Short Chemotherapy-Free Interval Improves Oncological Outcome in Patients Undergoing Two-Stage Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), chemotherapy is discontinued before portal vein occlusion and restarted after curative resection. Long chemotherapy-free intervals (CFI) may lead to tumor progression and poor oncological outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the length of CFI on oncological outcome in patients undergoing TSH for CRLM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Overall, 74 patients suffering from bilobar CRLM who underwent ALPPS (associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy; n = 43) or conventional TSH (n = 31) at two tertiary centers were investigated. The impact of CFI on long-term outcomes was analyzed by univariable and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Preoperative chemotherapy was administered in 91 % (67/74) of patients, and chemotherapy was resumed postoperatively in 69 % (44/64) of patients who completed TSH. The use of postoperative chemotherapy was significantly associated with improved mean overall survival (36 ± 3 vs. 13 ± 3 months; p < 0.001). Overall, the median CFI from surgery to postoperative chemotherapy was 16 weeks (interquartile range 11-31) and was significantly shorter in the ALPPS group when compared with the conventional TSH group (10 vs. 21 weeks; p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed a CFI ≤ 10 weeks as an independent factor associated with improved overall survival (p = 0.006) and disease-free survival (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: A short CFI is associated with improved oncological outcome in patients undergoing TSH for CRLM. Decreased interstage intervals after ALPPS may facilitate the timely resumption of chemotherapy.

Epidural analgesia and perioperative kidney function after major liver resection.

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia (EDA) is a common analgesia regimen in liver resection, and is accompanied by sympathicolysis, peripheral vasodilatation and hypotension in the context of deliberate intraoperative low central venous pressure. This associated fall in mean arterial pressure may compromise renal blood pressure autoregulation and lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). This study investigated whether EDA is a risk factor for postoperative AKI after liver surgery. METHODS: The incidence of AKI was investigated retrospectively in patients who underwent liver resection with or without EDA between 2002 and 2012. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed including recognized preoperative and intraoperative predictors of posthepatectomy renal failure. RESULTS: A series of 1153 patients was investigated. AKI occurred in 8·2 per cent of patients and was associated with increased morbidity (71 versus 47·3 per cent; P = 0·003) and mortality (21 versus 0·3 per cent; P < 0·001) rates. The incidence of AKI was significantly higher in the EDA group (10·1 versus 3·7 per cent; P = 0·003). Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of AKI between patients undergoing minor hepatectomy with or without EDA (5·2 versus 2·7 per cent; P = 0·421), a substantial difference in AKI rates occurred in patients undergoing major hepatectomy (13·8 versus 5·0 per cent; P = 0·025). In multivariable analysis, EDA remained an independent risk factor for AKI after hepatectomy (P = 0·040). CONCLUSION: EDA may be a risk factor for postoperative AKI after major hepatectomy.

Intraoperative adverse events during laparoscopic colorectal resection--better laparoscopic treatment but unchanged incidence. Lessons learnt from a Swiss multi-institutional analysis of 3,928 patients.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative adverse events significantly influence morbidity and mortality of laparoscopic colorectal resections. Over an 11-year period, the changes of occurrence of such intraoperative adverse events were assessed in this study. METHODS: Analysis of 3,928 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal resection based on the prospective database of the Swiss Association of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 377 intraoperative adverse events occurred in 329 patients (overall incidence of 8.4 %). Of 377 events, 163 (43 %) were surgical complications and 214 (57 %) were nonsurgical adverse events. Surgical complications were iatrogenic injury to solid organs (n = 63; incidence of 1.6 %), bleeding (n = 62; 1.6 %), lesion by puncture (n = 25; 0.6 %), and intraoperative anastomotic leakage (n = 13; 0.3 %). Of note, 11 % of intraoperative organ/puncture lesions requiring re-intervention were missed intraoperatively. Nonsurgical adverse events were problems with equipment (n = 127; 3.2 %), anesthetic problems (n = 30; 0.8 %), and various (n = 57; 1.5 %). Over time, the rate of intraoperative adverse events decreased, but not significantly. Bleeding complications significantly decreased (p = 0.015), and equipment problems increased (p = 0.036). However, the rate of adverse events requiring conversion significantly decreased with time (p < 0.001). Patients with an intraoperative adverse event had a significantly higher rate of postoperative local and general morbidity (41.2 and 32.9 % vs. 18.0 and 17.2 %, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative surgical complications and adverse events in laparoscopic colorectal resections did not change significantly over time and are associated with an increased postoperative morbidity.

Giant mesenteric cystic lymphangioma of mesocolic origin in an asymptomatic adult patient.

A 34-year-old patient was scheduled for valve replacement to treat a symptomatic mitral regurgitation. The preoperative work-up incidentally discovered an intra-abdominal cystic tumour extending from the epigastrium to the pelvic region on a computed tomography scan. The patient had no abdominal symptoms by the giant cyst from unkown origin. An open "en bloc" resection disclosed a large cyst in the mesocolon. Pathological examination, including immunohistochemistry, enabled the diagnosis of a mesenteric cystic lymphangioma. Long-term follow-up of 12 months shows no recurrence. Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma, which is extremely rare in adults, is a challenge to diagnose and needs complete resection to ensure dignity and to avoid recurrence.