Monitoring hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation during Appleby operation for pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: When an Appleby operation is performed for pancreatic body and tail carcinoma, it is necessary for prevention of hepatic ischemia to estimate accurately the hepatic circulation after resection of the celiac artery, the common hepatic artery and the portal vein. We studied the hepatic circulation by monitoring the ShvO2 (hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation) during an Appleby operation. METHODOLOGY: We performed an Appleby operation on 8 patients with pancreatic cancer. In 6 of 8 patients, a 7-Fr fiberoptic flow direct catheter was inserted in the right hepatic vein. The ShvO2 values were monitored continuously during surgery. RESULTS: The ShvO2 value was 76 +/- 3.5% just after laparotomy, and reduced to 61 +/- 13.2% after clamping the common hepatic artery. The values of the ShvO2 returned to 70.8 +/- 10.9% one hour after clamping. But, one patient underwent reconstruction of the common hepatic artery, because the ShvO2 value still stood at 50%. Combined resection of the portal vein was performed in 5 out of 8 patients. Two patients underwent resection of the portal vein without reconstruction due to the development of the collateral vein, one patients; resection of the portal vein with reconstruction, and two patients; wedge resection. In all 5 patients, the ShvO2 was stable during resection of the portal vein. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring the ShvO2 is a useful method to evaluate at real time the hepatic circulation during the Appleby operation, and to decide if reconstruction of the common hepatic artery or the portal vein is needed or not.     

Formation of hilar collaterals or cavernous transformation after portal vein obstruction by hepatocellular carcinoma. Observations in ten patients

A total of 155 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were studied by celiac and superior mesenteric angiography. Complete (9 patients) or near complete (1 patient) obstruction of the portal vein and formation of hepatopetal collateral veins in the porta hepatis, or the so-called cavernous transformation of the portal vein, were seen in 10 patients. In 4 patients, the first angiogram did not show cavernous transformation, but on the follow-up angiograms cavernous transformation was present. The suggested interval between obstruction of the portal vein and formation of cavernous transformation was no more than 5 wk. The mechanism of cavernous transformation and its clinical implications are briefly discussed.     

Distal pancreatectomy with resection of the celiac axis and reconstruction of the hepatic artery for carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas

Distal pancreatectomy with resection of the celiac axis can increase resectability of carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. We performed reconstruction of the hepatic artery to avoid complications caused by a decrease in hepatic arterial flow. We carried out distal pancreatectomy with resection of the celiac axis for carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas in four patients. When pulsation in the proper hepatic artery was weak after occlusion of the celiac axis, we performed reconstruction of the hepatic artery, using the splenic artery, which had been taken beforehand from the resected specimen. In two patients, we performed reconstruction of the hepatic artery. These two patients underwent reconstruction of the portal vein combined with prolonged clamping of the portal vein. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were elevated just after the operation, but recovered to normal levels within 10 days. No complications related to hepatic ischemia were observed. These results suggested that reconstruction of the hepatic artery allowed us to safely perform distal pancreatectomy with resection of the celiac axis for carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas.     

多层螺旋CT对胰源性区域性门静脉高压的诊断价值（附42例报道）

目的 分析胰源性区域性门静脉高压(pancreatogenic segmental portal hypertension,PSPH)的多层螺旋CT(MSCT)表现,探讨MSCT对该病的诊断价值.方法 使用16排螺旋CT对42例PSPH患者行上腹部CT平扫及增强扫描,采用图像后处理技术显示脾静脉及侧枝血管情况.结果 孤立性脾静脉阻塞30例,其侧支血管食管静脉(9.5%)、胃冠状静脉(76.19%)、胃短静脉(85.71%)、胃网膜静脉(95.24%)、胃结肠干(23.81%)曲张;非孤立性脾静脉栓塞12例,其中伴肠系膜上静脉阻塞8例,其属支胃结肠干(19.05%)、结肠右上静脉(16.67%)、结肠中静脉(14.29%)、胰十二指肠前上静脉(19.05%)有不同程度曲张.伴门静脉海绵样变5例.结论 MSCT对PSPH的脾静脉阻塞及其胃周迂曲扩张的侧枝静脉显示具有重要价值.     

