Author Spotlight: Zoe Larghi Laureiro

Zoe Larghi Laureiro is currently at her 4th year of General Surgery Residency at Umberto I Hospital, La Sapienza University of Rome. She will become a general surgeon following her graduation on December 2021. Her clinical and research interests include hepato-pancreatic-biliary surgery and liver transplantation

Uncommon indications for associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy: a systematic review

Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) represents an innovative surgical technique used for the treatment of large hepatic lesions at high risk for post-resection liver failure due to a small future liver remnant. The most significant amount of literature concerns the use of ALPPS for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCC), and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). On the opposite, few is known about the role of ALPPS for the treatment of uncommon liver pathologies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the current literature on this topic. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Eligible articles published up to February 2020 were included using the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Among the 486 articles screened, 45 papers met the inclusion criteria, with 136 described cases of ALPPS for rare indications. These 136 cases were reported in 18 different countries. Only in two countries, namely Germany and Brazil, more than ten cases were observed. As for the ALPPS indications, we reported 41 (30.1%) cases of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) metastases, followed by 27 (19.9%) cases of gallbladder cancer (GBC), nine (6.6%) pediatric cases, six (4.4%) gastrointestinal stromal tumors, six (4.4%) adult cases of benign primary liver disease, four (2.9%) adult cases of malignant primary liver disease, and 43 (31.6%) adult cases of malignant secondary liver disease. According to the International ALPPS Registry data, less than 10% of the ALPPS procedures have been performed for the treatment of uncommon liver pathologies. NET and GBC are the unique pathologies with acceptable numerosity. ALPPS for NET appears to be a safe procedure, with satisfactory long-term results. On the opposite, the results observed for the treatment of GBC are poor. However, these data should be considered with caution. The rationale for treating benign pathologies with ALPPS appears to be weak. No definitive response should be given for all the other pathologies. Multicenter studies are needed with the intent to clarify the potentially beneficial effect of ALPPS for their treatment

Ciliated Cells in Renal Calyx mucosa: Metaplastic Change or Developmental Abnormality? Immunohistochemical Study of one Case and Review of the Literature

Ciliated epithelial cells have been rarely observed in urothelium lined mucosa. Only extremely rare reports in the literature have described this phenomenon and no cases have been described in other sites than the male urethra. Herein, we illustrate the finding of ciliated pseudostratified columnar cells in the renal calyx mucosa adjacent to an area of urothelial invasive carcinoma in an 82 year-old man with previous history of nephrolithiasis. The ciliated cells covered a linear extension of 0.5 cm: they were positive for keratin 7 and keratin 8/18 and negative for keratin 20. Alcian blue staining was positive in some vacuoles in the apical cytoplasm of the same cells whereas PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) staining was negative. GATA3 resulted negative in ciliated cells except for a layer in the basal portion of the epithelium, just above the basal membrane. The actual prevalence of ciliated epithelia in the urinary tract is not well documented and the current knowledge on the subject is limited to electron scanning microscopy studies. The significance of this phenomenon remains unknown: it could be either a developmental abnormality or more probably a metaplastic change. Associated urolithiasis, which has been described in both a previous report and in the present one, could hypothetically represent a possible trigger for this unusual cell change. However, this hypothesis needs to be confirmed through further investigation

there is a great future in plastics. Personalized approach to the management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma using a 3-d-printed liver model

In recent years, three-dimensional (3-D) printing technology has become a standard tool that is used in several medical applications such as education, surgical training simulation and planning, and doctor–patient communication. Although liver surgery is ideally complemented by the use of preoperative 3-D-printed models, only a few publications have addressed this topic. We report the case of a 29-year-old Caucasian woman admitted for a Klatskin tumor infiltrating the right portal vein requiring surgery that required complex vascular reconstruction. A life-sized liver model with colorful plastic vessels and realistic looking tumor was created with the aim of planning an optimal surgical approach. According to the 3-D model, we performed a right hepatic trisectionectomy, also removing enbloc the tract of portal vein encased by the tumor and the neoplastic thrombus, followed by a complex vascular reconstruction between the main portal vein and the left portal branch. After 22 months of follow-up, the patient was alive and continuing chemotherapy. The use of the 3-D models in liver surgery helps clarify several useful preoperative issues. The accuracy of the model regarding anatomical findings was high. In the case of complex vascular reconstruction strategies, rational use of 3-D printing technology should be implemented

Transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation and risk of post-transplant vascular complications: a multicentre observational cohort and propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) on the waiting list for liver transplantation may be associated with an increased risk for hepatic artery complications. The present study aims to assess the risk for, primarily, intraoperative technical hepatic artery problems and, secondarily, postoperative hepatic artery complications encountered in patients who received TACE before liver transplantation. METHODS: Available data from HCC liver transplantation recipients across six European centres from January 2007 to December 2018 were analysed in a 1 : 1 propensity score-matched cohort (TACE versus no TACE). Incidences of intraoperative hepatic artery interventions and postoperative hepatic artery complications were compared. RESULTS: Data on postoperative hepatic artery complications were available in all 876 patients (425 patients with TACE and 451 patients without TACE). Fifty-eight (6.6 per cent) patients experienced postoperative hepatic artery complications. In total 253 patients who had undergone TACE could be matched to controls. In the matched cohort TACE was not associated with a composite of hepatic artery complications (OR 1.73, 95 per cent c.i. 0.82 to 3.63, P = 0.149). Data on intraoperative hepatic artery interventions were available in 825 patients (422 patients with TACE and 403 without TACE). Intraoperative hepatic artery interventions were necessary in 69 (8.4 per cent) patients. In the matched cohort TACE was not associated with an increased incidence of intraoperative hepatic artery interventions (OR 0.94, 95 per cent c.i. 0.49 to 1.83, P = 0.870). CONCLUSION: In otherwise matched patients with HCC intended for liver transplantation, TACE treatment before transplantation was not associated with higher risk of technical vascular issues or hepatic artery complications

Proposal and validation of a liver graft discard score for liver transplantation from deceased donors: a multicenter Italian study

: Several studies have explored the risk of graft dysfunction after liver transplantation (LT) in recent years. Conversely, risk factors for graft discard before or at procurement have poorly been investigated. The study aimed at identifying a score to predict the risk of liver-related graft discard before transplantation. Secondary aims were to test the score for prediction of biopsy-related negative features and post-LT early graft loss. A total of 4207 donors evaluated during the period January 2004-Decemeber 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The group was split into a training set (n = 3,156; 75.0%) and a validation set (n = 1,051; 25.0%). The Donor Rejected Organ Pre-transplantation (DROP) Score was proposed: - 2.68 + (2.14 if Regional Share) + (0.03*age) + (0.04*weight)-(0.03*height) + (0.29 if diabetes) + (1.65 if anti-HCV-positive) + (0.27 if HBV core) - (0.69 if hypotension) + (0.09*creatinine) + (0.38*log10AST) + (0.34*log10ALT) + (0.06*total bilirubin). At validation, the DROP Score showed the best AUCs for the prediction of liver-related graft discard (0.82; p < 0.001) and macrovesicular steatosis ≥ 30% (0.71; p < 0.001). Patients exceeding the DROP 90th centile had the worse post-LT results (3-month graft loss: 82.8%; log-rank P = 0.024).The DROP score represents a valuable tool to predict the risk of liver function-related graft discard, steatosis, and early post-LT graft survival rates. Studies focused on the validation of this score in other geographical settings are required

Transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation and risk of post-transplant vascular complications: a multicentre observational cohort and propensity score-matched analysis

