“Vanishing liver metastases”—A real challenge for liver surgeons

Expanded surgical intervention in colorectal liver metastasis (LM) and improved chemotherapy led to increasing problem of disappearing liver metastases (DLM). Treatment of those continues to evolve and poses a real challenge for HPB surgeons. This review discusses a clinical approach to DLM, emphasizing crucial steps in clinical algorithm. Particular issues such as imaging, intraoperative detection and surgical techniques are addressed. A step-by-step algorithm is suggested.     

Simultaneous liver–pancreas transplantation for cystic fibrosis-related liver disease: A multicenter experience

BackgroundDiabetes is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). While liver transplantation is well established for CF-related liver disease (CFLD), the role of simultaneous liver–pancreas transplantation is less understood.MethodsWe polled 81 pediatric transplantation centers to identify and characterize subjects who had undergone simultaneous liver–pancreas transplantation and obtain opinions about this procedure in CFLD.ResultsFifty (61.7%) polled transplant centers responded and 94% reported that they would consider simultaneous liver–pancreas transplantation for CFLD and diabetes. A total of 8 patients with simultaneous liver–pancreas transplantation were identified with median follow up of 38 months. All patients had pre-existing diabetes. Exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function was initially restored in all patients with later functional loss in one patient. Body mass index Z-score increased between one year pre-transplantation and one year post-transplantation (P = 0.029).ConclusionsPatients with CFLD undergoing initial assessment for liver transplantation may benefit from consideration of simultaneous liver–pancreas transplantation.     

Auxiliary liver transplantation for management of acute liver failure in children – Systematic review

IntroductionLiver transplantation (LT) remains the standard of care in the treatment of acute pediatric liver failure (PALF) for the replacement of a severely damaged native liver in patients who are unlikely to recover. However, this is burdened by the consequences of long-term immunosuppression.Auxiliary partial liver orthotopic transplantation (APOLT) has emerged as a possible improved approach, by providing a graft that assures liver function until the regeneration of the native liver occurs, and then allows for possible progression to immunosuppression withdrawal.No previous systematic review has assessed APOLT for PALF. The aim of this work is to provide information on survival, postoperative complications, and withdrawal of immunosuppression after APOLT for PALF.MethodsThe study was carried out according to the recommendations of the preferred report items for systematic reviews and meta-analyzes (PRISMA). We searched several electronic databases until October 31st, 2020, using the search terms “acute liver failure”, “auxiliary liver transplant” and the MESH term “liver failure, acute”. All types of clinical publications that presented results on APOLT for PALF, in English or Portuguese, and restricted to humans and for children under 18 years old were included. The following exclusion criteria were applied: “follow-up time <6 months”, “does not report complications” and “does not report immunosuppression regimen (double vs triple)”. Demographic data, clinical characteristics at the time of surgery and postoperative results were analyzed.ResultsA total of 14 references (including 45 patients) were selected, including 3 case series (6–20 patients) and 11 case reports.Of the 45 subjects, 33 (73.3%) were male and 12 (26.7%) female. In most cases (n = 30; 66.7%), the cause of PALF was undetermined. All patients underwent APOLT. Their median age was 9 (range 0.6–17) years. In the postoperative period, the immunosuppression regimen was double in 34 (75.6%) and triple in 11 (24.4%) individuals. The main postoperative complications were rejection and infection. Over a follow-up period of 6 months to 14 years, 10 (22.2%) patients died. The main cause of death was sepsis (70%). Six (13.3%) patients were retransplanted. Of the survivors (n = 35), 68.6% achieved complete withdrawal from the immunosuppression regimen.ConclusionBased on current published evidence, APOLT for the treatment of PALF is a safe option, with an acceptable rate of complications and mortality. It has the great advantage of providing an immunosuppression-free life in the majority (68.6%) of survivors.     

Serotonin: A double-edged sword for the liver?

