Liver Transplantation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Do we need to move forward?

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma; Liver transplantation; OutcomesColangiocarcinoma perihilar; Trasplantament hepàtic; ResultatsColangiocarcinoma perihiliar; Trasplante hepático; ResultadosPerihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is a challenging disease with limited options. Surgical resection and adjuvant therapy remain the only established treatment for those with resectable disease. Since the publication of the Mayo protocol in 2000, neoadjuvant chemoradiation and liver transplantation have become the standard of care in selected patients with unresectable de novo pCCA or resectable pCCA arising under primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, its application is diverse worldwide, and the need for donor organs is one of the main limitations. Also, differences in the neoadjuvant regimen used were observed. In this review, we discuss the latest results of this approach, the recommended tools for diagnostic work-up, and advances in systemic therapy to improve patient selection and long-term survival

Right-sided diaphragmatic rupture after blunt trauma. An unusual entity

Traumatic injuries of the diaphragm remain an entity of difficult diagnosis despite having been recognised early in the history of surgery, especially when it comes to blunt trauma and injuries of the right diaphragm. We report the case of a patient with blunt trauma with right diaphragmatic rupture that required urgent surgical treatment for hepatothorax and iatrogenic severe liver injury. Blunt trauma can cause substantial diaphragmatic rupture. It must have a high index of suspicion for diaphragmatic injury in patients, victims of vehicle collisions, mainly if they have suffered frontal impacts and/or side precipitates in patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma. The diagnosis can be performed clinically and confirmation should be radiological. The general measures for the management of multiple trauma patients must be applied. Surgery at the time of diagnosis should restore continuity

Liver transplantation in metastatic colorectal cancer: are we ready for it?

Liver transplantation; Metastatic colorectal cancerTrasplantament de fetge; Càncer colorectal metastàticTrasplante de hígado; Cáncer colorrectal metastásicoColorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent disease worldwide, with more than 50% of patients developing metastases to the liver. Five-year overall survival remains modest among patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) treated with conventional therapies however, liver transplantation in a highly selected population can improve clinical outcomes with an impressive 5-year overall survival of 83%. Despite liver transplantation appearing to be a promising therapeutical option for well-selected patients with mCRC with the liver-limited disease, these data come from small monocentric trials which included a heterogeneous population. Currently, several clinical trials are evaluating liver transplantation in this scenario, aiming for a more accurate patient selection by integrating liquid biopsy, tissue profiling, and nuclear medicine to the already known clinical biomarkers that eventually may lead to a survival improvement. In this paper, the clinical outcomes and inclusion criteria from the most relevant clinical trials and clinical series involving liver transplantation in patients with liver-limited disease colorectal cancer are reviewed as well as the trials currently recruiting

Evolución de las complicaciones biliares tras el trasplante hepático

L'anastomosi biliar en el trasplantament hepàtic és una de les causes més freqüents de morbiditat. En aquest treball s'ha analitzat l'evolució de les complicacions biliars després d'un trasplantament hepàtic en adults al llarg de 20 anys, comparant els primers 100 trasplantaments realitzats amb els darrers 200 entre 1985 i 2007. Resultats: la incidència de les complicacions biliars ha disminuït significativament al llarg dels anys, principalment a causa de l'abandonament de l'ús rutinari del tub de Kehr. La gravetat d'aquestes complicacions ha estat similar en ambdós grups.La anastomosis biliar en el trasplante hepático es una de las causas más frecuentes de morbilidad. En este trabajo se ha analizado la evolución de las complicaciones biliares tras el trasplante hepático en adultos a lo largo de 20 años, comparando los primeros 100 trasplantes realizados con los últimos 200, entre 1985 y 2007. Resultados: la incidencia de las complicaciones biliares ha disminuido significativamente a lo largo de los años, principalmente debido al abandono del uso rutinario del tubo de Kehr. La gravedad de dichas complicaciones resultó ser similar en ambos grupos

Spontaneous portosystemic shunt embolization in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatic encephalopathy

Angiogenesis; Portal hypertension; Collateral vesselsAngiogénesis; Hipertensión portal; Vasos colateralesAngiogènesi; Hipertensió portal; Vasos col·lateralsIntroduction and objectives Spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) are a common cause of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Shunt occlusion is an effective and safe procedure when performed in patients with cirrhosis and preserved liver function. We aimed to describe our experience with SPSS embolization after liver transplantation (LT). Patients We identified five patients who underwent SPSS embolization after LT. Clinical, biochemical and technical procedure data were collected. Results At presentation, all patients had developed graft cirrhosis and HE after LT. Median Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) at embolization was 9 (range 7-12), median Child-Pugh was 8 (range 7-9). Splenorenal and mesocaval shunt were the most frequent types of SPSS found. Three patients have been completely free of HE. Of the two patients who had HE recurrence after embolization, one patient had two episodes of HE which was controlled well with medications. The other patient required three embolizations because of recurrent HE. Median follow-up was 4.4 years (range 1.0-5.0) and MELD score at last follow up was 13 (range 10-18) and median Child-Pugh score B, 7 points (range 5-12). Conclusions SPSS can be considered as a cause of HE after LT. SPSS embolization is feasible and safe in LT recipients.Isabel Campos-Varela's research activity is funded by grant PI19/00330, funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by European Union (ERDF/ESF) - A way to build Europe. Macarena Simón-Talero is a recipient of the Juan Rodés grant JR17/00029 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain. CIBERehd is supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The work was independent of all funding