Cruveilhier-Baumgarten syndrome in which venous hum disappeared following endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy

We report a case of Cruveihier-Baumgarten syndrome associated with portal vein thrombosis that developed, slowly during a 2-year period after, endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy. The thrombosis led to the disappearance of the venous hum and the dilated abdominal wall veins characteristic of this syndrome. A 73-year-old woman was hospitalized for treatment of esophageal varices in April 1988. Her spleen was markedly enlarged, and the histologic findings of her liver were not consistent with hepatic cirrhosis, but with idiopathic portal hypertension. A venous hum was audible in the upper abdomen. Superior mesenteric angiography revealed a porto-systemic shunt vessel under the abdominal wall, originating from the umbilical vein. She was injected four times with a sclerosant, and this brought about disappearance of the esophageal varices. Two years after the first admission, the venous hum was no longer audible, but there was a recurrence of the esophageal varices. More than 2 years later (4 years after the first admission), ultrasonographic study, computed tomography, and angiography showed a large thrombus, which completely obstructed the portal vein at the origin of the umbilical vein, and the development of collateral vessels, seen as a “cavernous transformation”.     

Portal venous hemodynamics in hepatocellular carcinoma. Effects of hepatic artery embolization

Portal hemodynamics were studied in 55 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in comparison with 41 normal subjects, using the duplex system that consists of an electronic sector scanner and a pulsed Doppler velocitometer. Changes of portal hemodynamics after transcatheter hepatic artery embolization were also investigated in 15 of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The duplex system showed that 9 of the 55 had no Doppler signal in the portal trunk, suggesting portal vein thrombosis, 2 had hepatofugal flow in the portal trunk indicative of arterioportal shunts, and 44 had hepatopetal flow in the portal trunk. One of the 9 patients with no significant portal venous flow showed hepatopetal flow in collateral veins at the porta hepatis, suggesting cavernous transformation of the portal vein. All of these ultrasound findings were confirmed by subsequent celiac-mesenteric angiography. In 44 of the 55 patients there was no tumor invasion in the portal trunk, and portal venous flow was found to be close to that of normal subjects regardless of the stage or size of tumor, and tumor invasion into relatively large portal branches. After transcatheter hepatic artery embolization, portal venous flow was increased, even on the next day, and it remained increased for at least 2 wk. Thus, the duplex system is useful to study qualitative and quantitative changes of portal hemodynamics in hepatocellular carcinoma. Our observations suggest that the portal venous flow is kept relatively constant by some homeostatic mechanism even in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma until the tumor invades into the portal trunk, and that it increases when hepatic arterial flow is occluded.     

Successful pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein for pancreatic endocrine carcinoma

Invasion to the celiac axis and portal vein is one reason for the unresectability of pancreatic carcinoma of the body and tail. Some authors advocate a radical distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein. However, long-term survival is still rare. We report here on a very rare, long-term survivor of a locally-advanced endocrine carcinoma of the body of the pancreas that was treated by distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and has survived for 55 months without evidence of recurrence. The experience gained in the present case suggests that radical pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein is a potential approach that might increase tumor resectability and improve the prognosis of patients with locally-advanced endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas.     

Distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac resection for locally advanced pancreas carcinoma

In locally advanced pancreatic body cancers, cancer infiltrates major vessels such as the celiac axis, common hepatic artery and superior mesenteric artery or vein, which is the borderline of resectability. Patients also suffer severe abdominal pain. Kondo and Hirano et al. developed a radical operation called "distal pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac resection (DP-CAR)" for such cases. We applied this procedure three times in two patients with pancreatic body carcinomas, in which combined vascular resection was necessary. Radical operation was eventually achieved.     

Two successful curative operations using stomach-preserving distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic body cancer

Large vessel invasion is a serious factor determining whether an operation for pancreatic body cancer is feasible. The Appleby operation is a radical operation for the treatment of pancreatic body cancer that has infiltrated the celiac axis. Since this procedure includes a total gastrectomy, the operation is associated with a high morbidity, mortality, and deteriorating postoperative quality of life (QOL). We experienced two cases in which radical operations consisting of a stomach-preserving distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac, common hepatic, and left gastric artery were performed. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy in these cases led to a good postoperative QOL.     

