Utility of Polyethylene Terephthalate (Dacron) Vascular Grafts for Venous Outflow Reconstruction in Living-Donor Liver Transplantations.

BACKGROUND: Venous outflow reconstruction of modified right-lobe liver grafts has been shown to prevent the occurrence of graft congestion and subsequent complications, including graft loss. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of Dacron grafts for venous reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Between January 2016 and January 2018, Dacron grafts were used in 148 liver transplants. Of these, 104 patients who had a follow-up computerized tomography (CT) scan were enrolled into the study. A total of 179 outflow hepatic veins including V5, V8, partial middle hepatic vein, and accessory inferior right hepatic veins (IRHV) were reconstructed using synthetic Dacron grafts. Graft patency was evaluated with both intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography following reconstruction, and a follow-up CT was performed on the postoperative day 7 (±1). Retrospective data collection included demographics, parameters for small-for-size (laboratory tests [bilirubin, International Normalized Ratio] and ascites) syndrome, postoperative morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: Follow-up CT revealed graft patency in 155 out of 179 (86.6%) vascular grafts. Postoperative seventh-day patency rates for each reconstructed vein were as follows: V5, 87.5% (70/80); V8, 87.7% (50/57); partial middle hepatic vein, 100% (11/11); and IRHV, 77.4% (24/31). No major graft-related complications (early graft dysfunction, graft infection) or graft-related mortality were observed. None of the recipients developed small-for-size syndrome based on laboratory tests and clinical findings. CONCLUSIONS: Dacron vascular grafts appear as an advantageous and useful alternative for venous outflow reconstruction in LDLT.

Percutaneous management of residual bile duct stones through T-tube tract after cholecystectomy: A retrospective analysis of 89 patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcome of percutaneous management of residual common bile duct (CBD) stones in patients with surgically inserted T-tube in CBD after cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 2001 and August 2015, 89 patients (52 women, 37 men) with a mean age of 55.7 years±18 (SD) (range, 22-88 years) underwent percutaneous sphincteroplasty and stone expulsion into the duodenum with a Fogarty balloon catheter through the T-tube tract for residual CBD stones. All patients had previously undergone open cholecystectomy with CBD exploration and T-tube insertion 7 to 60 days (mean, 14.4 days) before the procedure. Results of the procedure and complications were evaluated by a review of clinical notes, imaging and laboratory findings. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in 87/89 patients (97.7%). Complete CBD clearance was achieved in a first session in 86 patients (96.6%). One patient (1.1%) needed a second session. The procedure was unsuccessful in 2 patients (2.2%) due to inappropriate position of T-tube and stone impaction into the cystic duct remnant. Two complications (2.2%) including intra-abdominal bile collection and distal CBD stricture were observed after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous CBD expulsion into the duodenum through the T-tube tract is a non-traumatic, effective and safe method for the treatment of residual CBD stones in patients who had cholecystectomy and T-tube insertion.

Prognostic and predictive factors after surgical treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer: a single institute experience.

OBJECTIVE: Resection of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) after curative resection represents a difficult problem and a surgical challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of resecting the local recurrence of rectal cancer and to analyze factors that might predict curative resection and those that affect survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in 50 patients who underwent surgical exploration with intent to cure LRRC between April 1998 and April 2005. All of the patients had previously undergone resection of primary rectal adenocarcinoma. Of these patients' charts, operation and pathology reports were reviewed. Primary tumor and treatment details, hospital of initial treatment and TNM stage were registered. The following data were collected concerning the detection of the local recurrence; date of recurrence, symptoms at the time of presentation and diagnostic work-up. Perioperative complication and date of discharge were also gathered. The recurrent tumors were classified as not fixed (F0), fixed at one site (F1) and fixed to two or more sites (F2) according to the preoperative and peroperative findings. Microscopic involvement of surgical margins and localization of recurrence were noted based on pathology reports. RESULTS: The median time interval between resection of primary tumor and surgery for locally recurrent disease was 24 (4-113) months. In a statistical analysis, initial surgery, complaints of patients, increasing number of sites of the recurrent tumor fixation in the pelvis, location of the recurrent tumor were associated with curative surgery. Curative, negative resection margins were obtained in 24 (48%) of patients; in these patients a median survival of 28 months was achieved, compared to 12 months (p=0.01) in patients with either microscopic or gross residual disease. Primary operation and CEA level at recurrence were also found to be important factors associated with improved survival. There was no operative mortality and, the complication rate was 24%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that many patients with LRRC can be resected with negative margins. The type of primary surgery, symptoms, location, and fixity of recurrent tumor are associated with the increased possibility of carrying out curative resection. Previous surgery and curative surgery are significant predictors of both disease-specific survival and overall survival.