Surgery for gastric cancer in patients with cirrhosis

To clarify the therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer surgery in the presence of cirrhosis, 39 patients with gastric cancer accompanied by liver cirrhosis were reviewed. Severe postoperative complications developed in 10 patients (25.6%), and there were 4 (10.3%) hospital deaths, 1 (2.6%) of which occurred within 1 month. Although extended lymph node dissection of D₂ or more was adopted for low-risk patients, 3 of 19 patients who underwent such extensive operations, most of which involved complete lymph node dissection in the hepatoduodenal ligament, died. Conversely, only 1 of 20 patients who underwent limited lymph node dissection of D₁ or less died. Postoperative massive ascites developed in 6 patients, 3 of whom died. The cumulative 5-year survival rate following curative resection was 63.7% for patients with early gastric cancer, and 13.9% for those with advanced gastric cancer. The most frequent cause of death was cirrhosisrelated, such as hepatic failure or hepatoma. In conclusion, extensive lymph node dissection for patients with gastric cancer accompanied by cirrhosis carried a risk of postoperative fatal massive ascites as lymphorrhea. Thus, lymph node dissection in the hepatoduodenal ligament should be avoided, except in patients with evident metastases, and as a rule, aggressive surgery should not be performed in cirrhotic patients.     

Prognostic factors of cirrhotic patients in extra-hepatic surgery

BACKGROUND: The surgical approach to a cirrhotic patient is conditioned by a number of variables depending on the emergency and kind of the intervention. It is also related to the evolutionary stage of the liver pathology (evaluated following Child-Pugh score). The present study will explore the physiopathologic mechanisms which should be correlated with the preoperative risk factors responsible for the variation of morbidity and mortality of the hepatopathic patient addressed to an extrahepatic surgical intervention. METHODS: This study includes a retrospective analysis (from 1992 to 1999) of 40 patients with cirrhosis (80% HCV correlated cirrhosis, 15.5% alcoholic cirrhosis, 2.5% cryptogenic cirrhosis), who underwent such procedures as: colon resection (5), gastrectomy (4), hernioplasty (11), cholecystectomy (14), ulcorraphy (3), laparotomy (3). Patients with hepatic resection and portal shunt are excluded from this study. A pre- and postoperative evaluation of ascites, PT, APTT, albumin, bilirubin and protein value, number of leukocytes and Child-Pugh score was performed on all patients. Their follow-up was 30 days. RESULTS: The presence of tensive ascites, low albumin value, PT, APTT, together with the emergency of the operation, proved to be significant (p<0.001), in correlation with a mortality of 7.1% in Child's class A, of 23% in class B, and of 84% in class C. CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhotic patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery can incur significant preoperative risks and postoperative complications, increasing their mortality rate. An accurate preoperative predictive factor is Child's class.     

Coagulation studies in patients after abdominal surgery

Coagulation studies were performed in patients who underwent abdominal surgery. One hundred and twenty six patients with cholelithiasis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer were examined. Although fibrinogen increased up to 560 mg/dl postoperatively, DIC did not occur among these patients, at all. For 30 patients who underwent hepatectomy, esophageal transection or pancreatoduodenectomy, HPT, PT, fibrinogen, platelet count, alpha 2-PI, AT-III, plasminogen and DIC score were investigated until 10 postoperative days. As for 13 patients without liver cirrhosis in this group, deterioration of HPT, PT and AT-III was noted on the second postoperative day, however these parameters improved on the fifth postoperative day and all patients recovered uneventfully. On the contrary, as to patients with liver cirrhosis, changes of coagulation parameters were drastic. Significant decrease of HPT, PT, AT-III, plasminogen and increase of FDP and DIC score were noted after operation and these values deteriorated with time in certain cases. Seven patients out of 17 died of DIC and multiple organ failure. More than half of these patients received Gabexate Mesilate (GM) injection in a dose of 1200 mg/day postoperatively for more than 5 days to prevent DIC. In patients who underwent hepatectomy due to hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis, the increase of FDP and DIC score seemed to be inhibited by GM on the fifth postoperative day.     

Management of gastric variceal haemorrhage

From March 1979 to April 1988 nine patients with hepatic cirrhosis have presented with acute variceal haemorrhage from gastric varices. Of six patients who underwent emergency laparotomy those with modified Child's grade C (n = 3) died within 30 days of surgery. Six patients have been followed for 2 years or longer. In the three patients who underwent under-running of gastric varices alone, two patients developed oesophageal varices at 3 and 14 months, respectively, and in the third patient gastric varices recurred 3 years after surgery. In the remaining three patients, additional left gastric vein ligation was not associated with recurrence of gastric varices or the development of oesophageal varices.     