肝硬化非常见侧支循环临床特点研究

目的 探讨肝硬化患者门体循环之间非常见侧支循环形成的临床特点及意义。方法 对临床确诊为肝硬化的患者运用64排螺旋CT和三维血管成像结合电子胃镜检查,观察其门体循环之间非常见侧支循环的形成。结果 ①700例肝硬化患者中118例(16.86%)存在非常见侧支循环,依次为脾肾静脉分流、胃肾静脉分流、椎旁静脉分流、腹膜后静脉分流、胃脾分流和心膈角静脉分流。②非常见侧支循环形成与肝硬化Child-Pugh分级相关(P<0.01)。③与常见侧支循环形成组比较,非常见侧支循环组较少出现重度食管和(或)胃底静脉曲张、重度门静脉高压性胃病及大量腹水(P<0.01)。④非常见侧支循环组中肝性脑病和慢性血氨升高的发生率高于常见侧支循环组(P<0.01)。结论 ①肝硬化患者中非常见侧支循环并不"非常见";②非常见侧支循环形成与肝功能Child-Pugh分级有关;③非常见侧支循环形成可缓解门静脉高压引起的相关并发症,但增大了肝性脑病和慢性血氨升高的发病率。     

Study on hepatocelluar carcinoma-associated hepatic arteriovenous slunt using multidetector CT

AIM: TO investigate multidetector CT (MDCT) findings of hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC)- associated hepatic arteriovenous shunt (HAVS) and to evaluate their clinical significance.METHODS: Thin-slice and dynamic enhancement MDCT of HAVS was performed on 56 patients with HCC. MDCT findings, including those of portal veins, hepatic veins,superior mesenteric veins, splenic veins, HCC foci, liver parenchyma without HCC foci, spleens, and thromboses in portal veins and hepatic veins, were all confirmed by digital subtract angiography and analyzed.RESULTS: MDCT demonstrated earlier enhancement of main portal trunks and/or the first order branches than that of superior mesenteric veins or splenic veins (n=31). One patient had strong early enhancement of left hepatic vein with thromboses in left hepatic vein and upper part of inferior vena cava and 1 patient had transient patchy enhancement peripheral to HCC foci in late hepatic arterial phase among them. It demonstrated stronger opacification of main portal trunks and/or the first order branches than that of superior mesenteric veins or splenic veins (n=18), and earlier enhancement of the second order and smaller branches of portal veins than that of main portal trunks (n=4), stronger opacification of the second order and smaller branches of portal veins than that of main portal trunks (n=3), with transient patchy enhancement (n=3) or wedge-shaped enhancement (n=4) peripheral to HCC foci in late hepatic arterial phase. Enhancement degree of HCC foci was all decreased. As for 49 patients with severe or moderate shunts, enhancement degree of liver parenchyma without HCC foci was increased with heterogeneous density, but enhancement degree of spleens was decreased. There were thromboses in main portal trunks and/or the first order branches in 32 patients.CONCLUSION: The main MDCT findings of HCC-associated HAVS are earlier enhancement and stronger opacification of portal veins and/or hepatic veins. Understanding of these findings will contribute to the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease and improve therapy for the patients.     

Computed tomography in the evaluation of the portal venous system.

Computed tomography has widespread clinical application in the evaluation of the portal venous system, even though quantitative methods are impractical due to the inability to measure portal flow discrete from hepatic arterial flow, morbidity associated with the use of large volumes of iodinated contrast, and technical limitations. This represents a major disadvantage compared to Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography. Qualitative applications include evaluation of portal vein patency, diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis, underlying inflammatory or neoplastic conditions, and evaluation of surgically created portosystemic shunts and collateral flow. Diagnostic criteria for portal venous thrombosis include nonopacification of the central portion of the portal vein, peripheral enhancement of the vein, and irregular periportal hepatic parenchymal enhancement. However, misdiagnosis is common, occurring in 16% of cases analyzed in one limited series, and periportal vein enhancement is now recognized as a nonspecific finding associated with underlying endothelial injury. Cavernous transformation of the portal vein and neoplastic invasion of the portal system are more reliably recognized. Computed tomography arterial portography demonstrates collateral pathways and arteriovenous shunts. Computed tomography has a sensitivity of 85% in detection of esophageal varices compared to endoscopy, but has the advantage of demonstrating splenorenal, gastrorenal, peripancreatic, pericholecystic, retroperitoneal and omental collateral vessels, and spontaneous large portosystemic shunts, with greater sensitivity than angiography. Computed tomography combined with Doppler ultrasound angiography remains popular, despite a lack of large-scale prospective efficacy studies demonstrating diagnostic superiority over other imaging techniques, largely because of its accessibility, and its detailed axial anatomic images providing an overview of multiple organ systems, and patency of major vessels.     