Since the discovery of the impact of serotonin in liver regeneration, this molecule has gained considerable attention in liver physio-pathology. Platelet-derived serotonin initiates liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in various rodent models. Serotonin agonism stabilizes the hepatic microcirculation and prevents small-for-size liver graft failure. Similarly, serotonin receptor agonists improve the sinusoidal perfusion of aged liver and restore the deficient liver regeneration in old mice through a pathway dependent on vascular endothelial growth factor. Beside hepatocyte proliferation, cholangiocytes have been shown to be able to deploy serotonin as an autocrine/paracrine signal to regulate regeneration of the biliary tree. Increasing evidence indicates that serotonin is involved in many pathological conditions of the liver. For example, serotonin promotes tissue repair after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Reactive oxygen species generated by serotonin degradation contribute to steatohepatitis in rodent models. Serotonin aggravates viral hepatitis, again through vasoactive effects on the microcirculation, and plays a crucial role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Finally, serotonin may facilitate tumor growth of primary liver carcinoma like cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. These findings make serotonin both friend and foe for the liver. Whichever, these new data emphasize the potential of serotonin as a pharmacological target in liver disease.     

Liver transplantation for hepatolithiasis: Is terminal hepatolithiasis suitable for liver transplantation?

Hepatolithiasis, originally as oriental cholangiohepatitis, especially prevails in Asia, but globalization and intercontinental migration have also converted the endemic disease dynamics around the world. Characterized by its high incidence of ineffective treatment and recurrence, hepatolithiasis, always, poses a therapeutic challenge to global doctors. Although the improved surgical and non‐surgical techniques have evolved over the past decade, incomplete clearance and recurrence of calculi are always so common and disease‐related mortality from liver failure and concurrent cholangiocarcinoma still exists in the treatment of hepatolithiasis. In the late stage of hepatolithiasis, is it suitable for liver transplantation (LT)? Herein, we propose a comprehensive review and analysis of the LTx currently in potential use to treat hepatolithiasis. In our subjective opinion, and as is objective from the literatures so far, also given the strict indications, LT remains one of the definitive treatments for terminal hepatolithiasis.     

Is the corrected-creatinine model for end-stage liver disease a feasible strategy to adjust gender difference in organ allocation for liver transplantation?

BACKGROUND: The Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scoring system is used for organ allocation in liver transplantation. Female cirrhotic patients have lower glomerular filtration rates (GFR) than males for the same creatinine (Cr) level. Correcting the Cr in females for the same GFR as in males shows that females have lower MELD scores and therefore a lower priority for liver transplantation; however, there has been no outcome data that justifies this modification. METHODS: We investigated 472 cirrhotic patients, comparing the mortality rate between males and females in relation to MELD and corrected-Cr MELD. RESULTS: Compared to females, male patients had a higher MELD (14.5+/-5.5 vs. 13.8+/-5.7) and significantly higher GFR (61.7+/-21.4 vs. 54.7+/-25.6 mlLmin/1.73 m, P=0.0002) because their Cr value was higher (1.4+/-0.4 vs. 1.3+/-0.5 mg/dL, P=0.0002). The corrected-Cr MELD score in females was higher (15.7+/-6.3) compared to the MELD in their original counterpart (P<0.0001) and the males (P=0.060). Female and male patients had a similar 3-month mortality rate (6.7% vs. 6.3%) and MELD (21.9+/-8.6 vs. 21.7+/-8.9) among deceased patients. At 6 months, female patients tended to have a lower mortality (12.5% vs. 14.7%) and a lower MELD (18.9+/-7.7 vs. 19.4+/-8.5) in deceased patients. However, at 9 and 12 months, females had a consistently higher mortality (25% vs. 21.2% and 37.5% vs. 31.3%, respectively) but lower MELD scores than males by 0.3-1 point. CONCLUSIONS: Using corrected-Cr MELD, which would prioritize female patients for liver transplantation, may only be justified in predicting intermediate-term (9- and 12-month), but not short-term (3- and 6-month) mortality.     

Adult living‐related liver donation for acute liver failure: is it ethically appropriate?

