ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Bile duct (BD) complications continue to be the "Achilles' heel" of liver transplantation, and the utilization of bile duct drainage is still on debate. We describe the results of a less invasive rubber trancystic biliary drainage (TBD) compared to a standard silicone T-tube (TT). METHODS: The transplanted patients (n = 248), over a period of 5 years with a TBD (n = 20), were matched 1:2 with control patients with a TT (n = 40). Primary end points were the overall incidence of BD complications and graft and patient survival. Secondary end points included the complications after the drainage removal. RESULTS: Although the bile duct leakage rates were not significantly different between both groups, the TT group had a significantly higher rate of overall 1-year BD stenosis (40 versus 10 %) (p = 0.036). Three-year patient/graft survival rates were 83.2/80.1 and 84.4/84.4 % for the TT and TBD groups, respectively. The postoperative BD complications, after drainage removal (peritonitis and stenosis), were significantly reduced (p = 0.011) with the use of a TBD. CONCLUSION: The use of rubber TBD in liver transplant recipients does not increase the number of BD complications compared to the T-tube. Furthermore, less BD anastomotic stenosis and post-removal complications were observed in the TBD group compared to the TT group.
Subject(s)
Anastomotic Leak/prevention & control , Biliary Fistula/prevention & control , Cystic Duct/surgery , Drainage/instrumentation , Drainage/methods , Liver Transplantation/methods , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Rubber , Adult , Aged , Anastomotic Leak/surgery , Biliary Fistula/surgery , Case-Control Studies , Cholestasis/prevention & control , Cholestasis/surgery , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/surgery , ReoperationABSTRACT
Torque Teno Virus (TTV), a nonenveloped human virus of the Circoviridae family, is hepatotropic, causing liver damage, cirrhosis, and, rarely, fulminant hepatitis. It prevails in 10% to 75% of blood donors due to environmental differences, independent of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)/HCV hepatitis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, and in fulminant hepatitis non-A-G. Reports about the efficacy of clinical alpha interferon are rare. In July 2007, a 65-year-old man who was serologically negative for A-E viruses presented with acute liver failure due to a ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm and underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Immunosuppression was based on cyclosporine and steroids. At postoperative day 20, there was persistent hypertransaminasemia with otherwise normal liver function. A percutaneous hepatic biopsy documented pattern suggestive of a viral etiology. Multiple tests for hepatotropic viruses in the donor and the recipient from the pre- and post-OLT periods remained negative. Only the TTV qualitative test, assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on patient sera, was positive. Immunosuppressive therapy was not changed; no antiviral therapy was undertaken. At 6 months posttransplantation, transaminase levels spontaneously normalized and the clinical situation was unchanged. No complications were observed; the patient is in good clinical condition. No graft rejection was observed. In histologically proven non-A-E viral hepatitis, it is important to consider TTV as an incidental pathogenic agent. It may be useful to extend virological tests to TTV among transplant recipients and donors and to gain further knowledge about this virus.
Subject(s)
DNA Virus Infections/complications , Liver Transplantation/adverse effects , Torque teno virus/isolation & purification , Aged , DNA Virus Infections/virology , Genes, Viral , Humans , Male , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Torque teno virus/geneticsABSTRACT
Mid-esophageal diverticula are rare entities. Only symptomatic patients usually receive surgical treatment. Esophageal leakage is one of the most common complications after these procedures. Though in literature, operative management is the preferred treatment for esophageal fistula, conservative approach is described in case of small leaks. We report a case of an operated giant mid-esophageal diverticulum complicated with an esophageal fistula. The patient underwent a surgical treatment and recovered completely.
Subject(s)
Diverticulum, Esophageal/surgery , Esophageal Fistula/therapy , Postoperative Complications/therapy , Abscess/etiology , Abscess/surgery , Aged , Drainage , Esophageal Fistula/diagnostic imaging , Esophageal Fistula/etiology , Humans , Intubation, Gastrointestinal , Jejunostomy , Male , Mediastinal Diseases/etiology , Mediastinal Diseases/surgery , Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging , Postoperative Hemorrhage/surgery , Reoperation , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted , Thoracotomy , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Wilson's disease is a rare metabolic disorder that may lead to fulminant hepatitis and subsequent liver failure. Herein, we present a case of split liver transplantation performed on a patient with acute Wilson's disease. A 27-year-old female with acute presentation of Wilson's disease and advanced neurological impairment, received a Right Split liver Graft (Segments: IV, V, VI, VII and VIII) transplant. The graft was obtained by an in situ splitting technique. The graft implantation was performed in a standard fashion. No acute rejection episodes of the organ occurred. The postoperative course was uneventful. The graft function, ceruloplasmine level and copper levels progressively normalized. The patient totally recovered from neurological symptoms and the Kayser-Fleischer rings disappeared within one month. At 13 months of follow-up, the patient presented with no symptoms and in good condition. The current literature reports high preoperative mortality rate in patients that underwent partial liver graft for acute hepatic failure. However, our experience indicates that in situ split technique of liver may be a feasible and effective alternative to whole graft transplantation in urgent cases. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first successfully case of in situ split liver transplantation for acute Wilson's disease described in literature.
Subject(s)
Hepatolenticular Degeneration/surgery , Liver Transplantation/methods , Acute Disease , Adult , Emergency Treatment , Female , HumansABSTRACT
Cystic lymphangioma is an uncommon benign pathology, usually reported in children, rarely in adult. Its embryopathogenesis is still controversial: it seems to arise from the lymphatic vessels, mainly in the cervico-cranial district. It is macroscopically characterised by multiple cystic non-communicating concamerations. Definitive diagnosis used to be intraoperative and was usually an unexpected finding. Nowadays, with modern imaging technologies, CT and MRI, diagnosis can be assumed before intervention even though certain diagnosis can still be reached only with histological examination. Imaging techniques can help for a precise mapping of the lesion and definition of its limits with the other structures, improving therapeutic success. Various therapeutical options are reported in literature, but complete surgical excision is still considered the best approach and the most successful. The Authors report their experience and review the literature on cystic lymphangioma in adult.
Subject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms , Lymphangioma, Cystic , Adult , Age Factors , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnosis , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Lymphangioma, Cystic/diagnosis , Lymphangioma, Cystic/diagnostic imaging , Lymphangioma, Cystic/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography, Thoracic , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSDIa) is due to the deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase activity in the liver, kidney, and intestine. Although significant progress has been achieved in the management of patients with GSDIa, complications still emerge. The potential for development of liver adenomatosis and kidney failure makes these patients candidates for simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT). Herein, we describe such a transplantation in a patient affected by this rare storage disease. METHODS: A 25-year-old female patient with GSDIa developed hepatic adenoma and kidney failure despite dietary therapy. The patient underwent an SLKT from a cadaveric donor. RESULTS: The operative time was 8 hours without hemotransfusion. Only a transitory lactic acidosis was observed. Laboratory results normalized on postoperative day 7. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 9. After 4 months, the patient is in good condition with well-functioning kidney and liver allografts. CONCLUSION: Patients with end-stage renal disease secondary to GSDIa should be considered for SLKT, especially when the disease is in an early stage.