Aneurysmal dilatation of the portal vein: a case diagnosed by real-time ultrasonography

A case of aneurysmal dilatation of the portal vein is reported. A real-time ultrasound study showed a cystic mass behind the pancreatic head, freely communicating with the lumen of the portal, superior mesenteric, and splenic veins, which was diagnostic of portal vein aneurysm. The diagnosis was confirmed by dynamic computed tomography and celiac and superior mesenteric angiograms.     

216例肝硬化门静脉高压症患者CT血管成像门静脉侧支血管表现研究

目的探讨肝硬化患者CT 门静脉血管成像中门静脉侧支血管表现,为临床诊断提供依据。方法回顾性研究2013年1月~2014 年1月本院收治的 216 例临床诊断为肝硬化门静脉高压症患者的临床和CT检查资料,针对患者CT门静脉血管成像和门静脉侧支血管三维重建图像进行分析。结果216例患者中,肝硬化门体分流侧支血管的分布、走行及解剖毗邻关系在CT 门静脉血管成像图像上都能得到良好、直观的显示,其中胃左静脉曲张者172例（79.63%）,食管下段静脉曲张者100例（46.30%）,食管旁静脉曲张者 51例（23.61%）,胃/脾肾静脉分流者50例（23.15%）,附脐静脉及腹壁静脉曲张者36例（16.67%）;胃/脾肾静脉分流患者门静脉和脾静脉直径分别为（12.64±1.12） mm和（18.72±3.48） mm,与无分流患者比较有统计学差异[分别为（19.56±5.64） mm和（13.47±2.35）mm,P<0.05]。结论对肝硬化门脉高压患者行CT 门静脉血管成像检查能够对患者侧支循环的部位、严重程度等进行观察,并作出准确的判断。     

Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction of different pathogenesis in pancreatic diseases: reports of 4 autopsy cases with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma

Four autopsy cases of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction associated with pancreatic diseases, 1 case of pancreatitis and 3 cases of pancreatic carcinoma, are presented. The pathogenesis of portal obstruction was different in each case; old thrombosis with recanalization due to chronic pancreatitis with pseudocysts formation in 1 case, fresh thrombosis due to intraportal venous catheterization for pancreatic carcinoma in 1 case, fresh thrombosis probably due to pancreatitis accompanying pancreatic carcinoma in 1 case, and direct invasion of pancreatic carcinoma into the portal vein in the remaining 1 case. Morphologic evidence for portal hypertension was present in each case. In the pancreatitis case and one pancreatic carcinoma case with portal tumor invasion, both of which had chronic portal obstruction, there were many thin-walled vascular channels (cavernous transformation) around the occluded portal vein. Their endothelia were positive for factor VIII-related antigen and Ulex europaeus lectin I, implying that these vessels were hepatopetal blood vascular collaterals. It was shown that pancreatic diseases resulted in portal venous obstruction by several different mechanisms and chronic portal obstruction in pancreatic diseases led to the formation of hepatoperal blood vascular collaterals.     

Laparoscopic splenectomy for variceal bleeding with non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis: a case report

A 57-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of refractory gastric bleeding from gastric varices secondary to portal vein thrombosis. The patient's liver function tests and coagulation profile were normal. The venous phase of the superior mesenteric arteriogram, on the other hand, showed superior mesenteric vein-portal vein occlusion with surrounding hepatopetal variceal collaterals. The venous phase of the splenic arteriogram additionally showed splenic vein occlusion and collateral vessels from the gastric and retroperitoneal regions flowing into a portal cavernous transformation. Gastroscopy confirmed that the patient had gastric varices in the cardia. We performed laparoscopic splenectomy to treat refractory gastric bleeding from varices and symptomatic hypersplenism. The postoperative course was uneventful; the patient's gastric varices were less prominent on follow-up gastroscopy and the hematologic profile returned to normal. Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis is the leading cause of variceal hemorrhage in patients with healthy livers. There is a consensus in the literature that splenectomy alone is of minimal value in preventing variceal bleeding in portal vein thrombosis. Splenectomy is, however, indicated in cases in which the patient has hepatopetal collaterals from the mesenteric vein system and whose hemorrhagic gastric varices are related to splenic vein thrombosis as in our case.     