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) on the waiting list for liver transplantation may be associated with an increased risk for hepatic artery complications. The present study aims to assess the risk for, primarily, intraoperative technical hepatic artery problems and, secondarily, postoperative hepatic artery complications encountered in patients who received TACE before liver transplantation. Methods: Available data from HCC liver transplantation recipients across six European centres from January 2007 to December 2018 were analysed in a 1 : 1 propensity score-matched cohort (TACE versus no TACE). Incidences of intraoperative hepatic artery interventions and postoperative hepatic artery complications were compared. Results: Data on postoperative hepatic artery complications were available in all 876 patients (425 patients with TACE and 451 patients without TACE). Fifty-eight (6.6 per cent) patients experienced postoperative hepatic artery complications. In total 253 patients who had undergone TACE could be matched to controls. In the matched cohort TACE was not associated with a composite of hepatic artery complications (OR 1.73, 95 per cent c.i. 0.82 to 3.63, P = 0.149). Data on intraoperative hepatic artery interventions were available in 825 patients (422 patients with TACE and 403 without TACE). Intraoperative hepatic artery interventions were necessary in 69 (8.4 per cent) patients. In the matched cohort TACE was not associated with an increased incidence of intraoperative hepatic artery interventions (OR 0.94, 95 per cent c.i. 0.49 to 1.83, P = 0.870). Conclusion: In otherwise matched patients with HCC intended for liver transplantation, TACE treatment before transplantation was not associated with higher risk of technical vascular issues or hepatic artery complications

Transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation and risk of post-transplant vascular complications: a multicentre observational cohort and propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) on the waiting list for liver transplantation may be associated with an increased risk for hepatic artery complications. The present study aims to assess the risk for, primarily, intraoperative technical hepatic artery problems and, secondarily, postoperative hepatic artery complications encountered in patients who received TACE before liver transplantation. METHODS Available data from HCC liver transplantation recipients across six European centres from January 2007 to December 2018 were analysed in a 1 : 1 propensity score-matched cohort (TACE versus no TACE). Incidences of intraoperative hepatic artery interventions and postoperative hepatic artery complications were compared. RESULTS Data on postoperative hepatic artery complications were available in all 876 patients (425 patients with TACE and 451 patients without TACE). Fifty-eight (6.6 per cent) patients experienced postoperative hepatic artery complications. In total 253 patients who had undergone TACE could be matched to controls. In the matched cohort TACE was not associated with a composite of hepatic artery complications (OR 1.73, 95 per cent c.i. 0.82 to 3.63, P = 0.149). Data on intraoperative hepatic artery interventions were available in 825 patients (422 patients with TACE and 403 without TACE). Intraoperative hepatic artery interventions were necessary in 69 (8.4 per cent) patients. In the matched cohort TACE was not associated with an increased incidence of intraoperative hepatic artery interventions (OR 0.94, 95 per cent c.i. 0.49 to 1.83, P = 0.870). CONCLUSION In otherwise matched patients with HCC intended for liver transplantation, TACE treatment before transplantation was not associated with higher risk of technical vascular issues or hepatic artery complications

Performance of Comprehensive Complication Index and Clavien-Dindo Complication Scoring System in Liver Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: We aimed to assess the ability of comprehensive complication index (CCI) and Clavien‐Dindo complication (CDC) scale to predict excessive length of hospital stay (e‐LOS) in patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Patients were identified from an Italian multi‐institutional database and randomly selected to be included in either a derivation or validation set. Multivariate logistic regression models and ROC curve analysis including either CCI or CDC as predictors of e‐LOS were fitted to compare predictive performance. E‐LOS was defined as a LOS longer than the 75th percentile among patients with at least one complication. Results: A total of 2669 patients were analyzed (1345 for derivation and 1324 for validation). The odds ratio (OR) was 5.590 (95%CI 4.201; 7.438) for CCI and 5.507 (4.152; 7.304) for CDC. The AUC was 0.964 for CCI and 0.893 for CDC in the derivation set and 0.962 vs. 0.890 in the validation set, respectively. In patients with at least two complications, the OR was 2.793 (1.896; 4.115) for CCI and 2.439 (1.666; 3.570) for CDC with an AUC of 0.850 and 0.673, respectively in the derivation cohort. The AUC was 0.806 for CCI and 0.658 for CDC in the validation set. Conclusions: When reporting postoperative morbidity in liver surgery, CCI is a preferable scale