THE DISTAL LIENORENAL SHUNT: PERIOPERATIVE EXPERIENCE WITH 30 PATIENTS

During the past 5¹/₂ years, thirty consecutive and unselected patients who bled from oesophageal varices underwent distal lienorenal shunt surgery. Eight deaths occurred in the immediate postoperative period. Three of nine emergency patients died because of continued bleeding and, of the five elective patients who died, four were largely the result of technical problems encountered at surgery. In the immediate postoperative period variceal bleeding recurred in five of eight emergency patients despite shunt patency. This did not occur in the elective group. Shunt blockage was relatively common compared to that following conventional porta-systemic shunt surgery; being documented in five of the 24 patients in whom patency was assessed. No clinical, biochemical or histological criteria were identified as predictors of outcome. In particular, the presence of preoperative ascites gave no indication of postoperative problems. However, if ascites developed in the immediate postoperative period, it was a major management problem in 50% of patients. In conclusion, the distal lienorenal shunt has a high perioperative mortality, is commonly complicated by shunt thrombosis and, in the emergency situation, often fails to control bleeding. The technical difficulties encountered at surgery appear largely responsible for the early morbidity and mortality.     

Preoperative natriuretic peptide-B values and ascites in male liver transplant recipients

Plasma preoperative values of natriuretic B peptide (pro-BNP) were correlated with ascites in men experiencing hepatic cirrhosis due to different etiologies on the active waiting list for liver transplantation. The study was performed in 54 male recipients of a liver transplant. Written informed consent was obtained from the patients or their relatives, and the study protocol was approved by our local Clinical Research (Ethics) Committee. Male patients were classified into two groups: group 1 included patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis (n = 30) distributed as 19 men with no ascites, four with nonrefractory ascites, and seven with refractory ascites; group 2 included cases of viral hepatitis cirrhosis (n = 24) distributed as 13 men with no ascites, nine with non-refractory ascites, and two with refractory ascites. A group of six healthy male volunteers was used to establish normal (basal) values of pro-BNP and left auricular diameter (LAD). Pro-BNP values were determined in plasma samples by an electrochemiluminiscence immunoassay. Pro-BNP plasma levels in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were threefold greater among patients with no ascites or no refractory ascites compared with healthy men, whereas pro-BNP values were fivefold enhanced among alcoholic patients with refractory ascites. The viral hepatitis cirrhosis group showed pro-BNP plasma values 1.5-fold enhanced in men with no ascites, whereas pro-BNP reached fivefold with either nonrefractory or refractory ascites. The enhanced pro-BNP plasma levels indicated advanced hepatic degradation, seemingly related to the presence of refractory ascites associated with cirrhosis.     

Inferior vena cava injuries--the challenge continues

The records of 67 patients with inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries seen from 1980-1986 were reviewed. The mortality rate (MR) overall was 57 per cent, and for specific portions of the IVC it was: retrohepatic - 60 per cent (9/15); suprarenal 59 per cent (16/27); pararenal - 45 per cent (5/11); and infrarenal - 57 per cent (8/14). Several prognostic factors were identified. Of 44 patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a BP less than 70 mm Hg, 33 (75%) died. Of 28 patients who experienced greater than 30 minutes of shock, 15 (83%) died. Of 26 patients presenting to the OR with a systolic blood pressure less than 70 mm Hg, 22 (85%) died. Of 40 patients who received greater than 10 units of blood in the ED and OR, 31 (78%) died. Of 19 patients who had a prelaparotomy thoracotomy with cross-clamping of the thoracic aorta for persistent severe shock (BP less than 70), nine responded rapidly with a sustained increase in systolic BP to greater than 90 mm Hg with four (44%) survivors. All ten patients who did not respond to prelaparotomy aortic cross-clamping died in the OR. Of seven patients with persistent shock (BP less than 70) without a prelaparotomy thoracotomy, there were no survivors. Six patients with retrohepatic IVC injuries underwent atrio-caval shunting with no survivors; of nine others with similar injuries treated without a shunt, six (67%) survived. Of 18 patients who received more than ten units of blood and survived the surgery, ten (56%) developed septic complications, and four of these patients died. Of 17 patients who received less than ten units of blood and survived the surgery, none became septic. Thus, early control of shock and bleeding is essential, not only to reduce mortality rate, but also later septic complications.     

