Fixation of the round ligament to the peritoneum and wrapping of the cut surface of the liver for prevention of early delayed gastric emptying after hepatic lateral segmentectomy

Efficacy and safety of adhesion barrier in living-donor liver transplantation with right liver graft to prevent delayed gastric emptying

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a common complication of liver transplantation. This study aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of the application of an adhesion barrier for preventing DGE in living-donor liver transplantation. This retrospective study included 453 patients who underwent living-donor liver transplantation using a right lobe graft between January 2018 and August 2019, and the incidence of postoperative DGE and complications was compared between patients in whom adhesion barrier was used (n=179 patients) and those in whom adhesion barrier was not used (n=274 patients). We performed 1:1 propensity score matching between the 2 groups, and 179 patients were included in each group. DGE was defined according to the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery classification. The use of adhesion barrier was significantly associated with a lower overall incidence of postoperative DGE in liver transplantation (30.7 vs. 17.9%; p =0.002), including grades A (16.8 vs. 9.5%; p =0.03), B (7.3 vs. 3.4%; p =0.08), and C (6.6 vs. 5.5%; p =0.50). After propensity score matching, similar results were observed for the overall incidence of DGE (29.6 vs. 17.9%; p =0.009), including grades A (16.8 vs. 9.5%; p =0.04), B (6.7 vs. 3.4%; p =0.15), and C (6.1 vs. 5.0%; p =0.65). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed a significant correlation between the use of adhesion barrier and a low incidence of DGE. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications between the 2 groups. The application of an adhesion barrier could be a safe and feasible method to reduce the incidence of postoperative DGE in living-donor liver transplantation.

Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Liver Surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendations 2022

BACKGROUND

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has been widely applied in liver surgery since the publication of the first ERAS guidelines in 2016. The aim of the present article was to update the ERAS guidelines in liver surgery using a modified Delphi method based on a systematic review of the literature.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. A modified Delphi method including 15 international experts was used. Consensus was judged to be reached when >80% of the experts agreed on the recommended items. Recommendations were based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations system.

RESULTS

A total of 7541 manuscripts were screened, and 240 articles were finally included. Twenty-five recommendation items were elaborated. All of them obtained consensus (>80% agreement) after 3 Delphi rounds. Nine items (36%) had a high level of evidence and 16 (64%) a strong recommendation grade. Compared to the first ERAS guidelines published, 3 novel items were introduced: prehabilitation in high-risk patients, preoperative biliary drainage in cholestatic liver, and preoperative smoking and alcohol cessation at least 4 weeks before hepatectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

These guidelines based on the best available evidence allow standardization of the perioperative management of patients undergoing liver surgery. Specific studies on hepatectomy in cirrhotic patients following an ERAS program are still needed.

Outcomes of surgical management of peptic ulcer perforation using the falciform ligament: A cross-sectional study at a single centre in Vietnam

Introduction

Peptic ulcer perforation (PUP) is one of the most common critical surgical emergencies. The omentum flap is commonly used to cover a PUP. However, the omentum cannot be used in cases of severe peritonitis or previous surgical removal. This is the first study conducted in Vietnam that was designed to analyse the outcomes of patients with PUPs who were treated using the falciform ligament.

Method

In this study, we retrospectively identified 40 consecutive patients who were treated for PUP at a single high-volume centre in Vietnam from February 2018 to February 2021. Peptic ulcer perforation was measured during diagnostic evaluation based on preoperative imaging, such as X-ray, and CT scan. Patients who had malignancy, laparoscopic surgery, omentopexy and nonoperative treatment were excluded from this research.

Results

Forty patients were included; the mean age of the patients was 66.3 years (range 33–99 years), and some patients had comorbid disease (57.5%), hypertension (30%), diabetes (10%), cirrhosis (7.5%), and chronic renal failure (7.5%). The PUPs were located in the duodenum (80%), or the pyloric (15%) and prepyloric (5%) regions. The procedures used to treat the patients included duodenostomy (32.5%), gastrojejunostomy (37.5%), and antrum resection (2.5%). The average operative time was 88.6 min (45–180 min), hospital stay was 9.6 days (2–35 days), and oral intake was started at 4.1 days (3–8 days); additionally, the 30-day mortality (17.5%) and incidences of pneumonia (25%), multiorgan failure (15%), acute liver failure (5%), wound infection (7.5%), and ulcer peptic fistula (0%) were assessed. Univariate tests showed that an ASA ≥ III and comorbidities, such as pulmonary complications, liver failure and multiorgan failure, were associated with mortality. The multivariate test showed that multiorgan failure was the only factor related to mortality.

Conclusion

The falciform ligament can be efficiently used for the closure of a PUP. Although there were no instances of complication with a reperforated peptic ulcer, the mortality rate was slightly highly related to severe comorbidities and postoperative multiorgan failure.

