Surgical management of biliary malignancy

Persistent hyperbilirubinemia following preoperative biliary stenting in patients undergoing anatomic hepatectomy predicts serious complications

BACKGROUND

Biliary obstruction before liver resection is a known risk factor for post-operative complications. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of persistent hyperbilirubinemia following preoperative biliary drainage before liver resection.

METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP (2016-2021) database was used to extract patients with cholangiocarcinoma who underwent anatomic liver resection with preoperative biliary drainage comparing those with persistent hyperbilirubinemia (> 1.2 mg/dL) to those with resolution. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared with bivariate analysis. Multivariable modeling evaluated factors including persistent hyperbilirubinemia to evaluate their independent effect on serious complications, liver failure, and mortality.

RESULTS

We evaluated 463 patients with 217 (46.9%) having hyperbilirubinemia (HB) despite biliary stenting. Bivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with HB had a higher rate of serious complications than those with non-HB (80.7% vs 70.3%; P = 0.010) including bile leak (40.9% vs 31.8%; P = 0.045), liver failure (26.7% vs 17.9%; P = 0.022), and bleeding (48.4% vs 36.6%; P = 0.010). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that persistent HB was independently associated with serious complications (OR 1.88, P = 0.020) and mortality (OR 2.39, P = 0.049) but not post-operative liver failure (OR 1.65, P = 0.082).

CONCLUSIONS

Failed preoperative biliary decompression is a predictive factor for post-operative complications and mortality in patients undergoing hepatectomy and may be useful for preoperative risk stratification.

[Surgical treatment and prognostic factors in perihilar tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To study the results of surgical treatment in patients with perihilar tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed 98 patients with perihilar tumors who underwent surgery.

RESULTS

We prefer percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (n=58) for jaundice. Retrograde interventions were performed in 18 cases (20.5%), complications grade III-IV were more common (p=0.037) in the last group. Postoperative mortality was 12%. Complications developed in 81 patients (82.7%), grade ≥3 - in 39 (39.8%) cases. Portal vein resection (n=26) increased the incidence of complications grade ≥III (p=0.035) and portal vein thrombosis (p=0.0001). Chemotherapy after surgery was performed in 47 patients (48.0%), photodynamic therapy - in 7 (7.1%) patients. A 5-year overall survival was 28.1%, the median survival - 29 months. R2 resection and/or M1 stage (n=12) significantly worsened the prognosis and overall survival (16.5 vs. 31 months, p=0.0055). Lymph node (LN) lesion, microscopic status (R0 vs. R1) of resection margin, technique of decompression and isolated resection of extrahepatic bile ducts did not affect the prognosis, and we combined appropriate patients (n=72) for analysis. SI resection and excision of ≥6 lymph nodes were independent positive factors for disease-free survival (p=0.042 and p=0.007, respectively). Blood transfusion and high preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte index (NLI ≥2.15) worsened overall (p=0.009 and p=0.002, respectively) and disease-free survival (p=0.002 and 0.007, respectively). The absence of adjuvant therapy worsened disease-free survival alone (p=0.024).

CONCLUSION

SI liver resection, adequate lymph node dissection and adjuvant therapy should be used for perihilar tumors. Isolated resection of extrahepatic bile ducts is permissible in some cases. Blood transfusion and NLI ≥2.15 are independent negative prognostic factors.

Efficacy and safety comparison of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and upfront surgery for treating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Currently, surgical resection is the most commonly performed and effective treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) worldwide. However, the prognosis of ICC is unsatisfactory. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and upfront surgery in treating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The study also intends to explore whether chemotherapy should be introduced before surgery and which populations should be considered for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHOD

Four databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, were searched from their inception dates to January 2022 for relevant articles. The statistical analysis was performed using the Review Manager Software (version5.3). The non-randomized interventions (ROBINS-I) was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies and the overall quality of evidence was assessed through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. Moreover, the primary outcomes included 1-year, 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS), while the secondary outcomes were R0 resection, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), postoperative complications and ninety-day postoperative mortality.

RESULTS

Five studies involving 2412 patients were included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in 1-year OS, 3-year OS, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year RFS, postoperative complications and ninety-day postoperative mortality between the two groups. However, the meta-analysis showed that the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group had a better 5-year OS benefit in ICC patients than the upfront surgery group (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02-1.58), while the R0 resection rate was lower in neoadjuvant chemotherapy group than that in the upfront surgery group (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26-0.91).

CONCLUSION

Compared with the upfront surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery could prolong the 5-year OS without increasing the risk of postoperative complications in ICC patients. Considering that the patients in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery group had more advanced ICC cases, the benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be more significant in patients with more advanced ICC.

Right hepatic trisectionectomy combined total caudate lobectomy with non-touch technique for advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma: A surgical case report (with video)

Background

Extended resection such as right trisegmentectomy combined with total caudate lobectomy with non-touch technique for advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is still challenging for all Hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeons.

Presentation

A 45-year-old female with advanced hilar CCA involved the right intrahepatic bile ducts in continuity with the left medial sectional bile duct without PV invasion had undergone right trisegmentectomy combined with total caudate lobectomy with non-touch technique. Dissection of the hepatic peduncle by Lorta-Jacob Procedure, ligation, and resection of the right hepatic artery (RHA) and the right portal vein (PV), before that determine whether portal bifurcation's tumor infiltration or not. Mobilization of the right liver lobe, ligate all the short hepatic veins from the caudal to cranial direction, as well as the right hepatic vein (RHV) and the middle hepatic vein (MHV). Complete caudate lobectomy with right–left approach. Determine hepatic parenchyma cut, left cholangiostomy to the division of the subsegments 2,3, stitch formation of the subsegments 2,3 bile duct. Determine negative upper section of the biliary tract. The operative time was 432 min, and the blood loss was 750 ml. Postoperative recovery was uneventful without any major complications but developed intra-abdominal abscess that required percutaneous drainage.

Discussion

Extended resection procedures such as extend right/left trisectionectomy, hepato-pancreaticoduodenectomy (HPD) and/or combined vascular resection are only curative treatment for advanced hilar CCA. There hadn't been any reported cases describing step-by-step right trisegmentectomy combined with total caudate lobectomy with non-touch technique with clear illustrations and videos yet.

Conclusion

Careful preparation with preoperative biliary drainage as well as precise evaluation of the functional capacity of the future liver remnant, as well as meticulous experience of surgeons in hepatic anatomy and non-touch resection technique are key points for success in extended resection for advanced hilar CCA.

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Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) arises from any portion of the biliary epithelium, which is classified to intra-hepatic or extra-hepatic CCA.

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Extended radical resection procedure such as extend right/left trisectionectomy is still challenging for all Hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeons.

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“Non-touch” technique is necessary to accomplish the oncological principles of wide tumor-free resection margins.

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There hadn’t been any reported cases describing step-by-step right trisegmentectomy combined with total caudate lobectomy with No-touch technique with clear illustrations and videos yet.