两种方法在肝硬化患者胆囊切除术前风险评估的临床意义

目的：探究 Child 评分和 MELD 评分肝硬化患者胆囊切除术前风险评估的临床意义。方法选择67例到我院就诊的肝硬化合并胆囊疾病,知情并同意行胆囊切除术的患者。按Child-Pugh 分级标准及 MELD 评分各分为3组,即 Child A、B、C 组;MELD<10、10≤MELD<20、MELD≥20组。于术后第3天采血,取血清ELISA 法分别检测ALT、TBiL、ALB、PT、SCr指标并观察患者术后的各种并发症。结果 Child 组A 级ALT、TBiL与 B 级比较差别有统计学意义(P<0.05),而ALB、PT、SCr 与B 级比较差别无统计学意义(P>0.05)。 MELD 组各组组内比较,各指标差别均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。患者发生并发症共9例,Child 组A 级发生腹水2例,腹水合并DIC 1例;B 级组发生腹水4例,其中合并DIC 2例,且2例患者均死亡;C 组2例均发生并发症,1例腹水合并DIC,1例腹水合并肝功能衰竭、肝肾综合症并最终死亡。 A 级患者与B 级患者并发症发生率比较差别无统计学意义(P>0.05)。MELD 组各组组内比较,各指标差别均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论MELD 评分系统能更好的评估肝硬化患者行胆囊切除手术风险评估,联合 Child-pugh 评分能更准确地预测术后并发症的发生率。     

Preoperative transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for cirrhotic patients undergoing abdominal and pelvic surgeries

Background  Surgery for patients with cirrhosis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Perioperative complications including hemorrhage, wound dehiscence, and peritonitis result from underlying portal hypertension. Perioperative control of portal hypertension could decrease the risk of such complications. This study aimed to describe the authors’ experience with the placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with cirrhosis to improve surgical outcomes. Methods  A retrospective chart review was performed for seven patients who underwent TIPS placement before elective abdominal or pelvic surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center from 1998 to 2006. The TIPS indication for each patient was to minimize perioperative complications. Results  The seven patients in this study underwent their planned surgical procedure within a mean of 13 days from the time of TIPS placement. Two patients required a blood transfusion of two units or less. Three patients experienced a total of four postoperative complications including wound infection, peritonitis, pneumonia, and new ascites. One patient died of liver failure 14 months after surgery. Conclusions  The preparation of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension for elective surgery using preoperative portal decompression may decrease the risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality.     

Instrumental perforations of the oesophagus and their management.

The records of 39 patients who had developed a perforation of the oesophagus after instrumentation were reviewed. Ten (group A) had cervical and 29 (group B) thoracic oesophageal perforation. Twenty three perforations occurred during dilatation of an oesophageal stricture, 10 during oesophagoscopic removal of a foreign body, and six during diagnostic oesophagoscopy. Of the 21 patients treated within 36 hours (early treatment group), four (19%) died; of the 18 treated more than 36 hours after the perforation (late treatment group), nine (50%) died. None of the 10 patients in group A had strictures and only two presented late. After drainage of the neck and mediastinum the outcome was successful in all patients. Thirteen of the 29 in group B were treated early and four of these died; nine of the 16 treated late died, the total mortality for thoracic perforation being 48%. An oesophageal stricture was present in 23 patients. Twelve of these underwent various forms of conservative surgery and there were 10 deaths. This contrasts with the 11 who received radical treatment with resection and reconstruction, only two of whom died. The six patients with no pre-existing stricture were treated with conservative forms of surgery, with one death.     

Ligation procedures in the management of portal hypertension.

In the 10 year period from 1964 through 1973, 25 patients bleeding from esophageal varices underwent ligation procedures coupled with splenectomy rather than a shunt. These procedures included the transesophageal and transgastric approaches and extragastric ligations. For patients with normal liver function, the risk of this urgent or emergency surgery is comparatively low (two of 12 patients died). The chance of recurrent hemorrhage is high (nine of nine surviving patients), as is the need for subsequent surgery (eight of nine patients). Nevertheless, despite these drawbacks, nine of these 12 patients (75 percent) are alive, and seven have survived 5 or more years. In patients with cirrhosis, the initial operative mortality rate (three of 12 patients) and the subsequent mortality rate (five additional patients) reflect the greater risk because of liver disease. Only five of 13 patients (38 percent) survive, three of whom are alive 5 or more years. In patients with cirrhosis, the initial operative mortality rate (three of 12 patients) and the subsequent mortality rate (five additional patients) reflect the greater risk because of liver disease. Only five of 13 patients (38 percent) survive, three of whom are alive 5 or more years after their initial surgery. These results indicate that there are situations when ligation procedures are valuable, especially in the noncirrhotic patient.     

