Ischemic preconditioning improves postoperative outcome after liver resections : a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND: Clamping of the portal triad (Pringle maneuver) prevents blood loss during liver resection, but leads to liver injury upon reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning (IP) has been shown to protect the liver against prolonged ischemic injury in animal models. However, the clinical value of this procedure has not yet been established. METHODS: 61 Patients undergoing hepatic resection under inflow occlusion were randomized to either to receive (Group-A n = 30) or not to receive (Group-B n = 31) an IP (10 minutes of ischemia followed 10 minutes of reperfusion). RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD)/ Group-A vs. Group-B. Pringle time of 34 +/- 14 and 33 +/- 12 minutes and the extent of resected liver tissue (2.7 +/- 1.3 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.1 segments) were comparable in both groups. Complications, including death, severe liver dysfunction and biliary leakage occurred in 6 patients of Group-A vs. 14 patients of Group-B (p>0.05). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in Group-A (1.28 +/- 0.91 l vs. 1.94 +/- 0.76 l; p>0.001) with 5 vs. 15 patients requiring transfusions (p>0.01). In a multivariate analysis the duration of the Pringle maneuver (p>0.05) and the absence of preconditioning (p>0.05) were independent predictors for the occurrence of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: IP protects against reperfusion injury, reduces the incidence of complications after hepatic resection under inflow occlusion and is simple to use in clinical practice

Surgical management of splenic echinococcal disease

Abstract Background Infection of the spleen with echinococcus is a rare clinical entity. Because the diagnosis of a splenic infestation with echinococcus is sometimes delayed, large hydatid cysts or pseudotumors may develop, demanding a differential surgical approach to cure the disease. Methods In a retrospective study 10 patients out of 250 with abdominal echinococcosis (4%) were identified to have splenic infestation, either limited to the spleen (n = 4) or with synchronous involvement of the liver (n = 4), major omentum (n = 1), or the liver and lung (n = 1). Only one patient had alveolar echinococcosis whereas the others showed hydatid cysts of the spleen. Surgical therapy included splenectomy in 7 patients or partial cyst excision combined with omentoplasty in 3 patients. In case of liver involvement, pericystectomy was carried out simultaneously. Results There was no mortality. Postoperative complications were observed in 4 patients. Hospital stay and morbidity were not influenced when splenic procedures were combined with pericystectomies of the liver. Mean follow- up was 8.8 years and all of the patients are free of recurrence at this time. Conclusions Splenectomy should be the preferred treatment of hydatid cysts but partial cystectomy is suitable when the cysts are located at the margins of the spleen. Due to low morbidity rates, simultaneous treatment of splenic and liver hydatid cysts is recom mended.</p

Long-term outcome after laparoscopic fenestration of simple liver cysts

BACKGROUND: Simple liver cysts (LCs) represent the most common benign liver disease, with a prevalence of 3-5%. Laparoscopic fenestration is considered the best treatment for symptomatic LCs, but few studies have analyzed the rate or type of recurrence during a long-term follow-up period (>5 years). METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2010, 47 patients underwent laparoscopic fenestration for simple LCs. The indications were symptoms for 42 patients and an uncertain diagnosis for five patients. The follow-up assessment consisted of regular patient evaluations, with results of laboratory data and liver ultrasound. RESULTS: Conversion to laparotomy was not necessary in any case. The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were nil. The mean follow-up period was 67 months (range 12-142 months), and 26 patients (55.3%) had a follow-up period longer than 5 years. During the follow-up period, 40 patients (85.1%) did not present with any type of recurrence. The overall recurrence rate was 14.9% (seven patients) based on five patients (10.6%) with radiologic asymptomatic recurrences detected by ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan and two patients (4.3%) with clinicoradiologic symptomatic recurrences. Both symptomatic recurrences involved LCs located in the right posterior segments. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic fenestration provided complete relief of symptoms for about 95% of patients with simple LCs. Recurrence after surgery was experienced by 14.9% of the patients, but only in 4.3% (two patients) was this recurrence symptomatic requiring a second treatment. The site of recurrence was more frequently in the right posterior segments. Laparoscopic fenestration of symptomatic LCs can be considered a safe and effective procedure that can yield good long-term results