Pancreatic leakage test in pancreaticoduodenectomy: relation to degree of pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatic amylase level and pancreatic fistula

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic fistula is major source of postoperative morbidity or mortality. Soft pancreas has been considered to be one of the most important risk factors for pancreatic fistula. The purpose of the study is to clarify the relationship among extravasation of pancreatic secretions from the pancreatic stump, the pancreatic texture and clinical pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

For nineteen patients who were treated between July 2007 and August 2008, we performed intraoperative pancreatic leakage test to confirm the extravasation of pancreatic secretions from the pancreatic stump. Degree of fibrosis at the cut surface of the pancreas was reviewed blindly.

RESULTS

Serum pancreatic amylase increased on first postoperative day (POD) and returned to preoperative level on 3POD. These change were inversely correlated with fibrosis (P < 0.001), namely the amylase level in patients with normal to mild fibrotic pancreas showed marked increase on 1POD, but not in those with moderate to severe fibrotic pancreas. Positive pancreatic leakage test was recognized in five patients (26.3%), four of 9 patients with soft pancreas (44.4%) and one of 10 with hard pancreas (10.0%). In soft pancreas, all four cases showing positive leakage test developed pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy, while one positive case in hard pancreas did not develop pancreatic fistula.

CONCLUSION

The extravasation of pancreatic secretions from the pancreatic stump occurred frequently in soft pancreas, which might result in postoperative pancreatic fistula. Therefore we should take care in treating branched duct as well as main pancreatic duct at the pancreatic stump of soft pancreas.

Effect of proton pomp inhibitor (PPI : Rabeprazole) on reflux esophagitis after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS), a randomized control study (24 hour-pH monitoring)

BACKGROUND

Transient esophageal ulceration is a common finding after sclerotherapy of varices. These ulcers sometimes cause pain, ulcer bleeding, and stricture formation. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) after Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) is a known cause of worsening ulcer formation. Therefore, an efficient drug for GER is desirable to improve the quality of life of patients with esophageal varices.

METHODS

We randomized 18 Japanese cirrhotic patients who had risky esophageal varices. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups, and during EIS sessions, one group was administered proton pump inhibitor(PPI) (Rabeprazole 20 mg a person once a day), while the other received histamine H2 receptor antagonist (H2-blocker) (famotidine 20 mg a person, twice a day). Gastroesophageal reflux was monitored by a 24-h pH-monitoring catheter introduced into the distal esophagus. Ulcer formation was evaluated using an endoscopic examination. The subjective and objective symptoms were also compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All patients in the H2-blocker group showed an increased percentage of time with pH < 4.0 after EIS sessions, but no patients in the PPI group showed an increased such symptoms. The H2-blocker group also experienced a significantly higher number of days of heartburn and dysphasia than did the PPI group (p = 0.017, p = 0.042). The rate of ulcer improvement was found to be faster in Rabeprazole group than in H2 blocker group (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that Rabeprazole treatment prevents EIS-associated gastroesophageal reflux and promotes ulcer healing. Rabeprazole also improve the subjective symptoms following EIS.

Lumbar hernia treated with lightweight partially absorbable mesh: report of a case

Superior lumbar hernia, also known as Grynfeltt-Lesshaft hernia, is an uncommon abdominal wall defect. We report a case of superior lumbar hernia, which was successfully treated with a lightweight partially absorbable mesh. A 73-year-old man visited our department with complaints of lumbar pain and a feeling of pressure associated with a right lumbar mass. A CT scan of the abdomen demonstrated a defect in the aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis muscle and a protrusion of the small intestine through the defect. The diagnosis of a right superior lumbar hernia was made. The lumbar hernia was surgically treated with a lightweight large-pore polypropylene mesh containing an absorbable component consisting of poliglecaprone (ULTRAPRO Plug). The patient had no evidence of recurrence after 4 years of follow-up without any sense of discomfort. This is the first case report of a lumbar hernia treated with a lightweight partially absorbable mesh. This partially absorbable mesh can be considered to be suitable for the treatment of a lumbar hernia.

