Laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection combining with pre- and postoperative endoscopic intervention - A sandwich-style sequential therapy for portal hypertensive bleeding: A retrospective cohort study

Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Esophagogastric Devascularization Versus Endoscopic Varices Ligation Plus Laparoscopic Splenectomy in the Treatment of Portal Hypertension

Background/Aims: To compare laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) plus laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in treating esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) caused by portal hypertension (PH). Methods: Between January 2015 and May 2022, 87 patients with PH caused by hepatitis B cirrhosis were included in the retrospective study (34 in LSED versus 53 in EVL + LS). Results: The clinical features of both groups were well-matched (P > .05). The EVL+LS group was associated with shorter operation time, lower operative blood loss, faster gastrointestinal (GI) recovery, lower C-reactive protein levels, and shorter hospital stays after operation (P < .05). Operative morbidity was more significant in the LSED group (19 55.9% versus 18 33.9%) (P < .05). On postoperative days 1 and 3, albumin levels were remarkably lower (P < .05) in the LSED group. The mean follow-up was 24.3 months for LSED and 26.5 for EVL+LS. Hematological parameters, hepatic functional status, hepatic hemodynamics, and endoscopy indicated a substantial improvement in both groups (P < .05), but no significant difference was identified (P > .05). There was no discernible difference in the incidence of GI bleeding between the two groups (P > .05). Conclusion: EVL+LS is a safer, simpler, and more minimally invasive treatment of EGVB secondary to PH.

Clinical effects of cluster technology optimization and innovations on laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection: a single-center retrospective study with 500 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

In Asia, laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) has been widely regarded as a preferential treatment modality for cirrhotic portal hypertension (PH). However, LSD involves high surgical risk, technical challenges, and many potential postoperative complications. Technology optimization and innovation in LSD aiming to solve to these difficulties has scarcely been reported. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of our cluster technology optimization and innovation on LSD for PH.

METHODS

From February 2012 to January 2020, 500 patients with cirrhosis who had esophagogastric variceal bleeding and hypersplenism underwent LSD in our department. According to different operation periods, patients were divided into the early-, intermediate-, and late-period groups. We collected information regarding clinical characteristics of all patients as well as their preoperative and postoperative follow-up data.

RESULTS

Compared with the early-period group, operation time and postoperative hospital stay were all significantly different and gradually declined from the intermediate- and late-period groups, respectively (all P &lt; 0.05). Intraoperative blood loss of these three groups was gradually decreased, with significant differences (P &lt; 0.05). The incidences of delayed gastric emptying and diarrhea in the late-period group were all significantly lower than those in the early- and intermediate-period groups, respectively (all P &lt; 0.05). Compared with the early-period group, the incidence of variceal re-bleeding was significantly lower in the intermediate- and late-period groups (all P &lt; 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our cluster technology optimization and innovation of LSD not only contributed to faster recovery and fewer complications but also enhanced surgical safety for patients. It is worth promoting this approach among patients with EVB and hypersplenism secondary to cirrhotic PH.

Vagus Nerve-Preserving Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Azygoportal Disconnection with Versus Without Intraoperative Endoscopic Variceal Ligation: a Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Esophagogastric variceal bleeding is the most common lethal factor for patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. We firstly developed a laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) with intraoperative endoscopic variceal ligation (LSDL) technique. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether LSDL is feasible and safe and whether LSDL can effectively prevent esophagogastric variceal re-bleeding (EVR), as compared with single LSD.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled single-center study, 88 patients with cirrhosis who had esophagogastric variceal bleeding and hypersplenism were randomly assigned to receive either LSD (n = 44) or LSDL (n = 44) between January 2020 and December 2021. The primary outcome was EVR.

RESULTS

No patients withdrew from the study. There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss, incidence of blood transfusion, time to first flatus and off-bed activity, or postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Compared with that in the LSD group, operation time was significantly longer in the LSDL group (138.5 ± 19.4 min vs. 150.3 ± 19.0 min, P < 0.05); however, LSDL was associated with a significantly decreased EVR rate at 1-year follow-up (8/44 vs. 1/44, P < 0.05). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression revealed that LSDL was a significant independent protective factor against EVR in comparison with LSD (relative risk: 0.105, 95% confidence interval 0.012-0.877; P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

Our newly developed LSDL procedure is not only technically feasible and safe; it also contributed to lowering the EVR risk more so than single LSD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

We registered our research at https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/ . The name of research registered is "Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Azygoportal Disconnection with Intraoperative Endoscopic Variceal Ligation." The trial registration identifier at clinicaltrials.gov is NCT04244487.

Novel noninvasive liver fibrotic markers to predict postoperative re-bleeding after laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection: a 1-year prospective study

BACKGROUND

Esophagogastric variceal re-bleeding (EGVR) is a common and potentially lethal complication after open or laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Currently, noninvasive biomarkers for predicting EGVR are lacking. This prospective study focused on developing a noninvasive and convenient clinical model for predicting postoperative EGVR.

METHODS

Between September 2014 and March 2017, we enrolled 164 patients with cirrhosis who successfully underwent LSD. Based on the absence or presence of EGVR, patients were divided into EGVR and non-EGVR groups. We used correlation analysis to determine significant candidate variables among the liver fibrotic markers procollagen type III (PC-III), hyaluronidase (HA), laminin (LN), and type IV collagen (C-IV).

RESULTS

Postoperative EGVR occurred in 22 (13.41%) patients. Correlation analyses showed that LN (r = 0.375; p < 0.001) and C-IV (r = 0.349; p < 0.001) were significantly positively associated with EGVR. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of LN was 0.817 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.722-0.913); that of C-IV was 0.795 (95% CI 0.710-0.881). In logistic multivariate regression, cutoff values LN ≥ 64 µg/L and of C-IV ≥ 65 µg/L were independent risk factors for EGVR. LN ≥ 64 µg/L combined with C-IV ≥ 65 µg/L was the best performing model, with AUC 0.867 (95% CI 0.768-0.967).

CONCLUSION

LN and C-IV are potential markers to predict EGVR. Combining the two markers showed satisfactory ability to predict EGVR in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension after LSD.