Assessment of the level III of Inoue by preoperative endoscopic ultrasound and elastography: a novel approach to predict a periarterial divestment technique in borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA) pancreatic adenocarcinoma—How I do it

Pancreatic cancer; Periarterial divestment; Triangle operationCáncer de páncreas; Desinversión periarterial; Operación triangularCàncer de pàncrees; Desinversió periarterial; Operació triangularBackground Periarterial divestment is a surgical technique to approach borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with arterial involvement. There are no reports in the literature regarding the role of endoscopic ultrasound and elastography (EUS-EG) in exploring the integrity of Inoue’s level III and its correlation with the periarterial divestment technique feasibility. Our research is aimed at exploring the role of EUS-EG in this scenario. Methods We describe our approach to Inoue’s level II by EUS-EG in patients with BR and LA pancreatic cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results Between June 2019 and December 2020, four patients out of 25 were eligible to perform a preoperative EUS-EG. In all cases, Inoue’s level III integrity was corroborated by EUS-EG and confirmed posteriorly in the surgical scenario where a periarterial divestment technique was feasible. Vein resections were necessary in all cases, with no need for arterial resection. An R0 (> 1 mm) margin was achieved in all patients, and the histopathological assessment showed the presence of neurovascular tissue at the peripheral arterial margin. Conclusion Preoperatively, EUS-EG is a novel approach to explore the integrity of Inoue’s level III and could be helpful to preclude a periarterial divestment technique in borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma with arterial involvement.Open Access Funding provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Impact of comorbidities on hospital mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis : a population-based study of 110,021 patients

The impact of pre-existing comorbidities on acute pancreatitis (AP) mortality is not clearly defined. Our study aims to determine the trend in AP hospital mortality and the role of comorbidities as a predictor of hospital mortality. We analyzed patients aged ≥ 18 years hospitalized with AP diagnosis between 2016 and 2019. The data have been extracted from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database of the Spanish Ministry of Health. We performed a univariate and multivariable analysis of the association of age, sex, and comorbidities with hospital mortality in patients with AP. The role of the Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices as predictors of mortality was evaluated. A total of 110,021 patients diagnosed with AP were hospitalized during the analyzed period. Hospital mortality was 3.8%, with a progressive decrease observed in the years evaluated. In multivariable analysis, age ≥ 65 years (OR: 4.11, p 1.5 (OR: 2.03, p 1.5 (OR: 2.71, p < 0.001) comorbidity indices were also independently associated with mortality, and ROC curve analysis showed that they are useful for predicting hospital mortality. Advanced age, heart disease, renal disease, moderate-severe liver disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease before admission were independently associated with hospital mortality. The Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices are useful for predicting hospital mortality in AP patients. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-023-02730-6

The role of clinically relevant intra-abdominal collections after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Pancreatectomy complications; Pancreatic fistula; Postoperative collectionsComplicaciones de pancreatectomía; Fístula pancreática; Colecciones postoperatoriasComplicacions de pancreatectomia; Fístula pancreàtica; Col·leccions postoperatòriesBackground There is controversial evidence regarding the impact of clinically relevant postoperative intra-abdominal collections (CR-IC) on the clinical course after pancreaticoduodenectomy. C-reactive Protein (CRP) has been validated as a predictor of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Still, its role in predicting CR-IC has not been studied. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent PD at a tertiary hospital between October 2012 and October 2017. The incidence of CR-IC, clinically relevant POPF and other complications, as well as mortality and length of hospitalisation, was retrieved. The impact of CR-IR on mortality and major complications was analysed. The serum CRP levels were retrieved on the third and fifth postoperative days (POD3 and POD5), followed by an analysis of sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve to predict CR-IC using CRP. Results One hundred forty patients were enrolled following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age was 66.5 years (15–83). The incidence of CR-IC was 33.7% (47), and CR-POPF was 24.3%. Pancreatic duct diameter ≤ 4 mm was identified as a risk factor related to CR-IC occurrence. The group of patients who developed CR-IC after PD exhibited a higher rate of complications Clavien-Dindo ≥ III compared to patients without CR-IC (40.4% vs 7.5%, p  III: OR = 10.6 (95% CI: 3.90–28.7). No differences in mortality were reported between the CR-IC group and non-CR-IC group. CRP at postoperative day 3 (POD3) > 17.55 mg/dl and CRP at postoperative day 5 (POD5) > 13.46 mg/dl were predictors of CR-IC (AUC: 0.731 and AUC:0.821, respectively). Conclusions CR-IC has a significant impact after pancreaticoduodenectomy and is associated with a higher incidence of Clavien-Dindo ≥ III complications. Additionally, CRP levels at POD3 and POD5 play a role in predicting CR-IC. Prospective studies are essential to explore strategies for mitigating the occurrence of CR-IC after PD.Open Access Funding provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Impact of comorbidities on hospital mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis: a population-based study of 110,021 patients