[Two cases of acute large bowel obstruction caused by advanced cancer treated with stenting "bridge to surgery" procedure]

Obstructive colorectal cancer accounts for 3.1-15.8% of total colorectal cancer cases, therefore it is not a rare condition. Formerly, it has been often treated with emergent operation such as colostomy or trans-anal tube decompression. Since 2012, revision of the medical payment system, it has become possible to be treated with elective operation when using endoscopic metal stent placement that enable to decompress enlarged intestine by transanal approach. This procedure provides safe elective surgery with sufficient preoperative inspection and conventional bowel preparation. We report two cases of acute large bowel obstruction due to colon cancer treated with endoscopic stent placement as a "bridge to surgery".

[Laparoscopic repair of incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia as a late complication of laparoscopic right hepatectomy: a case report]

Incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia after laparoscopic right hepatectomy is very rare. An 81-year-old man underwent laparoscopic right hepatectomy for giant hepatic hemangioma. Twenty months after the surgery, he began to complain of nausea and abdominal pain and was brought to our hospital. Chest X-ray showed an abdominal gas shadow above the right diaphragm and computed tomography showed herniation of the colon into the right thoracic cavity. We diagnosed ileus due to incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia and performed emergency operation under laparoscopic surgery. After successfully reducing the prolapsed colon back to the abdominal cavity, the diaphragmatic hernia orifice was repaired. Incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia sometimes causes the fatal state. Clinicians must therefore consider such findings a late complication of laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Impact of high preoperative steroid doses on postoperative complications among patients on prolonged preoperative steroid therapy

Corticosteroids are essential to maintain the organic homeostasis. Steroid, glucocorticoid or its synthetic analog is widely used for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Prolonged steroid therapy is reported to cause the susceptibility to infection, impaired wound healing and psychoneurosis, however whether the quantity of taking the preoperative steroid is associated the postoperative complication is still unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the steroid dose in patients on prolonged preoperative steroid therapy is associated postoperative morbidity and mortality. Twenty-five patients taking steroid for various illnesses and underwent the surgery under general anesthesia were selected in this study. The mean +/- standard deviation and the median of the steroid dose converted into hydrocortisone (mg/day) were 39.2 +/- 31.0 and 20, respectively. Of 25 cases, postoperative complications were seen in 10 cases. The postoperative complication was severe based on the grade of Clavien and Dindo by ANOVA as the doses of taking steroid increased (p = 0.0171). The grave postoperative complication classified as Clavien and Dindo grade III occurred with 100% sensitivity and 87% specificity for the steroid dose converted into hydrocortisone > 80 mg/day. Preoperative taking the large amount of steroid (> 80 mg/day) could cause a grave complication. More careful selection of the operative procedure might improve the mobidity rate.

Evaluation of a transection method for distal pancreatectomy: A comparative study on the use of electrosurgical and stapling devices in swine

BACKGROUND

Despite marked improvements in pancreatic surgery, the high incidence of pancreatic fistula and high morbidity after resection persists.

PURPOSES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of electrosurgical and stapling devices as an alternative to traditional methods of stump closure in an animal model of distal pancreatectomy.

METHODS

Four devices were used for transection of the pancreatic body : a bi-polar thermofusion system attached to an automatic irrigation function (BI, n = 3), a bi-polar tissue sealer (BS, n = 3), an ultrasonic scissor (US, n = 3), and an endoscopic stapling device (ES, n = 3). For each group, burst pressure was tested using an electronic manometer, with a focus on the location (s) of the first disruption (s). Histological examination was performed for the dissected surfaces. The transection line, including staples, was embedded in a polyester resin, and histological examination was performed for these polished sections of the resin.

RESULTS

Pressure was significantly higher for BI (P < 0.01) than that for the other devices. In contrast, thermal denaturation of the pancreas parenchyma was observed at a depth of approximately 1 mm from the dissected portion for BS, while it extended beyond 15 mm for BI. The staple line was the first disruption point for all of ES cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The pellicle of the pancreas is likely to be deficient after a surgical operation. If the pellicle is preserved, the strength of the pellicle may be insufficient for complete closure with high stapling mechanical pressure or the protein coagulation of usually used electrosurgical devices.