Prognosis of patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis

The treatment of cirrhotic patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial and largely dependent on general conditions of the patients and compensation of the underlying cirrhosis. We retrospectively reviewed clinical, imaging and surgical records of 24 consecutive cirrhotic patients (17 males, 7 females; age range 52–88 years) with hemoperitoneum from spontaneous rupture of HCC observed from June 2004 to January 2010 at our Institution. When indicated, patients were referred to surgery or trans-arterial embolization (TAE). Advanced decompensated patients were conservatively treated and clinically followed up. Spontaneous rupture of HCC was assessed by aspiration of bloody ascites at paracentesis in all cases. The presence of large blood-clots over HCC and liver surface at US and/or CT was considered a specific sign of ruptured HCC in 14 cases. In two out of four patients who underwent TAE active bleeding from tumor surface could be demonstrated. In 2 cases, the active hemorrhage from the HCC surface could be assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Four out of 24 patients underwent surgery. Three out of four of these patients died within 2 weeks, 8 months, and 20 months after operation, respectively. The remaining patient is still alive at 52 months follow-up. Four patients underwent TAE and died at 1, 2, 6 and 10 months after treatment, because of recurrent peritoneal bleeding and/or liver failure. Sixteen patients with ruptured HCC in the advanced Child C cirrhosis were treated conservatively with blood derivative transfusion and with procoagulant drugs. All patients, but one died within 2–18 days. One patient survived the acute hemorrhage from ruptured HCC and died of liver failure after 3 months. We concluded that spontaneous rupture of HCC is usually a fatal event in patients with poor liver function, even after successful TAE. In compensated patients, timely surgical treatment can result in long term and even tumor-free survival of the patient.     

The Surgical Management of Bleeding Stress Ulcers

The series included 52 patients with acute bleeding stress ulcers of the stomach and duodenum seen at the Mayo Clinic during a 25-year period. All patients underwent operation for control of massive bleeding that was unresponsive to intensive medical therapy. All ulcers were superficial and occurred during clinically stressful circumstances. No patient had a history or findings suggestive of pre-existing peptic ulcer disease or imbibation of ulcerogenic substances. Overall operative mortality was 54%, and this rate seemed to be related to multiple factors acting together; patients with multiple predisposing stress factors and those requiring large transfusion volumes (greater than 17 total units) were at greatest risk of death. Fifty-two patients underwent 60 operative procedures for control of hemorrhage. Of the 60 procedures, 23 (38%) failed to prevent rebleeding. Of the 28 patients who died, six (21%) died of hemorrhage and five (18%) died of hemorrhage as one of many contributing factors. Of eight different procedures performed, near-total to total gastrectomy was the single procedure that was most effective in controlling hemorrhage. The authors support the selection of rapid intervention and generous extirpative surgery once intensive medical measures fail to control hemorrhage.     

Assessment by pulse dye-densitometry indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test of hepatic function of patients before cardiac surgery: its value as a predictor of serious postoperative liver dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with preoperative liver dysfunction occasionally have a poor prognosis after cardiac surgery because the liver condition is aggravated. The pulse dye-densitometry indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test was used as a preoperative evaluation technique. DESIGN: Prospective, clinical evaluation. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit of a national cardiovascular center. SUBJECTS: Twenty-seven patients with preoperative liver dysfunction were studied. They were divided into four groups depending on the cause of their liver dysfunction. INTERVENTIONS: With the patient's informed consent, a bolus of ICG, 20 mg, was injected, and the disappearance of ICG was measured noninvasively by pulse dye-densitometry. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The ICG retention rate at 15 minutes (ICG-R15) was calculated for the regression time. The patients were assessed in terms of ICG-R15 and the cause of liver dysfunction. The ICG-R15 values obtained for all 27 patients were 30% +/- 16% (mean +/- standard deviation). The 21 survivors had ICG-R15 values of 24% +/- 12%, whereas the 6 patients who died after surgery had significantly greater ICG-R15 values of 50% +/- 13% (p < 0.05). The mean values of ICG-R15 in patients with congestive liver, viral hepatitis accompanied by congestive liver, viral hepatitis, and cirrhosis were 34%, 23%, 13%, and 42%, respectively. The 6 of 27 patients who died after surgery had ICG-R15 values greater than 40%. Five of the seven patients with cirrhosis died. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that (1) compared with Child-Pugh classification, the value of ICG-R15 provides a more accurate surgical indication; and (2) liver dysfunction from cirrhosis causes postoperative deterioration of liver function, especially when the ICG-R15 value exceeds 40%.     