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Peptic ulcer perforation is one of the most common surgical emergencies with an overall mortality rate is between 1.3% and 20%.

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Comorbidities, over 70 years old, having surgical therapy after 36 hours, and postoperative complications are associated with mortality.

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Using falciform ligament to replace the traditional omental patch is interesting, easy applying and efficiently in the closure of PUP.

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The mortality and complications were still high related to severe comorbidity and multiorgan failure after surgery.

Applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery-a review of their utility and efficacy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Despite their ubiquitous presence, easy availability and diverse possibilities, falciform ligament and hepatic round ligament have been used less frequently than their potential dictates. This article aims to comprehensively review the applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery and assess their utility and efficacy.

METHODS

Medical literature/indexing databases were searched, using internet search engines, for pertinent articles and analysed.

RESULTS

The studied flap and graft have found utility predominantly in the management of diaphragmatic hernias, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, peptic perforations, biliary reconstruction, venous reconstruction, post-operative pancreatic fistula, post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage, hepatic cyst cavity obliteration, liver bleed, sternal dehiscence, splenectomy, reinforcement of aortic stump, feeding access, diagnostic/therapeutic access into portal system, composite tissue allo-transplant and ventriculo-peritoneal shunting where they have exhibited the desired efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft are versatile and have multifarious applications in abdominal surgery with some novel and unique uses in hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery including liver transplantation. Their evident efficacy needs wider adoption to realise their true potential.

Delayed gastric emptying after living donor hepatectomy for liver transplantation

Delayed gastric emptying is a significant postoperative complication of living donor hepatectomy for liver transplantation and may require endoscopic or surgical intervention in severe cases. Although the mechanism of posthepatectomy delayed gastric emptying remains unknown, vagal nerve injury during intraoperative dissection and adhesion formation postoperatively between the stomach and cut liver surface are possible explanations. Here, we present the first reported case of delayed gastric emptying following fully laparoscopic hepatectomy for living donor liver transplantation. Additionally, we also present a case in which symptoms developed after open right hepatectomy, but for which dissection for left hepatectomy was first performed. Through our experience and these two specific cases, we favor a neurovascular etiology for delayed gastric emptying after hepatectomy.

Omental flap wrapping with fixation to the cut surface of the liver for reducing delayed gastric emptying after left-sided hepatectomy

BACKGROUND

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a common complication following left-sided hepatectomy. The goal of this study was to clarify the clinical implications of an omental flap wrapping procedure that includes fixation to the cut surface of the liver to reduce the incidence of DGE after left-sided hepatectomy.

METHODS

The study included 50 consecutive patients who underwent left-sided hepatectomy between January 2000 and July 2011. Clinicopathologic risk factors for DGE after left-sided hepatectomy were identified using univariate and multivariate models. The incidence of DGE, digestive symptoms, and postoperative complications were compared between two groups: 25 patients treated with the omental flap wrapping and fixation procedure and 25 patients who did not receive such a flap.

RESULTS

A univariate analysis revealed that a lack of the omental flap, the lymph node clearance, and use of left hemihepatectomy were associated with postoperative DGE. The multivariate analysis indicated that the lack of the omental flap was the only independent significant factor associated with the DGE (odds ratio, 21.23; p = 0.0002). There was a significant difference in the incidence of DGE between the patients with (4 %) and without an omental flap (36 %). The incidence of gastric distension and the use of prokinetic drugs were also significantly lower in patients with an omental flap than in patients without the flap, and patients with an omental flap resumed a solid diet significantly earlier.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective single-center study revealed that it was possible to reduce the incidence of DGE using a procedure involving omental flap wrapping with fixation to the cut surface of the liver after left-sided hepatectomy.

Using the greater omental flap to cover the cut surface of the liver for prevention of delayed gastric emptying after left-sided hepatobiliary resection: a prospective randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effect on delayed gastric emptying (DGE) of using the greater omental flap to cover the cut surface of the liver after left-sided hepatobiliary resection.

METHODS

From June 2007 to December 2008, all eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the greater omental flap group (OF group) or the control group (non-OF group).

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients remained for final analysis. The incidence of DGE after left-sided hepatobiliary resection was 25%. The incidence of DGE showed no statistically significant differences between the OF group (10%) and the non-OF group (40%) (p = 0.065). The assessment of DGE using radiopaque rings revealed that changes over time in the gastric emptying ratio (GER, percentage of rings excreted from stomach) did not differ in a significant manner between the two groups. There were significant differences in changes over time in GER (p = 0.044) between the patients with and without DGE. The patients with DGE also showed higher GER at 5 h (p = 0.042) and at 6 h (p = 0.034) than those without DGE.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the greater omental flap to cover the cut surface of the liver may reduce the incidence of DGE after left-sided hepatobiliary resection. Assessment using radiopaque markers may be useful to evaluate DGE.