Repeat hepatectomy for intrahepatic recurrence of cholangiolocellular carcinoma

A 68-year-old man underwent a partial resection of the liver and lymph node dissection for a tumor, 3.0 cm in diameter, in S4 of the liver under the diagnosis of cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). The histological diagnosis was cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CoCC) and lymphatic permeation and venous invasion were recognized. Seven months after surgery, CT demonstrated two recurrent nodules in S7 and S8 of the liver, then a partial resection of the liver was performed. The gross and pathological findings were the same as the previously resected tumor. Four months after the second operation, CT demonstrated dilated intrahepatic bile ducts and lymph node swelling of the hepatic hilum. The patient died of disease thirteen months after the first operation. On the basis of the clinical and pathological features of this case, we consider that CoCC clinically resembles CCC and prognosis may be unfavorable, although it has characteristic pathological findings. It is still controversial whether CoCC should be accepted as a separate entity. The significance of repeat hepatectomy for recurrence and adjuvant chemotherapy should be clarified to improve the prognosis of CoCC.

Clinical results of preoperative CDDP/5-FU chemotherapy followed by surgery for patients with clinical stage II/III thoracic esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to clarify the outcomes of preoperative CDDP/5-FU chemotherapy (FP therapy) followed by surgery for patients with clinical Stage II/III thoracic esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with clinical Stage II/III thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent FP therapy followed by esophagectomy were investigated with regard to the perioperative clinical results and postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

Grade 3 or 4 adverse effects associated with FP therapy were recognized in 2 of the 17 (11.8%) cases, and 16 patients completed 2 cycles of FP therapy (94.1%). Complications after surgery occurred in 7 cases (41.2%). There were 7 patients with postoperative recurrences (41.2%), 6 of whom had clinical Stage III disease. Similarly, 4 out of the 5 patients who died of cancer had clinical Stage III disease. All recurrences and cancer-related deaths were recognized in histological effectiveness of Grade 0/1 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative FP therapy was found to be safe for patients with clinical Stage II/III thoracic esophageal cancer. However, the treatment seemed to be less beneficial for Stage III patients than for Stage II patients, thus suggesting that a more powerful preoperative treatment may be necessary for clinical Stage III patients.

Prognostic markers for immunochemotherapy using tegafur -uracil (UFT) and protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK)

AIM/BACKGROUND

We previously reported that PSK-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis reaction (PSK-stimulation index; PSK-SI) may be a prognostic marker for immunochemotherapy using PSK in gastrointestinal cancer patients. In this study we evaluated the usefulness of PSK-SI as a prognostic marker for PSK therapy at higher and lower serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) levels.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

98 gastric and 135 colorectal cancer patients were analyzed. PSK-SI and serum IAP levels were measured preoperatively. After operation, patients received UFT and PSK for two years.

RESULTS

There were no differences between patients with higher and those with lower PSK-SI with respect to the clinicopathological factors. In patients with higher serum IAP levels (> or = 500 microg/ml), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were apparently more favorable in the higher PSK-SI group (gastric cancer; > or = 1.75, colorectal cancer; > or = 2.1) than in lower PSK-SI group, although the differences were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Serum IAP levels and PSK-SI may be useful markers for prediction of response to immunochemotherapy using PSK, although further studies are necessary.

[Optimum hepatic parenchymal dissection to prevent bile leak: a comparative study using electrosurgical and stapling devices in swine]

BACKGROUND

Bile leakage is a serious complication of liver resection, and its treatment is very time-consuming. In open liver resection, Glisson's sheaths are usually disconnected by ligation to the extent possible during the parenchyma dissection. However, in laparoscopic surgery, the ligation, suture, and hemostasis are more difficult than in open surgery. For this reason, in laparoscopic liver resection, liver parenchyma dissection is generally accomplished using electrosurgical or stapling devices.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to verify the authenticity of electrosurgical devices attached an automatic irrigation function (AI) and stapling devices for laparoscopic liver parenchymal dissection.

METHODS

Four devices were used for liver parenchymal dissection in laparoscopic hepatic wedge resection, in pigs: monopolar high-frequency electric cautery attached AI (MCI) (n = 6), bipolar high-frequency electric cautery attached AI (BCI) (n = 6), bipolar tissue sealing system (LigaSure) attached AI (BSI) and an endoscopic stapling device (ECHELON FLEX ENDOPATH) (ES). In each group, burst pressures were tested using an electronic manometer, paying special attention to the location (s) of the first disruption (s). The dissected tissues were examined histologically.

