Hepatic artery ligation for arterial rupture following liver transplantation: a reasonable option

Hepatic artery (HA) rupture after liver transplantation is a rare complication with high mortality. This study aimed to review the different managements of HA rupture and their results. From 1997 to 2007, data from six transplant centers were reviewed. Of 2649 recipients, 17 (0.64%) presented with HA rupture 29 days (2-92) after transplantation. Initial management was HA ligation in 10 patients, reanastomosis in three, aorto-hepatic grafting in two and percutaneous arterial embolization in one. One patient died before any treatment could be initiated. Concomitant biliary leak was present in seven patients and could be subsequently treated by percutaneous and/or endoscopic approaches in four patients. Early mortality was not observed in patients with HA ligation and occurred in 83% of patients receiving any other treatment. After a median follow-up of 70 months, 10 patients died (4 after retransplantation), and 7 patients were alive without retransplantation (including 6 with HA ligation). HA ligation was associated with better 3-year survival (80% vs. 14%; p=0.002). Despite its potential consequences on the biliary tract, HA ligation should be considered as a reasonable option in the initial management for HA rupture after liver transplantation. Unexpectedly, retransplantation was not always necessary after HA ligation in this series.

[Laparoscopic approach to acute abdomen: a single-center clinical experience]

INTRODUCTION

in patients with acute abdomen laparoscopic procedure provides, in most cases, the simultaneous accomplishment of diagnosis and therapy with undoubted advantages.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

from January 2000 to December 2006, 97 patients who presented with acute abdomen were operated by laparoscopic approach in the Unit of Laparoscopic Surgery in the University of Chieti. Of these, 53 were females and 44 males. Average age was 48 years. Seven had perforated peptic ulcer, 61 acute cholecystitis, 15 acute appendicitis, 2 idiopathic segmental necrosis of the great omentum, 6 small bowel obstruction, 6 adnexal pathologies. Pre-operative diagnosis was established in 76 patients (78.3%).

RESULTS

in 92 patients (94.8%) it was possible to treat the cause of the acute abdomen by laparoscopic means. In 5 cases (5.2%) it was necessary to convert the laparoscopic procedure. No mortality was noted. The morbidity was observed in 5 patients (5.2%): 3 cases of post-operative pneumonia and 2 cases of post-operative anaemia, all treated conservatively. None of the patients was re-operated. Advantages in terms of reduction in hospital stay were observed in patients operated either for acute cholecystitis or for intestinal obstruction, not in patients operated for appendectomy, adnexal pathologies or perforated peptic ulcer.

CONCLUSION

we believe that laparoscopic approach in patients with acute abdomen is safe and advantageous in most cases; however we think that it should always be preceded by non invasive diagnostic techniques.

[A case of perforated small bowel adenocarcinoma as first symptom of Crohn's disease]

A case of perforated small bowel adenocarcinoma presenting as first symptom of Crohn's disease is reported in a 53 years old male patient with abdominal pain and alteration of bowel habits. Endoscopic bioptical sampling demonstrated a Crohn's disease in active stage. The patient underwent medical therapy with resolution of the complained symptomatology; 20 days after discharge the patients is rehospitalized for acute abdomen. A narrowing perforated neoplasia in terminal ileum was discovered at laparotomy. Diffuse peritonitis and metastatic peritoneal implantations were also revealed. An ileocolic resection is performed with ileo-transverse colon anastomosis. The patient dies 4 months later for advanced disease.

[Pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer: our experience]

Isolated recurrence of rectal carcinoma have been reported from 7% to 33% with a median of 15. Increasing recurrence is associated with increasing Dukes's stage. Patient who have recurrence after a low-anterior resection are more likely to present with non fixed, surgically correctable lesion versus recurrences after abdominoperineal resection. The most common symptom related to pelvic recurrence is pain, which may be perineal or radiate to the lower extremities. The diagnosis of a locally recurrent rectal cancer was obtained with CT; imaging is the first step to estimate the extent and location of the local tumor growth and the presence or absence of distant metastases. The most common location is at or around the anastomosis and the presacral region. Apart from distant metastases locoregional recurrence is the most important factor determining prognosis and survival. If an R0 resection can be performed, a 5-year survival rate of 20-30% can be achieved. Local or locoregional recurrence implies the reappearance of carcinoma after an intended complete removal of the tumor. For rectal cancer, the adjacent organs include the perineum, bladder and vagina, and LR failure includes perineal or pelvic lesions. Total pelvic exenteration is performed in patients with local recurrence of rectal cancer and a 5-year suvival rate of 30-40% was achieved. For patient with unresectable recurrence, chemotherapy and radiation contribute to a better quality of life and prolong survival. While radiotherapy may reduce recurrence, it is now apparent that total mesorectal excision is the most effective modality, with rates as low as 5%. The anastomotic recurrence that can be locally resected, the best approach for long-term survival is an extensive surgical procedure requiring en bloc removal of adjacent organs and pelvic structures so called composite resection. Intraoperative radiotherapy and brachytherapy, and/or preoperative chemoradiation may provide better results in future. While radioterapy remains the most common antineoplastic modality used for palliation of symptoms, surgical resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment for carcinoma of colon and rectum.

Sequential liver–kidney transplantation

The indications for sequential liver and kidney transplantation have not been well defined. Two categories of patients may benefit from this procedure: patients with primary renal disease associated with hepatic disorders (glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, metabolic diseases, and structural diseases) and patients who develop renal failure after liver transplantation. Chronic renal failure is a frequent long-term complication after liver transplantation. End-stage renal disease develops in 2% to 10% of cases by 10 years after transplantation. Kidney transplantation appears to be a better option than dialysis for the treatment of end-stage renal disease after liver transplantation. In contrast, survival rates, after kidney transplantation are significantly lower among liver transplant patients than primary-only kidney transplant recipients. Considering the donor shortage, kidney transplantation should be cautiously considered in liver transplantation patients. New immunosuppressive drugs and protocols are needed to reduce chronic renal failure after liver transplantation.