多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像在胰源性门脉高压症诊断中的应用

目的 研究多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像在胰源性门静脉高压患者诊断中的应用.方法 应用16排多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像,对47例临床怀疑胰腺体尾部病变的患者的门静脉系统形态改变与126例肝源性门脉高压患者和47例正常对照组进行形态学对比观察,并测量胃冠状静脉、门静脉、脾静脉、肠系膜上静脉内径、门静脉期肝实质和门静脉主干CT值,对比肝脏、脾脏体积.结果 在47例胰腺体尾部病变中发现有脾静脉狭窄、闭塞者38例,其中胰腺肿瘤患者27例(71.1%),急慢性胰腺炎患者11例(28.9%).38例胰源性门脉高压患者中,发现食管静脉曲张5例(13.2%),胃底静脉曲张25例(65.8%),胃体静脉曲张22例(57.9%),胃短-胃后静脉显示26例(68.4%),胃冠状静脉显示26例(68.4%),发现胃网膜静脉曲张24例(63.2%),肠系膜静脉曲张1例.脾静脉闭塞14例(36.8%),脾静脉狭窄23例(63.2%).结论 胰源性门脉高压在影像学上表现为脾静脉栓塞,脾脏增大,脾门处大量曲张静脉,胃后-胃短静脉及胃网膜静脉增粗迂曲,胃底和胃体静脉曲张,较少合并食管静脉曲张,肝脏形态大小亦无异常.多层螺旋CT门静脉血管成像检查可为胰源性门脉高压患者提供血管形态、病因诊断等多方面有价值信息,为临床诊断和治疗提供客观的影像学依据.     

Bile Duct Varices or "Pseudo-Cholangiocarcinoma Sign" in Portal Hypertension Due to Cavernous Transformation of the Portal Vein

A total of 832 patients with portal hypertension resulting from different etiology was studied by ultrasonograph as a screening test. In 17 of the 832 patients, cavernous transformation of the portal vein was detected by means of ultrasonography. We have prospectively studied these 17 patients, and the diagnosis of cavernous transformation was confirmed by portography in all patients. To evaluate how much biliary tract has been affected from cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and to explain the cause of mildly increased alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin levels, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 16 of the 17 patients. There were narrowing, irregularity, undulation and nodular extrinsic defects resulting from compression of thrombosis of the portal vein and the collateral vessels, mimicking cholangiocarcinoma spreading along the common bile duct on the extrahepatic biliary tract in all 16 patients who underwent ERCP. Similar ERCP findings were not found in six patients with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. The ultrasonographic, portographic, and ERCP findings corresponded to surgical findings in six patients who had undergone splenectomy for either hypersplenism or bleeding from esophageal varices. The results indicate that cavernous transformation of the portal vein cause the above-mentioned radiographic findings that we propose to call "pseudo-cholangiocarcinoma sign."     

应用CTA技术和超声评估肝移植术患者术前肝脏血供状态研究*

目的 研究计算机断层扫描血管成像(CTA)和超声检测评估肝移植术患者术前肝脏血管解剖变异和管腔通畅性。方法 2014年5月～2020年5月我院收治的接受肝移植手术患者138例,术前均行腹部三期CT增强扫描、CTA后处理[包括容积再现(VR)和最大密度投影(MIP)等重建和超声检查。分析肝动脉、门静脉、肝静脉和下腔静脉及其侧支循环情况。结果 138例患者中,CTA显示107例(77.5%)肝动脉解剖起源和走行正常(Michels aⅠ型),31例(22.5%)存在肝动脉解剖变异,肝动脉管腔未出现狭窄和异常扩张情况,1例(0.7%)合并脾动脉瘤;136例患者术中肝动脉解剖与术前CTA评估一致;CTA诊断血栓和瘤栓的灵敏度和准确度分别为83.3%和68.6%,而超声检查诊断为58.3%(P<0.05)和60.0%;超声和CTA诊断肝静脉和下腔静脉通畅性的准确率均为99.3%。结论 相对于超声检查,CTA检查可准确评估肝移植术前肝动脉解剖变异情况,对门静脉栓子定性诊断的准确性也较高,且可清晰显示门静脉侧支循环开放情况。