Acute pancreatitis; Comorbidity; Hospital mortalityPancreatitis aguda; Comorbilidad; Mortalidad hospitalariaPancreatitis aguda; Comorbilitat; Mortalitat hospitalàriaBackground The impact of pre-existing comorbidities on acute pancreatitis (AP) mortality is not clearly defined. Our study aims to determine the trend in AP hospital mortality and the role of comorbidities as a predictor of hospital mortality. Methods We analyzed patients aged ≥ 18 years hospitalized with AP diagnosis between 2016 and 2019. The data have been extracted from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database of the Spanish Ministry of Health. We performed a univariate and multivariable analysis of the association of age, sex, and comorbidities with hospital mortality in patients with AP. The role of the Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices as predictors of mortality was evaluated. Results A total of 110,021 patients diagnosed with AP were hospitalized during the analyzed period. Hospital mortality was 3.8%, with a progressive decrease observed in the years evaluated. In multivariable analysis, age ≥ 65 years (OR: 4.11, p  1.5 (OR: 2.03, p  1.5 (OR: 2.71, p < 0.001) comorbidity indices were also independently associated with mortality, and ROC curve analysis showed that they are useful for predicting hospital mortality. Conclusions Advanced age, heart disease, renal disease, moderate-severe liver disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease before admission were independently associated with hospital mortality. The Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices are useful for predicting hospital mortality in AP patients. Peer Review reports Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a prevalent acute inflammatory disease that affects the pancreas, with an increased incidence in recent years [1, 2]. Most cases are mild with a self-limited course [3]. However, patients with severe acute pancreatitis have a high mortality rate (20–50%) [4,5,6]. For this reason, many efforts have been made to find predictors of severity and mortality in patients with AP [7,8,9,10,11] to identify patients who need admission to an intensive care unit or specific treatment. In clinical practice, systems such as the Ranson score, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, the Computed Tomography Severity Index (CTSI), the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP), and various biochemical markers are used to predict severe AP and mortality [3, 12,13,14,15,16]. However, hospital mortality in AP could also be related to intrinsic patient characteristics, such as individual comorbidities. Most classic scores do not consider comorbidities before admission, except for APACHE II, but are restricted to severe chronic diseases. According to some previous studies, patients with certain comorbidities, such as obesity [17], hypertriglyceridemia [18], chronic renal failure [19], diabetes [20, 21], and systemic lupus erythematosus [22], are associated with a higher risk of AP severity and mortality. However, few studies currently evaluate the impact of comorbidities on AP severity and mortality. Our study aimed to determine the relevance of comorbidities and their indexes (Charlson and Elixhauser) as predictors of hospital mortality in patients with AP

The role of high serum triglyceride levels on pancreatic necrosis development and related complications

Acute pancreatitis; Pancreatic necrosis; TriglyceridePancreatitis aguda; Necrosi pancreàtica; TriglicèridsPancreatitis aguda; Necrosis pancreática; TriglicéridosBackground The relevance of elevated serum triglyceride (TG) levels in the early stages of acute pancreatitis (AP) not induced by hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) remains unclear. Our study aims to determine the role of elevated serum TG levels at admission in developing pancreatic necrosis. Methods We analyzed the clinical data collected prospectively from patients with AP. According to TG levels measured in the first 24 h after admission, we stratified patients into four groups: Normal TG (< 150 mg/dL), Borderline-high TG (150–199 mg/dL), High TG (200–499 mg/dL) and Very high TG (≥ 500 mg/dL). We analyzed the association of TG levels and other risk factors with the development of pancreatic necrosis. Results A total of 211 patients were included. In the Normal TG group: 122, in Borderline-high TG group: 38, in High TG group: 44, and in Very high TG group: 7. Pancreatic necrosis developed in 29.5% of the patients in the Normal TG group, 26.3% in the Borderline-high TG group, 52.3% in the High TG group, and 85.7% in the Very high TG group. The trend analysis observed a significant association between higher TG levels and pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.001). A multivariable analysis using logistic regression showed that elevated TG levels ≥ 200 mg/dL (High TG and Very high TG groups) were independently associated with pancreatic necrosis (OR: 3.27, 95% CI − 6.27, p < 0.001). Conclusions An elevated TG level at admission ≥ 200 mg/dl is independently associated with the development of pancreatic necrosis. The incidence of pancreatic necrosis increases proportionally with the severity of HTG