Association between duration of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic abdominal surgery and hepatic injury: a meta-analysis

Biliary Anatomy Visualization and Surgeon Satisfaction Using Standard Cholangiography versus Indocyanine Green Fluorescent Cholangiography during Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Intraoperative biliary anatomy recognition is crucial for safety during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, since iatrogenic bile duct injuries represent a fatal complication, occurring in up to 0.9% of patients. Indocyanine green fluorescence cholangiography (ICG-FC) is a safe and cost-effective procedure for achieving a critical view of safety and recognizing early biliary injuries. The aim of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes, usefulness and safety of standard intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) with ICG-FC with intravenous ICG. Methods: Between 1 June 2021 and 31 December 2022, 160 patients undergoing elective LC were randomized into two equal groups: Group A (standard IOC) and group B (ICG-FC with intravenous ICG). Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding demographics, surgery indication or surgery duration. No significant difference was found regarding the visualization of critical biliary structures. However, the surgeon satisfaction and cholangiography duration presented significant differences in favor of ICG-FC. Regarding the inflammatory response, a significant difference between the two groups was found only in postoperative WBC levels. Hepatic and renal function test results were not significantly different between the two groups on the first postoperative day, except for direct bilirubin. No statistically significant difference was noted regarding 30-day postoperative complications, while none of the complications noted included bile duct injury events. Conclusions: ICG-FC presents equivalent results to IOC regarding extrahepatic biliary visualization and postoperative complications. However, more studies need to be performed in order to standardize the optimal dose, timing and mode of administration.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Laparoscopic Hepatectomy

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Methods: From September 2016 to June 2019, 282 patients were enrolled, and ERAS was implemented since March 2018. All indicators related to surgery, liver function, and postoperative outcomes were included in the analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) identified 174 patients for further comparison.

Results: After PSM, the clinicopathological baselines were well-matched. The group showed significantly less intraoperative blood loss (100.00 [100.00–200.00] vs. 200.00 [100.00–300.00] ml, P = 0.001), fewer days before abdominal drainage tube removal (4.00 [3.00–4.00] days vs. 4.00 [3.00–5.00] days, P = 0.023), shorter hospital stay after surgery (6.00 [5.00–6.00] days vs. 6.00 [6.00–7.00] days, P < 0.001), and reduced postoperative morbidity (18.39 vs. 34.48%, P = 0.026). The proportion of patients with a pain score ≥ 4 was significantly lower in the ERAS group within the first 2 days after surgery (1.15 vs. 13.79% and 8.05 vs. 26.44%, P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively). Pringle maneuver was performed more frequently in the ERAS group (70.11 vs. 18.39%, P < 0.001), and a significantly higher postoperative alanine aminotransferase level was also observed (183.40 [122.85–253.70] vs. 136.20 [82.93–263.40] U/l, P = 0.026). The 2-year recurrence-free survival was similar between the two groups (72 vs. 71%, P = 0.946).

Conclusions: ERAS programs are feasible and safe and do not influence mid-term recurrence in HCC patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Cohort Multicenter Study on the Role of Medications in Parenteral Nutrition-Related Alteration of Liver Function Tests in Adults

BACKGROUND

Our objective was to assess in non-critically-ill adult inpatients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) the risk of developing liver function test (LFT) alterations when receiving concomitant possibly hepatotoxic medications or others reported to improve LFTs during PN.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed on patients receiving PN. Two groups were recruited: group LALT (patients with any LFT alterations during PN), and group NOLALT (patients without such alterations). Exclusion criteria were previous sepsis, shock, renal failure, hyperglycemia, LFT alteration, or biliopancreatic surgical procedures. Medications were classified into 2 categories: medications reported to improve LFTs during PN (n = 8) and possibly hepatotoxic medications (n = 54), including a subgroup of possibly highly hepatotoxic medications (n = 30).

