[Portal perfusion with right gastroepiploic vein flow in liver transplant]

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis, and cavernous transformation of the portal vein, is a complex procedure with high possibility of liver graft dysfunction. It is performed in 2-19% of all liver transplants, and has a significantly high mortality rate in the post-operative period. Other procedures to maintain portal perfusion have been described, however there are no reports of liver graft perfusion using right gastroepiploic vein.

CLINICAL CASE

A 20 year-old female diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis, with a Child-Pugh score of 7 points (class "B"), and MELD score of 14 points, with thrombosis and cavernous transformation of the portal vein, severe portal hypertension, splenomegaly, a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to oesophageal varices, and left renal agenesis. The preoperative evaluation for liver transplantation was completed, and the right gastroepiploic vein of 1-cm diameter was observed draining to the infrahepatic inferior vena cava and right suprarenal vein. An orthotopic liver transplantation was performed from a non-living donor (deceased on January 30, 2005) using the Piggy-Back technique. Portal vein perfusion was maintained using the right gastroepiploic vein, and the outcome was satisfactory. The patient was discharged 13 days after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver transplantation was performed satisfactorily, obtaining an acceptable outcome. In this case, the portal perfusion had adequate blood flow through the right gastroepiploic vein.

[Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas]

BACKGROUND

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas represent between 5% and 10% of all pancreatic tumors. Due to their malignant potential, surgery is indicated. Because of the uncommon nature of this pathology, the aim of this study was to present a series of six patients who were operated on for a cystic tumor and to analyze the morphological characteristics, surgical experience and follow-up.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. Clinical files were studied, as well as surgical and pathological registries from patients diagnosed with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. Five females and one male were included with a mean age of 54 +/- 15 years. The main symptom was abdominal pain.

RESULTS

Clinical course and CT scan results were the criteria for suspecting the diagnosis. In 4/6 patients, the tumor was located within the body and tail of the pancreas. The most frequent intervention was distal pancreatectomy. There was no mediate operative mortality in a 30-day period. Histopathological diagnoses were three serum cystadenomas, two mucinous cystadenomas and one cystadenocarcinoma. After a 4-year follow-up, no tumor recurrences have been reported in the surviving patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The natural history of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas is generally benign, but complications may occur by direct invasion of neighboring structures. Clinical course, tomography, pancreatography and punction are fundamental for its treatment.