39 research outputs found

    Living Donor Liver Transplantation to a Survivor of LiverResection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Major Portal Vein Invasion

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    We present a case of living donor liver transplantation to a 3-year disease-free survivor of liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with major portal vein invasion. A 48-year-old man had HCC in the right lobe with a portal venous tumor thrombus extending into the left portal vein. An extended right lobectomy with thrombectomy was performed to remove the thrombus. Three years after liver resection, the patient experienced liver failure, with massive ascites and jaundice due to the formation of a thrombus in the main and left portal veins. During the 3 years after liver resection, no metastasis or recurrence of HCC had been detected, and tumor markers had been within normal ranges. The portal venous thrombus did not show any arterial enhancement under contrast-enhanced computed tomography, suggesting that the co-existence of any HCC component in the portal venous thrombus may have been negative. Based on these findings, living donor liver transplantation was performed using a right lobe graft from the patientʼs son. The patient is alive at 87 months after the transplantation, with no evidence of HCC recurrence

    CD14 upregulation as a distinct feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after pancreatoduodenectomy

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    AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: A cohort of 82 patients who underwent PD at Okayama University Hospital between 2003 and 2009 was enrolled and the clinicopathological features were compared between patients with and without NAFLD after PD. Computed tomography (CT) images were evaluated every 6 mo after PD for follow-up. Hepatic steatosis was diagnosed on CT when hepatic attenuation values were 40 Hounsfield units. Liver biopsy was performed for 4 of 30 patients with NAFLD after PD who consented to undergo biopsies. To compare NAFLD after PD with NAFLD associated with metabolic syndrome, liver samples were obtained from 10 patients with NAFLD associated with metabolic syndrome [fatty liver, n = 5; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), n = 5] by percutaneous ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy. Double-fluorescence immunohistochemistry was applied to examine CD14 expression as a marker of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitized macrophage cells (Kupffer cells) in liver biopsy specimens. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative NAFLD was 36.6% (30/82). Univariate analysis identified cancer of the pancreatic head, sex, diameter of the main pancreatic duct, and dissection of the nerve plexus as factors associated with the development of NAFLD after PD. Those patients who developed NAFLD after PD demonstrated significantly decreased levels of serum albumin, total protein, cholesterol and triglycerides compared to patients without NAFLD after PD, but no glucose intolerance or insulin resistance. Liver biopsy was performed in four patients with NAFLD after PD. All four patients showed moderate-to-severe steatosis and NASH was diagnosed in two. Numbers of cells positive for CD68 (a marker of Kupffer cells) and CD14 (a marker of LPS-sensitized Kupffer cells) were counted in all biopsy specimens. The number of CD68+ cells in specimens of NAFLD after PD was significantly increased from that in specimens of NAFLD associated with metabolic syndrome specimens, which indicated the presence of significantly more Kupffer cells in NAFLD after PD than in NAFLD associated with metabolic syndrome. Similarly, more CD14+ cells, namely, LPS-sensitized Kupffer cells, were observed in NAFLD after PD than in NAFLD associated with metabolic syndrome. Regarding NASH, more CD68+ cells and CD14+ cells were observed in NASH after PD specimens than in NASH associated with metabolic syndrome. This showed that more Kupffer cells and more LPS-sensitized Kupffer cells were present in NASH after PD than in NASH associated with metabolic syndrome. These observations suggest that after PD, Kupffer cells and LPS-sensitized Kupffer cells were significantly upregulated, not only in NASH, but also in simple fatty liver. CONCLUSION: NAFLD after PD is characterized by both malnutrition and the up-regulation of CD14 on Kupffer cells. Gut-derived endotoxin appears central to the development of NAFLD after PD

    Resection of Metachronous Lymph Node Metastases from Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Hepatectomy: Report of Four Cases

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    We report 4 cases of surgical resection of metachronous lymph node (LN) metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following hepatectomy. Clinicopathological features and results of LN dissection were investigated in the 4 patients. One patient was found to have a single metastasis in the mediastinal LNs, another had multiple metastases in the mediastinal and abdominal LNs, and the other 2 had single metastases in the abdominal LN. The locations of the abdominal LN metastases were behind the pancreas head in 2 patients and around the abdominal aorta in 1 patient. They all underwent surgical resection of metastatic LNs and had no postoperative complications. The 3 patients whose LN metastases were solitary have been alive for more than 2 years after LN resection, and one of them is free from recurrence. The patient with multiple LN metastases died 13 months after LN resection due to carcinomatosis. With the expectation of long-term survival, a single metachronous LN metastasis from HCC after hepatectomy should be resected in patients without uncontrollable intrahepatic or extrahepatic tumors

    Surgical Outcome of Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Analysis of a 17-Year Experience at a Single Center

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    The operative mortality and morbidity of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remain high. We analyzed PD patientsʼ clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes and discuss how PD clinical outcomes could be improved. We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 400 patients who underwent a PD between January 1998 and April 2014 at Okayama University Hospital, a very-high-volume center. We identified and compared the clinical outcomes between two time periods (period 1: 1998-2006 vs. period 2: 2007-2014). The total postoperative mortality and major complication rates were 0.75 and 15.8 , respectively, and the median postoperative length of stay (LOS) was 32 days. Subsequently, patients who underwent a PD during period 2 had a significantly shorter LOS than those who underwent a PD during period 1 (29 days vs. 38.5 days, p<0.001). The incidence of mortality and major complications did not differ between the two periods. In our multivariate analysis, period 1 was an independent factor associated with a long LOS (p<0.001). The improvement of the surgical procedure and perioperative care might be related to the shorter LOS in period 2 and ot the consistently maintained low mortality rate after PD. The development of multimodal strategies to accelerate postoperative recovery may further improve PDʼs clinical outcomes