腹膜前无张力疝修补术治疗合并肝硬化腹水的腹股沟疝患者临床体会(附11例报告)

目的 探讨局麻下腹膜前无张力疝修补术在治疗肝硬化腹水并发腹股沟疝患者的治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析我院2008年1月至2011年12月经手术治疗的合并肝硬化腹水的腹股沟疝患者11例,对其临床资料和手术效果进行分析评估.结果 患者均经腹膜前无张力疝修补术治疗,无严重并发症或术后复发;术后30 d内无患者死亡;随访患者有3例死亡,均与手术治疗无明显相关.结论 在局麻下对肝硬化腹水的患者实施腹膜前无张力疝修补术安全、有效,可明显提高此类患者的生活质量.     

Gastric cancer surgery for patients with liver cirrhosis

AIM: To elucidate the influence of liver cirrhosis (LC) on the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC).METHODS: Of the 1347 GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for GC between January 1984 and June 2007, 25 patients (21 men and 4 women with a median age of 67 years; range 54-77 years) with LC were enrolled in this study. Using the Child-Pugh classification, 15 patients were evaluated as grade A and 10 patients as grade B. No grade C patient underwent gastrectomy in this series. Clinical outcomes, including postoperative morbidity and survival, were retrospectively analyzed based on medical records and surgical files.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in operative blood loss and perioperative blood transfusion between the two groups. The most common postoperative complication was intractable ascites, which was the single postoperative morbidity noted more frequently in grade B patients (40.0%) than in grade A patients (6.7%) with statistical significance (P = 0.041). Operative mortality due to hepatic failure was seen in one grade A patient. Three patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at presentation and two patients developed HCC after surgery. Overall 5-year survival rate was 58.9% in patients with early GC and 33.3% in patients with advanced GC (P = 0.230). GC-specific 5-year survival rate of early GC patients was 90.0% while that of advanced GC patients was 58.3% (P = 0.010). Four patients with early GC died of uncontrolled HCC, of which two were synchronous and two metachronous.CONCLUSION: The risk of postoperative intractable ascites is high, particularly in grade B patients. Early detection and complete control of HCC is vital to improve a patient’s prognosis.     

Results of routine ventriculostomy with external ventricular drainage for acute hydrocephalus following subarachnoid haemorrhage

Summary We reviewed the results of ventriculostomy with external ventricular drainage in patients with acute hydrocephalus complicating subarachnoid haemorrhage. Of 194 consecutive patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage admitted during the past eight years, 52 (27%) developed hydrocephalus within 72 hours of the ictus. Patients with acute hydrocephalus were in grades III to V (Hunt and Hess) at the time of evaluation and all patients with hydrocephalus underwent ventriculostomy within 24 hours of diagnosis. Twenty-six patients improved within 24 hours of cerebrospinal fluid drainage and 17 of these patients underwent surgery, nine of whom did well (Glasgow Outcome Scale 1 and 2). All 18 patients who did not improve within this period, including one who worsened, died. In eight patients the response to ventriculostomy was considered as undetermined, because of the proximity of the drain insertion to a definitive surgical procedure, and all of them had an excellent outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 1). Of 32 patients in grades IV and V, 17 did not improve and all of them died. Eight of the 15 patients in these grades, who were in the improved or undetermined categories, did well. Five patients (10%) developed meningitis. All patients with this complication had drainage for more than four days. Seven patients (14%) had a rebleed during the drainage. All except one patient with a rebleed had no surgery or delayed surgery and in six of them recurrent haemorrhages occurred after more than 24 hours of drainage.We conclude that routine ventriculostomy with external ventricular drainage should be considered for all patients with altered sensorium and acute hydrocephalus following subarachnoid haemorrhage. The complications of ventriculostomy can be reduced if it is followed by early definitive surgery. No benefit is derived by prolonging the drainage beyond 24 hours in patients in grades IV and V if there has been no improvement in this period, and prolonged drainage may contribute to recurrent haemorrhages and meningitis.     