Carlisle EM, Angelos P, Siegler M, Testa G. Adult living‐related liver donation for acute liver failure: is it ethically appropriate?
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 813–820.
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Acute liver failure (ALF) results in the annual death of approximately 3.5 per million people in the United States. Unfortunately, given the marked shortage of cadaveric liver donations and the ethical questions that plague utilization of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for ALF, many patients with ALF die before a liver is allocated to them. In this review, we discuss how the consistent utilization of LDLT for ALF could decrease the mortality rate of ALF. Additionally, we examine a key underlying issue: is LDLT for ALF ethically appropriate?     

Does model for end-stage liver disease score predict the short-term outcome of living donor liver transplantation?

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score for short-term outcomes after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Patients and Methods

The 135 consecutive patients who underwent LDLT did not include prisoners or their organs. Patients were divided into a low (group A; MELD score <15), a moderate (group B; MELD score ≥15 but <25), and a high MELD score (group C; MELD score ≥25) group according to their preoperative score. We retrospectively analyzed the data concerning complications, biochemical parameters, and survival over 90 postoperative days.

Results

Complications were similar among patients with a low, moderate, or high MELD score. The 90-day survival rates of group A, B, and C were 88%, 90%, and 90%, respectively (P = .960). Compared with groups A and B, group C showed a longer mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

Conclusion

Preoperative MELD score may not help to predict short-term outcomes of LDLT. However, a high MELD score may be related to a prolonged ICU stay.     

Surgery for liver metastases originating from sarcoma—case series

Introduction  

Liver metastases originating from various types of sarcoma are a rare reason for hepatic resection. So far, even multicentre studies do hardly provide statistically relevant sample sizes. Thus, review of available data can provide surgeons with useful information in similar cases. Therefore, this study can be regarded more as a contribution to this pool of data than as a stand-alone paper.     

Is MELD really the definitive score for liver allocation?

The best system for organ allocation is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to study the accuracy of four different scores to predict mortality on the waiting list and, thus, their usefulness to determine organ allocation. We retrospectively compared two groups of patients, those who died on waiting list (group D) and those who successfully underwent transplantation (group T) during the same time period. Four scores, at the time of entering the waiting list and just before liver transplantation or death, were evaluated. The evaluated scores were as follows: (1) the Child-Pugh classification; (2) the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score; (3) the Freeman scale; and (4) the Guardiola et al index. The mortality rate on waiting list was 15.9%. All studied scores, except Freeman scale, were higher in group D at the time of entrance on waiting list (MELD, 17.4 ± 8 v 12.3 ± 6, P = .02; Child, 9.9 ± 2 v 7.7 ± 2, P = .002; Freeman, 9.7 ± 4 v 7.3 ± 3.9, P = .09; Guardiola, 2.6 ± 0.9 v 1.7 ± 0.7, P = .001). C-statistics of all scores were similar and in all cases lower than 0.8 (MELD, 0.75; Child, 0.78; Freeman, 0.65; Guardiola, 0.79). None of the studied scores have an excellent accuracy to predict prognosis of patients on waiting list, mainly in case of populations with high proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the MELD score is rapidly available, standardized, and objective, it does not reflect the severity of patients with cancer or metabolic disorders. (Liver Transpl 2002;8:795-798.)     

Is ketamine a safe anesthetic for percutaneous liver biopsy in a liver transplant recipient immunosuppressed with cyclosporine?

A 6-yr-old male patient underwent live related left lateral segment liver transplant for cryptogenic cirrhosis with portal hypertension. One month after the liver transplant the patient had an isolated liver transaminases increase. He was posted for percutaneous liver biopsy for suspected graft rejection under general anesthesia. The patient was administered ketamine 7 mg/kg along with glycopyrrolate 0.01 mg/kg IM in the preoperative area. He developed generalized tonic clonic seizures just before the biopsy and was treated with IV midazolam 1 mg and thiopental 60 mg. Percutaneous liver biopsy was obtained once the convulsions subsided. Both ketamine and cyclosporine have been implicated as having proconvulsant properties and may have been responsible for the seizures in our patient. Our experience prompted us to suggest that ketamine in a patient immunosuppressed with cyclosporine may not be safe and that alternative anesthetics may need to be considered for such procedures.