Role of Preoperative Viral Load and Presence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Biliary Complications After Liver Transplantation Due to Hepatitis C Virus.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem, and the need for liver transplants is ever-growing. For optimal surgical success, risk factors must be identified and HCV viral load must be reduced to a minimum to avoid complications. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of HCV viral load on the post-transplant biliary complications. METHOD: Between 2004 and 2018, the cases of 114 liver transplant recipients with HCV infection were retrospectively reviewed. Data collection included demographic variables, preoperative and postoperative amount of serum HCV RNA copies, preoperative diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and postoperative biliary complications in the early and late period. After missing values were excluded, the remaining 97 patients were divided into 2 groups according to preoperative HCV RNA status (Group A: HCV RNA [+] and Group B: HCV RNA [-]). RESULTS: Demographic parameters were similar among both groups. There were 67 patients in Group A and 30 patients in Group B. The overall rate of biliary complications was higher in Group A without statistical significance (20% [n = 14] vs 13% [n = 4], respectively, P = .573). Biliary stricture occurrence in the late period was also higher in Group A. In HCC (+) patients (n = 26), biliary complications were significantly higher compared to HCC (-) patients (34% vs 12%, P = .018). However, in patients with biliary complications, the rate of multiple duct anastomoses was higher with no statistical significance (45% vs 26%, respectively, P = .14). CONCLUSION: The biliary complications on patient survival has been previously established, and this is mostly evident in those patients with viral etiology and hepatocellular carcinoma. As was also suggested in our study, hepatocellular carcinoma and positive viral status should be considered as predisposing factors for postoperative biliary complications after liver transplantation. However, the rate of multiple duct anastomoses should also be taken into consideration. New standards of antiviral medications and bridge therapy for HCC may improve transplant outcomes.

Does Multiple Bile Duct Anastomosis in Living Donor Liver Transplantation Affect the Postoperative Biliary Complications?

PURPOSE: The variation of multiple bile ducts in a living donor graft is not infrequent; however, the literature on the impact of the number of bile ducts on postoperative biliary complications is scarce. We investigated whether the number of biliary duct anastomoses affects the rate of postoperative biliary complications in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2016 and January 2018, all patients who underwent LDLT were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the number bile duct anastomoses (single duct [group A, n = 78] or multiple ducts [group B, n = 94]). Data collection included demographic features, Child Pugh Score (CPS), graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR), surgical data including technique of biliary anastomosis (duct-to-duct, duct-to-sheath, double duct-to-duct, and hepaticojejunostomy), and postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: The duct-to-duct anastomosis was the mostly commonly performed technique in group A, whereas double duct-to-duct and duct-to-sheath were significantly higher in group B. Operating time was quite high in group B compared to group A (438 ± 72 minutes vs 420 ± 61 minutes, respectively; P = .05). Regarding biliary complications (n = 40, 23.2%), the rates of biliary leakage (n = 17, 9.9%) and strictures (n = 25, 14.5%) were similar in both groups (P = .164 and .773, respectively). CPS was positively correlated (for Child B and C, odds ratio [OR]: 10.669 and 17.866, respectively), whereas GRWR was negatively correlated (OR: 9.530) with biliary stricture. Increased risk for bile leakage was observed in younger donors (OR: .929). Although overall mortality rate was 9.8% (n = 17), only 5 of the patients (29%) died of biliary complications. CONCLUSION: The number of biliary ducts and anastomoses did not affect the rate of complications. However, CPS, GRWR, and young donor age were found to be predisposing factors for postoperative biliary complications. Mortality was mostly based on the causes other than biliary complications.

Liver Graft Volume Estimation by Manual Volumetry and Software-Aided Interactive Volumetry: Which is Better?

PURPOSE: Estimation of graft volume is critical in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of software-aided automated computer tomography (CT) volumetry in the preoperative assessment of graft size for LDLT and to compare this method with manual volumetry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one donors (27 men; 14 women) with a mean age in years ± standard deviation (28.4 ± 6.6) underwent contrast-enhanced CT prior to graft removal for LDLT. A liver transplant surgeon determined the weights of liver grafts using automated 3-dimensional volumetry software, and an abdominal radiologist specializing in liver imaging independently and blindly used the commercial interactive volumetry-assisted software on a viewing workstation to determine the liver volume on CT images. Both results were then compared to the weights of actual grafts obtained during surgery. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess the consistency of numerical measurements and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to detect a linear relationship between numerical variables. To compare correlation coefficients, z scores were used. RESULTS: Regarding the right and left lobe graft volume estimation by the surgeon, there was a positive correlation between the results and actual graft weight (r = 0.834; P = .001; and r = 0.587; P = .001, respectively). Likewise, graft volume estimation by the radiologist for the right and left lobe was also positively correlated with the actual graft weight (r = 0.819; P = .001 and r = 0.626, P = .001, respectively). There was no significant difference between correlation coefficients (P = .836). CONCLUSION: Volumetric measurement of donor graft using 3-dimensional software provides comparable results to manual CT calculation of liver volume.

rac-2-tert-Butyl-2,4,5,6,6-penta-chloro-cyclo-hex-3-en-1-one.

The title compound, C(10)H(11)Cl(5)O, is a chiral mol-ecule with two stereogenic centres. However, it crystallizes as a racemate. One of enanti-omers reveals the relative configuration (2S*,5R*). The cyclo-hexene ring adopts a half-chair conformation.