RESULTS

Pressures used in electrosurgical devices attach AI were significantly higher compared to pressures used in a ES (P < 0.001). While thermal denaturation of the liver parenchyma occurred at approximately 2-3 mm of depth when bipolar high-frequency electric cautery was used for dissection, it reached up to more than 10 mm with monopolar high-frequency electric cautery. All of the first disruption points of stapling were at stapling line.

CONCLUSIONS

Electrosurgical devices with an automatic irrigation function are useful devices to dissect the liver parenchyma.

[Successful laparoscopic repair of delayed traumatic abdominal wall hernia]

The occurrence of traumatic abdominal wall hernia secondary to blunt trauma is uncommon, and laparoscopic repair of such hernias is very rare. A 53-year-old man, who had sustained injuries to his right thigh and right abdomen 8 months previously, visited a hospital because of a bulge in the right lateral abdomen. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a rupture in the lateral abdominal muscle and herniation of the cecum into the subcutaneous space. Accordingly, delayed traumatic abdominal wall hernia was diagnosed, which was successfully repaired laparoscopically. Thus, a laparoscopic tension-free mesh repair was safely and effectively performed for delayed traumatic abdominal wall hernia.

[Patient with bulky duodenum GIST became complete resection possible after primary systemic therapy: a case report]

A case was a 77 years old male. Exertional breathlessness was a chief complaint, and anemia was pointed out. A duodenum GIST was detected by gastroscopy. The CT scan showed infiltration in an inferior vena cava, the right kidney, and an ascending colon, so we judged that radical cure resection was difficult. We started Imatinib medication. Six months after the medication start, because the border with surroundings also became clear, we became a plan of the operation. The tumor existed in the descending limb of duodenum and the distance with papilla Vater was maintained, so the complete excision by duodenal portion resection was possible for it. Although meaning of primary systemic therapy for GIST was not established, it was shown that medicating Imatinib to the high-level partial advance GIST before an operation may become an effective cure which avoids an extended operation and makes complete resection of a tumor possible.

Anatomical hepatic resection of segment VIII with preoperative 3-dimensional volumetry using SYNAPSE VINCENT and ultrasound-guided vessel compression: report of a case

We report a case of 90-year-old patient who underwent preoperative 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) volumetric analysis using SYNAPSE VINCENT imaging software and anatomical resection of segment VIII using ultrasound-guided vessel compression. Preoperative abdominal CT revealed a liver mass measuring 5.0 cm in diameter, and the patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver function was preserved. Preoperative 3D volumetry using SYNAPSE VINCENT revealed the volume of the entire liver to be 1,339 mL and the volume of segment VIII to be 327 mL. Anatomical hepatic resection of segment VIII was performed using ultrasound-guided vessel compression. Operative duration was 372 min and estimated blood loss was 760 mL. Resected liver volume was 290 g. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and there has been no evidence of recurrence since the surgery.

Mirror image hepatectomy in a patient with situs inversus totalis

BACKGROUND

Hepatectomy in a patient with situs inversus patient is technically challenging because of its complete mirror image anatomy, especially for a tumor located deep in the liver. Incorrectly identifying intrahepatic vessels and biliary system would lead to serious complications. We experienced a hepatectomy for a tumor in a patient with situs inversus totalis with referring to computer-generated mirror images.

METHODS

A 66-year-old female patient with situs inversus totalis was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, 5 cm in diameter, centrally located just above the hepatic hilum compressing the right and left hepatic duct. The liver infected with hepatitis C was cirrhotic with a moderate amount of ascites. We preoperatively created several diagrams of the mirror image anatomy and made plans for how to resect this tumor, presupposing the patient had an ordinary anatomy. The tumor was successfully enucleated with referring to these diagrams.

RESULTS

The operation time was 454 minutes. Five units of fresh frozen plasma was transfused intraoperatively. Although she suffered refractory ascites which needed repeated paracentesis, she managed to leave the hospital two months after the operation.

CONCLUSION

Creating a mirror image anatomy enables surgeons to safely perform a complex hepatectomy in a patient with situs inversus totalis.