Survival and prognostic factors in resected cN2-pN0 non-small cell lung cancer.

This study retrospectively examined the records of patients with clinical N2 (cN2) stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were surgically treated but who actually had pathologic N0 (pN0) stage disease. From 1982 to 1997, 94 patients with cN2 NSCLC underwent surgery. Forty-five patients proved to have pN0 disease, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 67.3%. According to the Cox model, visceral pleural invasion (p=0.01) and a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration > or =2.5 ng/mL (p=0.03) negatively influenced survival. The six patients with both visceral pleural involvement and a CEA > or =2.5 ng/mL all died within five years compared with a 78.1% 5-year survival for the 21 patients who had neither factor. For the subgroup of patients who have poor prognostic factors, multimodality therapy should be considered. Our previous report found that parietal pleural invasion, elevated CEA concentration, and the number of involved mediastinal lymph node (MLN) stations correlated with survival in 40 patients with cN2-pN2 disease who underwent resection. These data show how important it is to assess pleural status carefully and measure the CEA concentration, as is to determine the MLN status in patients with cN2 disease.     

Bile decompression in children with histopathological evidence of pre-existing liver cirrhosis

Although it is agreed upon by most that adequate and timely bile decompression can preserve or even improve existing liver function much debate centers on whether pre-existing liver cirrhosis can also be reversed. To help answer this question we analyzed data on 47 children with choledochal cyst disease (CD) who underwent simultaneous liver biopsy during bile decompression surgery. We collected data on two groups of children with CD spanning two different time periods: January 1985 through November 1994 (Group A) and June 1995 through November 1999 (Group B). In Group A 37 children (16 boys and 21 girls ages 5 days to 10 years) underwent simultaneous liver biopsy during elective definitive surgery for CD. In Group B ten children (five boys and five girls age one month to 7 years) underwent liver biopsy twice: first during initial cyst decompression for acute obstruction and second during elective definitive surgery after resolution of acute disease. Degree of liver cirrhosis was based on a modified World Health Organization classification system (0-IV). In Group A 15/37 (40.5%) had significant liver cirrhosis at time of biopsy (III or IV) with altered liver function in all cases; eight of nine had normal liver function on follow-up, six were lost to follow-up. In Group B seven of ten (70%) had less liver cirrhosis on pathology at second operation with three unchanged; nine of ten (90%) regained normal liver function. We conclude that bile duct obstruction is the main cause of liver cirrhosis in children with CD. Adequate and timely bile decompression can restore normal liver function and even reverse severe cirrhosis.     

Analysis of Twenty-three Plasma Proteins in Ascites: The Depletion of Fibrinogen and Plasminogen

The concentrations of 23 plasma proteins were measured by radial immunodiffusion in the plasma and ascites of 17 patients with cirrhosis and four patients with intraperitoneal malignancies, to learn whether there is a selectivity in the movement of proteins from plasma into ascites, analogous to that of proteinuria. Additionally, since some of the proteins are involved in coagulation, we hoped to clarify the coagulopathy frequently seen following peritoneovenous shunting of ascites. Analysis was by groups: group 1 consisted of nine patients with cirrhosis with an ascites-total protein content less than 2.5 g/dl; group 2 consisted of eight patients with cirrhosis with ascites-total protein content greater than or equal to 2.5 g/dl; and group 3 consisted of four patients with malignant ascites. The ratio of the plasma concentration/ascites concentration ([P]/[A]) for each protein was calculated for each patient. In each group the median [P]/[A] for each protein was plotted against the natural logarithm of its molecular weight (In MW). For 21 of the 23 proteins, [P]/[A] showed a close linear relationship to In MW. Fibrogen and plasminogen showed significant (p < 0.0002) elevation above the regression line relating [P]/[A] to In MW. This indicates depletion of fibrinogen and plasminogen in ascites. The ascites in group 1 showed moderate selectivity, defined as the slope of the regression line (1.59), while groups 2 and 3 were essentialy nonselective (0.35 and 0.50). Fibrin-split products were elevated in all ascites but not in plasma, indicating either fibrinolysis or fibrinogenolysis within the ascites. A normal ratio for prothrombin suggests fibrinogenolysis may be the dominant mechanism. Thus the coagulopathy induced by LeVeen valve insertion may be in part secondary to the infusion of plasmin or a plasminogen activator into the circulation.