Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair After Liver Transplantation: Long-Term Series and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplant (LT) surgery is associated with a high occurrence of hernias, which is related to multiple factors such as body mass index (BMI), diabetes, immunosuppression, corticosteroids, and so on. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair after LT allows rapid patient recovery with a low postoperative complication rate. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all LTs performed since 1998 in patients who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair in our centers. Likewise, we reviewed the literature, including all published studies of the laparoscopic approach to hernia repair after LT. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2018, 37 patients underwent laparoscopic hernia repair surgery after LT. The majority were men (86%) with a mean age of 51 years (48.5-61) and a BMI of 30.4. All patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, with placement of intraperitoneal mesh with a surface area of 414 cm2 fixed with nonresorbable tackers. The mean hospital stay was 2 days. Morbidity included 3 seroma (8%) and a wound infection (2%); there was no major morbidity with involvement of the liver graft. The median follow-up was 43 (18-93) months, with 2 cases of recurrence (5%). In the published literature, we found 11 articles, among which the largest series was 54 patients; however, the majority had fewer than 20 cases. In all articles, a decrease in the morbidity and mortality rates was described after this surgery and previous LT decompensation. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic hernia repair in patients with previous LT is safe with a low complication rate and is reproducible and therefore should be the first-choice approach.

Selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for liver transplantation: Past and future.

The aim of liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is to ensure a rate of disease-free survival similar to that of patients transplanted due to benign disease. Therefore, we are forced to adopt strict criteria when selecting candidates for LT and prioritizing patients on the waiting list (WL), to have clarified indications for bridging therapy for groups at risk for progression or recurrence, and to establish certain limits for downstaging therapies. Although the Milan criteria (MC) remain the standard and most employed criteria for indication of HCC patients for LT by far, in the coming years, criteria will be consolidated that take into account not only data regarding the size/volume and number of tumors but also their biology. This criteria will mainly include the alpha fetoprotein (AFP) values and, in view of their wide variability, any of the published logarithmic models for the selection of candidates for LT. Bridging therapy is necessary for HCC patients on the WL who meet the MC and have the possibility of experiencing a delay for LT greater than 6 mo or any of the known risk factors for recurrence. It is difficult to define single AFP values that would indicate bridging therapy (200, 300 or 400 ng/mL); therefore, it is preferable to rely on the criteria of a French AFP model score > 2. Other single indications for bridging therapy include a tumor diameter greater than 3 cm, more than one tumor, and having an AFP slope greater than 15 ng/mL per month or > 50 ng/mL for three months during strict monitoring while on the WL. When considering the inclusion of patients on the WL who do not meet the MC, it is mandatory to determine their eligibility for downstaging therapy prior to inclusion. The upper limit for this therapy could be one lesion up to 8 cm, 2-3 lesions with a total tumor diameter up to 8 cm, or a total tumor volume of 115 cm(3). Lastly, liver allocation and the prioritization of patients with HCC on the WL should take into account the recently described HCC model for end-stage liver disease, which considers hepatic function, HCC size and the number and the log of AFP values. This formula has been calibrated with the survival data of non-HCC patients and produces a dynamic and more accurate assessment model.