Rex shunt for portal vein thrombosis after adult living donor liver transplantation

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after liver transplantation is a relatively common but serious complication which could lead to portal hypertension or a direct graft loss. A "Rex" shunt created between the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and the umbilical portion of the left portal vein can be a useful option to treat PVT after pediatric liver transplantation, however, its application to adult patients has not been reported so far because appropriate vein grafts are hardly available. Herein we present a case of PVT after left lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) who underwent the procedure using the own inferior jugular vein and the gonadal vein as a shunt graft. The shunt was patent immediately after the procedure but was thrombosed 2 days after probably due to the insufficient inflow from the SMV and the absence of anticoagulation therapy, for which emergent thrombectomy and ligation of the significant hepatofugal collateral veins followed by full anti-coagulation therapy were performed. The shunt remains open at 8 month after the procedure with a normal anmonia level and liver function. In conclusion, the Rex shunt using recipient's autologous vein grafts is a feasible and valuable option for adult patients to treat PVT after LDLT.

Three-dimensional computed tomography image based endovascular treatment for hepatic vein

Along with the expansion of living donor liver transplantation, whereby hepatic venous anastomosis is mandatory, the frequency of hepatic venous stenosis that need interventional treatment is increasing. Due to its anatomical features, there are several pitfalls in the process of endovascular intervention for hepatic vein. Insufficient information of and around the hepatic vein may lead to miss-diagnosis of target lesion. Simulation by using three-dimensional computed tomography images was useful in planning the direction of X-ray projection and, as a consequence, contributed to safe endovascular treatment for hepatic venous stenosis.

Minimally invasive total pharyng-laryngo-esophagectomy and reconstruction with gastric tube: report of three cases

Total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy (TPLE) is indicated for either cervical esophageal cancer or synchronous double cancer of the thoracic esophagus and head and neck and this operation is extremely invasive. We adopted minimally invasive surgery for three patients who underwent this operation: VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) esophagectomy was undergone in left semi-prone position and laparoscopic approach was also applied to reconstruction with gastric tube. After pharyngo-laryngectomy and gastric tube pull-up through post-mediastinal route, cervical anastomosis was performed. Free jejunal interposition was added in a case, while microvascular venous anastomosis between short gastric vein and cervical vein in another two cases. All patients recovered well without any postoperative complications. This is the first report, which describes minimally invasive TPLE using both VATS and laparoscopic technique in addition with plastic surgery.

Relevance of totally laparoscopic gastrectomy for patients with advanced gastric cancer

PURPOSE

Although the use of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer has been widespread, it has remained controversial whether it can be applied for the patients with advanced gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the safety and usefulness of totally laparoscopic gastrectomy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Totally laparoscopic gastrectomy was applied for a total of 38 patients with pStage IB-III advanced gastric cancer at our institute. The surgical and long-term results were analyzed in those patients.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patents underwent distal gastrectomy and 11 patients underwent total gastrectomy. The mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 41 (range, 16-87). The mean length of the operation and amount of blood loss was 324 min and 123 ml, respectively. Two cases of postoperative bleeding were noted, while neither anastomosis-related complications nor in-hospital death was observed. The follow-up period after surgery was 8-72 months. Postoperative recurrence was observed in 6 patients (peritoneal dissemination: 3 patients, pleural dissemination: 1 patient, liver metastasis: 1 patient, ovarian metastasis: 1 patient). The overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 94.7%, 76.3% and 76.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Totally laparoscopic gastrectomy is safe and can lead to satisfactory long-term outcomes in cases of advanced gastric cancer. Prospective controlled studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Suppression of MAL gene expression in gastric cancer correlates with metastasis and mortality

BACKGROUND

The Myelin and lymphocyte-associated protein gene (MAL), which is located on the long arm of chromosome 2, assigned to the region cen-q13 in humans, has been reported as tumor suppressor in several cancers. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of MAL gene in gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression levels of MAL mRNA was examined using 50 resected gastric cancer specimens used by laser microdissected to determine the clinicopathological significance. MAL expression was then examined by real-time quantitative PCR assay, and we analyzed the correlation between MAL expression and clinicopathological factors.

RESULTS

In clinicopathologic analysis, the low MAL expression group showed significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis than the high expression group (79% and 46%, respectively, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the low MAL expression group had a significantly poorer prognosis than the high expression group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The MAL gene repression related with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in gastric cancer, suggesting that the MAL may be a new candidate node metastasis-suppressor gene for gastric cancer.

