minutes, the mean diameter of pancreatic duct for reconstruction was (3.1±1.1)mm.The mean operation time for HSDMP was (34±5) minutes, the estimated blood loss was (170±127)ml. Twelve cases(23.5%) had pancreatic fistula according to International Study Group definition, including 9 cases(17.6%) of grade A and 3 cases (5.9%) of grade B. Five cases(9.8%) had delayed gastric empty, 5 cases(9.8%) had bile leakage and 2 cases(3.9%) had pulmonary infection postoperative.All these complications were treated by non-surgical strategies. One patient(2.0%) suffered from postoperative intra-abdominal bleeding and recovered after reoperation. Pathologic results showed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas in 20 cases(39.2%), non-pancreatic original peri-ampullary tumors in 23 cases(45.1%), intra-ductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in 3 cases(5.9%), duodenal carcinoma in 2 cases(3.9%), serous cystadenoma in 2 cases(3.9%) and neuroendocrine tumors in one case(2.0%). Conclusions: HSDMP could not only reduce the incidence of clinical pancreatic fistula, but also save operation time. It is a feasible and safe method for pancreaticojejunostomy.

[Terminal branches portal vein embolization for planed hepatectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of the technique of terminal branches portal vein embolization(TBPVE)for planed hepatectomy. METHODS: From February 2016 to June 2016, 4 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent TBPVE and liver resection in Yuebei People's Hospital (n=3) and Jiangxi Ji'an Central People's Hospital (n=1). All of them were male and were 50, 64, 39 and 47 years old respectively. All the tumors located in the right lobe. All patients had the liver function of Child-Pugh A classification and liver cirrhosis level of G2S4. The standard liver volume (SLV) were 1 291, 1 109, 1 177 and 1 242 ml and estimated future liver remnant(FLR) were 315, 347, 306 and 323 ml respectively. The puncture site of TBPVE was determined by the three-dimensional reconstruction of portal vein. Three patients were punctured in the segment Ⅵ and the other one punctured in the segment Ⅲ. CT scan was repeated 2 weeks after TBPVE and FLR and FLR/SLV were calculated. All patients underwent right hepatectomy 2 weeks after TBPVE. RESULTS: On the 14(th) day after TBPVE, the FLR of 4 patients were 529, 462, 469 and 498 ml which increased 67.9%, 33.1%, 53.3% and 54.2% compared with that before TBPVE, and FLR/SLV were 41.0%, 41.7%, 39.8% and 40.1% respectively. No severe complication occurred. Right hepatectomy were performed 2 weeks after TBPVE. No inflow blood control applied during the liver resection. The mean blood loss was 950 ml and the mean operating time was 3.3 hours (ranging from 3 to 4 hours). One patient had respiratory infection and two had slight jaundice and ascites for a short period. No other complication occurred. CONCLUSION: The TBPVE could induce a rapid and large FLR volume that give chances to patients with small FLR to have liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Comparison of laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy and laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct for cholecystocholedocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (IOEST) was compared with laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct (LCBDE) for cholecystocholedocholithiasis in an attempt tried to find the best mini-invasive treatment for the cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis. METHODS: For this study, 234 patients with cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis diagnosed by preoperative B-ultrasonography and intraoperative cholangiogram were divided at random into an LC-LCBDE group (141 cases) and an LC-IOEST group (93 cases). The surgical times, surgical success rates, number of stone extractions, postoperative complications, retained common bile duct stones, postoperative lengths of stay, and hospital charges were compared prospectively. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of surgical time, surgical success rate, number of stone extractions, postoperative complications, retained common bile duct stones, postoperative length of stay, and hospital charge. CONCLUSION: Both LC-IOEST and LC-LCBDE were shown to be safe, effective, minimally invasive treatments for cholecystocholedocholithiasis.