    Splenic artery syndrome after living donor liver transplantation with ligation of the splenic artery : A case report

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    After orthotopic liver transplantation, splenic artery syndrome (SAS), a phenomenon by which the main blood flow of the impaired hepatic artery is shifted to the splenic artery or gastroduodenal artery despite the absence of a structural lesion involving the anastomosis, has occasionally been observed. We report a 20-year-old women who developed SAS with pancytopenia and refractory ascites after living donor liver transplantation despite intraoperative ligation of the splenic artery as a prophylactic treatment for SAS. In this case SAS was diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). A celiac trunk angiogram showed relative hypoperfusion of the hepatic artery together with augmentation of the blood flow toward the spleen with the unique collateral circulation through the left gastric artery, stomach and short gastric artery, and distal splenic artery. Embolization of one of the two left gastric arteries was performed. After embolization the hepatic artery perfusion showed significant improvement, but reduced again the next day. We ultimately conducted splenectomy. This case showed portal hyperperfusion and portal hypertension, consistent with previous reports that have described an association of SAS with portal hyperperfusion. After splenectomy, there was significant improvement in the hepatic artery perfusion, ascites disappeared promptly, and pancytopenia was significantly improved

    Sarcopenia and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status in the Assessment of Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy

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    Sarcopenia following liver surgery has been reported as a predictor of poor prognosis. Here we investigated predictors of outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and attempted to establish a new comprehensive preoperative assessment protocol. We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 254 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC with Child-Pugh classification A at our hospital between January 2007 and December 2013. Sarcopenia was evaluated by computed tomography measurement. The influence of sarcopenia on outcomes was evaluated. We used multivariate analyses to assess the impact of prognostic factors associated with outcomes, including sarcopenia. Of the 254 patients, 118 (46.5%) met the criteria for sarcopenia, and 32 had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status ≥3. The sarcopenic group had a significantly lower 5-year overall survival rate than the non-sarcopenic group (58.2% vs. 82.4% , p=0.0002). In multivariate analyses of prognostic factors, sarcopenia was an independent predictor of poor survival (hazard ratio [HR]=2.28, p=0.002) and poor ASA status (HR=3.17, p=0.001). Sarcopenia and poor ASA status are independent preoperative predictors for poor outcomes after hepatectomy. The preoperative identification of sarcopenia and ASA status might enable the development of comprehensive approaches to assess surgical eligibility

    Hepatitis C Virus-specific T-cell Response Correlates with Hepatitis Activity and Donor IL28B Genotype Early after Liver Transplantation

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    It is not known how the immune system targets hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected HLA-mismatched hepatocytes under immune-suppressed conditions after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In addition, the relationship between the HCV-specific immune response and IL28B variants as predictors of HCV clearance has not been well-characterized. We determined the IL28B polymorphisms for 57 post-OLT HCV carriers, and we assessed the HCV-specific immune responses by measuring the peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived HCV-specific interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) response using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay. At 1-3 years after OLT, patients with no active hepatitis showed higher total spots on the immunospot assay. At>3 years after OLT, patients with resolved HCV showed higher levels of core, NS3, NS5A, and total spots compared to the chronic hepatitis patients. The IL28B major genotype in the donors correlated with higher spot counts for NS5A and NS5B proteins at 1-3 years after OLT. In the post-OLT setting, the HCV-specific immune response could be strongly induced in patients with no active hepatitis with an IL28B major donor or sustained virological response. Strong immune responses in the patients with no active hepatitis could only be maintained for 3 years and diminished later. It may be beneficial to administer IFN treatment starting 3 years after OLT, to induce the maximum immunological effect

    Gastric aberrant pancreas with acute pancreatitis treated with surgery

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    We experienced a case of gastric aberrant pancreas with acute pancreatitis. The patient was a 42-year-old man. He was referred to our hospital because of epigastric pain. A CT scan and endoscopic examination revealed a gastric submucosal tumor with inflammation. His serum amylase level was high at 222 IU/l. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass lesion, 3 cm in diameter, at the body of his stomach. Endoscopic ultrasoundscopy-guided fine needle aspiration was performed. Pathological examination showed pancreatic tissue. So, he underwent partial gastrectomy due to gastric aberrant pancreas with pancreatitis. There are very few cases of gastric aberrant pancreas with pancreatitis on record

    Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Following Liver Transplantation

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    Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is an extremely rare cause of hyponatremia post-liver transplantation. A 15-year-old Japanese girl with recurrent cholangitis after Kasai surgery for biliary atresia underwent successful living donor liver transplantation. Peritonitis due to gastrointestinal perforation occurred. Hyponatremia gradually developed but improved after hypertonic sodium treatment. One month later, severe hyponatremia rapidly recurred. We considered the hyponatremia’s cause as SIADH. We suspected that tacrolimus was the disease’s cause, so we used cyclosporine instead, plus hypertonic sodium plus water intake restriction, which improved the hyponatremia. Symptomatic hyponatremia manifested by SIADH is a rare, serious complication post-liver transplantation
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