Effect of CD133-positive stem cells in repeated recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: a case report

Liver transplantation (LT) is currently one of the best available strategies for treating multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decompensated liver cirrhosis. However, patients often undergo HCC recurrence after LT, with most HCC recurrences detected at 1-2 years. CD133 was the first identified member of the prominin family of pentaspan membrane proteins and is a marker of hepatic stem cells. Here, we report a unique case of seven repeated recurrences of HCC in the lungs after LT, with all HCC recurrences resected curatively by a thoracoscopic approach. Pathological examination revealed moderately differentiated HCC identical to that in the original histology of the liver tumor. Interestingly, no CD133 immunoreactivity was observed in cancerous lesions of the primary HCC and the 1st to 2nd recurrences, as indicated by immunohistochemistry. However, CD133 was strongly stained in the cancerous lesions from the 3rd to 7th recurrences. The patient survived and had no recurrence after 9 years of the initial living donor LT. In conclusion, we investigated an evocative case of seven repeated recurrences of HCC in the lungs to elucidate the significance of circulating CD133-positive hepatic stem cells. This case illustrates the need for further research to clarify the mutual effect of CD133-positive hepatic stem cells for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Thoracoscopic pericardial drainage for gastric tube ulcer penetrated into the pericardium

Peptic ulcer occurring in the gastric conduit for esophageal reconstruction sometimes penetrates into the mediastinal structures. We herein reported a case of pericardial penetration of gastric tube ulcer successfully treated with thoracoscopic pericardial drainage. A 66-year-old Japanese man, who had undergone esophagectomy for esophageal cancer 20 months before, visited our emergency room complaining severe back pain. Computed tomography revealed gastric tube ulcer penetrated into the pericardial space. Thoracoscopic pericardiotomy and drainage was performed and the patient made an uneventful recovery. Thoracoscopic pericardial drainage is useful to manage acute pyogenic pericarditis due to penetration of peptic ulcer which occurred in the gastric tube.

Differential expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 in human primary liver cancer

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) antigen was immunohistochemically examined in 28 patients of the primary hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatectomy. IGF-1 was expressed in 93% (26/28) of the primary lesion and 100% (28/28) of the normal liver. Compared with expression in normal liver, decreased expressions in primary lesions were noted in 36% (10/28) for IGF-1. Histological examination revealed that there were significant correlations between patients with decreased expressions of IGF-1 in primary lesions and poor differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, and portal vein infiltration. These results indicate that expression of IGF-1 has the relationship with the differentiation in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recurrent hepatitis B following recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after living donor liver transplantation

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation for HBV-associated liver diseases results in decreased patient and graft survival. Herein we have reported two cases of HBV recurrence following relapse of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Both cases had LDLT for end-stage liver disease secondary to HBV infection with nodules of HCC exceeding the Milan criteria. HBV prophylaxis using hepatitis B immunoglobulin with nucleos (t) ide analogues were given and HBV DNA levels were consistently undetectable after LDLT. HCC recurred at 5 months and 13 months posttransplant respectively, and chemotherapy and radiation therapy were performed. HBV recurrence occurred during the treatment of HCC. HBV DNA levels increased despite the treatment with anti-HBV agents after HBV recurrence. In hepatitis B surface antigen positive recipients, HBV prophylaxis should be intensified during the treatment of recurrent HCC.

Significance of stroke volume variation during hepatic resection under infrahepatic inferior vena cava and portal triad clamping

PURPOSE

Stroke volume variation (SVV), which is measured by analyzing arterial blood pressure waveform characteristics, is a simple and sensitive indicator of fluid responsiveness. The current retrospective study was to investigate SVV and central venous pressure (CVP) during hepatic resection under clamping of both the infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) and the portal triad.

METHODS

All hepatic resections performed from December 2009 to February 2010 at the Department of Surgery at Iizuka Hospital in Japan were included in this study. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring including CVP and SVV were performed in 14 patients.

RESULTS

CVP was significantly lower in patients with blood loss < or = 486 g than in those with blood loss > 486 g. SVV was significantly higher in patients with blood loss < or = 486 g than those with blood loss > 486 g during both IVC clamping and IVC + portal triad clamping. Estimated blood loss was significantly less in the group with SVV values > 18% compared to the group with values < or = 18%. There was a significant correlation between SVV and CVP (R2 = 0.714; P < .01).

CONCLUSION

SVV is a useful indicator of intraoperative blood loss without the monitoring of CVP during hepatic resection under clamping of both the infrahepatic IVC and the portal triad.