A novel remnant liver-first strategy for liver autotransplantation in patients with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: a retrospective case series

BACKGROUND

Ex vivo liver resection combined with autotransplantation is an effective therapeutic strategy for unresectable end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). However, ex vivo liver resection combined with autotransplantation is a technically demanding and time-consuming procedure associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The authors aimed to present our novel remnant liver-first strategy of in vivo liver resection combined with autotransplantation (IRAT) technique for treating patients with end-stage HAE.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent IRAT between January 2014 and December 2020 at two institutions. Patients with end-stage HAE were carefully assessed for IRAT by a multidisciplinary team. The safety, feasibility, and outcomes of this novel technique were analyzed.

RESULTS

IRAT was successfully performed in six patients, with no perioperative deaths. The median operative time was 537.5 min (range, 501.3-580.0), the median anhepatic time was 59.0 min (range, 54.0-65.5), and the median cold ischemia time was 165.0 min (range, 153.8-201.5). The median intraoperative blood loss was 700.0 ml (range, 475.0-950.0). In-hospital complications occurred in two patients. No Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher complications were observed. At a median follow-up of 18.6 months (range, 15.4-76.0) , all patients were alive. No recurrence of HAE was observed.

CONCLUSION

The remnant liver-first strategy of IRAT is feasible and safe for selected patients with end-stage HAE. The widespread adoption of this novel technique requires further studies to standardize the operative procedure and identify patients who are most likely to benefit from it.

Case report: Portal vein ligation: lessons from patients with PRETEXT III hepatoblastoma in restoring future liver remnant before major hepatectomy and literature review

Background

We describe three cases involving three patients with PRETEXT III hepatoblastoma invading the hepatic hilum. After portal vein embolization, the patients underwent uncomplicated trisectionectomy.

Methods

Medical records between March 2016 and March 2021 were reviewed, and three patients were selected. A literature review of techniques for increasing future liver remnant in children diagnosed with hepatoblastoma was also conducted.

Results

All tumors involved the right lobe and hepatic hilum (PRETEXT III). After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the tumor size decreased, but hilar involvement was unimproved. Right portal vein ligation (RPVL) was performed to increase the left lobe volume. Post-ligation, the remnant liver increased. Liver function was restored to normal levels within 5 days after the hepatectomy. All patients underwent two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy without tumor recurrence.

Conclusions

RPVL can be safely performed before extended hepatic resection in children with a giant hepatoblastoma invading the hepatic hilum. The tumor was completely resected by securing a sufficient margin and increasing the residual liver volume with portal vein embolization. The patients recovered and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy without the deterioration of liver function.

Outcome of postoperative radiation therapy for cholangiocarcinoma and analysis of dose-volume histogram of remnant liver

The aim of this study was to analyze dose-volume histogram (DVH) of the remnant liver for postoperative cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients, to find toxicity rates, and to confirm efficacy of postoperative radiation therapy (RT).Thirty-two postoperative CCA patients received partial liver resection and postoperative RT with curative intent. The "liver reduction rate" was calculated by contouring liver volume at computed tomography (CT) just before the surgery and at CT for planning the RT. To evaluate late toxicity, the radiation-induced hepatic toxicity (RIHT) was determined by the common terminology criteria for adverse events toxicity grade of bilirubin, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin, and was defined from 3 months after RT until liver metastasis was revealed. The radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) was also evaluated.Tumor stages were distributed as follows: I: 1, II: 8, IIIA: 1, IIIB: 6, IIIC: 14, IVA: 2. Median prescribed total dose was 50 Gy. Median follow-up time was 27 months. Two-year overall survival (OS): 72.4%, disease-free survival: 47.7%, local control: 65.3%, and the median survival time was 40 months. The median "liver reduction rate" was 21%. The OS had statistically significant difference in nodal status (P = .032) and "liver reduction rate" >30% (P = .016). In the association between the ≥grade 2 RIHT and DVH, there were significantly differences in V30 and V40 (P = .041, P = .034), respectively. The grade ≥2 RIHT rates differ also significantly by sex (P = .008). Two patients (6.2%) were suspected of RILD.We suggest that RT for remnant liver should be considered the liver V30, V40 to prevent radiation-induced liver dysfunction.

Analysis of risk factors affecting coagulopathy after donor hepatectomy in a newly established liver transplant center

OBJECTIVE

As might be expected, living donor liver surgery is associated with serious morbidity and mortality risks. Coagulopathy after donor hepatectomy is an important risk factor affecting morbidity. In this study, risk factors affecting the development of coagulopathy after donor hepatectomy was evaluated in a newly-established liver transplant center.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of 46 liver donors to whom hepatectomy was applied in Medipol Universty of School of Medicine Department of Organ Transplantation between April 2014 and July 2015 was made. Coagulopathy was defined as prothrombin time ≥15 sec. or platelet count <80000/mm³ on postoperative day 3. Donors were separated into 2 groups as those with (n=24) and without (n=22) coagulopathy. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors acting on coagulopathy were analyzed.

RESULTS

In the intergroup analysis, it was seen that remnant liver volume, remnant liver volume % and remnant liver volume to body weight ratio were factors associated with coagulopathy. The cut-off values for these 3 parameters were calculated as 773.5 cm³, 40.5% and 0.915 cm³/kg, respectively. Only remnant liver volume % was determined as a risk factor for coagulopathy after donor hepatectomy on multiple logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that the most important risk factors affecting coagulopathy after donor hepatectomy were the parameters associated with remnant liver volume.

Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in a living donor after left lobe donation: a case for caution

Although it has been recognized that those who are positive for anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBcAb) and negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with normal liver function could be donors for living donor liver transplantation under appropriate prophylaxis, the negative impact of positive HBcAb on such donors themselves has not been reported. We present a case of a living donor with positive HBcAb, who donated his left lobe for his sister with unresectable giant hepatic hemangioma, and the donor himself developed a de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 10 years after donation. He had been lost from the follow-up program since 1 year after donation. Imaging studies showed a heterogeneously enhanced mass compatible with HCC, which was 9 cm in size with portal invasion into the anterior portal vein of the remnant liver. Re-laparotomy for hepatectomy with the removal of the tumor thrombus in the anterior portal vein of the remnant liver was carried out, and he is free from recurrence 6 months after surgery on prophylactic sorafenib. At our institute, 58 (9.6%) donors among the 603 living donors were anti-HBcAb positive and anti-HBsAg negative, and we started regular HCC surveillance using sonogram every 6 months for these patients.

Effect of cold ischemia/reperfusion injury and/or shear stress with portal hypertension on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9

BACKGROUND

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 plays an important role in liver regeneration after liver surgery. MMP-9 behavior is complicated in cold ischemia/warm reperfusion injury (CIWRI) and/or shear stress with portal hypertension. Small-for-size grafts (SFSGs) are also an issue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used a rat model to examine MMP-9 expression 6 h after laparotomy, a temporal clamp (Pringle maneuver), orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with a whole-liver graft (100% OLT), partial hepatectomy without the Pringle maneuver (60% hepatectomy) and split orthotopic liver transplantation (SOLT) with a SFSG (40% SOLT) were investigated. Four liver samples were collected in each group.

RESULTS

The normalized ratio of MMP-9 was not significantly different with a temporal clamp (P = 0.1963), 100% OLT (P = 0.1781) and 60% hepatectomy (P = 0.2367), but it was significantly higher with 40% SOLT compared to that with laparotomy (P = 0.0159).

CONCLUSION

Forty percent SOLT is accompanied by not only CIWRI but also shear stress. This fatal damage results in increased MMP-9 expression.