RESULTS

The study included 200 patients, 136 (68.0%) in the LALT group. The groups differed in the number of patients requiring surgical intervention ≤7 days before PN (LALT, 94 [69.1%]; NOLALT, 29 [45.3%]; P < .002) and those receiving possibly hepatotoxic medications (LALT, 126 [92.6%]; NOLALT, 45 [70.3%]; P < .001). Variables in the final Cox regression model were possibly hepatotoxic medications, odds ratio (OR) 3.310 (1.678-6.530); surgical intervention prior to PN, OR 1.861 (1.277-2.711); baseline triglyceridemia, OR 1.005 (1.001-1.009); and creatinine, OR 1.861 (1.043-3.323).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received PN and concomitantly possibly hepatotoxic medications had a 3-fold risk of developing LFT alterations. Medications reported to improve LFTs had no effect. The use of possibly hepatotoxic medications during PN was associated with LFT alterations.

Glucocorticoid use and ischemia-reperfusion injury in laparoscopic liver resection: Randomized controlled trial

AIM

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is increasingly carried out worldwide. However, there are concerns regarding ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by pneumoperitoneum and the Pringle maneuver. It is not clear whether perioperative use of glucocorticoids lowers the risk of ischemia-reperfusion hepatic injury in LLR as has been reported for open liver resection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of perioperative glucocorticoid use in improving hepatic function and surgical outcomes after LLR.

METHODS

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial (UMIN000013823), we enrolled 130 patients who presented to our institution for LLR between April 2014 and October 2018. Six patients were excluded, resulting in 124 patients being randomized to either the glucocorticoid or the control group. Preoperatively, patients in the glucocorticoid group received 500 mg methylprednisolone in saline solution, patients in the control group saline solution only. Surgical outcomes and blood parameters were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The Pringle maneuver could not be carried out in 24 patients, resulting in 50 patients in each group being included in the analysis. Postoperatively, total, direct and indirect bilirubin, and C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were significantly lower, albumin levels were significantly higher, and prothrombin time was significantly shorter in the glucocorticoid than in the control group. Surgical outcomes were not significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSION

This first report on preoperative glucocorticoid use in LLR showed that it significantly improved postoperative liver function and thus might enhance the safety of LLR.

Small-Incision Laparoscopy-Assisted Surgery Under Abdominal Cavity Irrigation in a Porcine Model

Background: Laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries are performed under carbon dioxide insufflation. Switching from gas to an isotonic irrigant introduces several benefits and avoids some adverse effects of gas insufflation. We developed an irrigating device and apparatus designed for single-incision laparoscopic surgery and tested its advantages and drawbacks during surgery in a porcine model.

Materials and Methods: Six pigs underwent surgical procedures under general anesthesia. A 30-cm extracorporeal cistern was placed over a 5–6-cm abdominal incision. The abdomen was irrigated with warm saline that was drained via a suction tube placed near the surgical field and continuously recirculated through a closed circuit equipped with a hemodialyzer as a filter. Irrigant samples from two pigs were cultured to check for bacterial and fungal contamination. Body weight was measured before and after surgery in four pigs that had not received treatments affecting hemodynamics or causing diuresis.

Results: One-way flow of irrigant ensured laparoscopic vision by rinsing blood from the surgical field. Through a retroperitoneal approach, cystoprostatectomy was successfully performed in three pigs, nephrectomy in two, renal excision in two, and partial nephrectomy in one, under simultaneous ultrasonographic monitoring. Through a transperitoneal approach, liver excision and hemostasis with a bipolar sealing device were performed in three pigs, and bladder pedicle excision was performed in one pig. Bacterial and fungal contamination of the irrigant was observed on the draining side of the circuit, but the filter captured the contaminants. Body weight increased by a median of 2.1% (range, 1.2–4.4%) of initial weight after 3–5 hours of irrigation.

Conclusions: Surgery under irrigation is feasible and practical when performed via a cistern through a small abdominal incision. This method is advantageous, especially in the enabling of continuous and free-angle ultrasound observation of parenchymal organs. Adverse effects of abdominal irrigation need further assessment before use in humans.