Comment on “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis”

The present letter to the editor is in response to the research “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis” by Elshaarawy et al in World J Gastroenterol 2021; 13(5): 424–439. The preoperative assessment of the liver reserve function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with cirrhosis is crucial, and there is no universal consensus on how to assess it. Based on a retrospective study, Elshaarawy et al investigated the impact of various classical clinical indicators on liver failure and the prognosis after hepatectomy in HCC patients with cirrhosis. We recommend that we should strive to explore new appraisal indicators, such as the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min.     

肝癌组织LncRNA TINCR表达水平对术后长期生存的影响

目的 探讨肝癌组织中LncRNA TINCR 表达水平对术后长期生存的影响。方法 回顾性分析2013 年4 月～2016 年2 月间在本院接受手术治疗的157 例肝细胞肝癌患者的临床资料。RT-PCR 法检测肝癌标本内LncRNA TINCR 表达水平，采用ROC 曲线和Kaplan-Meier 法分析LncRNA TINCR 表达水平对肝癌术后长期生存的影响。结果 肝癌组织LncRNA TINCR 表达水平对术后长期生存预测的曲线下面积（AUC）为0.812，特异度为73.77%，灵敏度为79.17%，最佳判读值为1.89（P＜0.0001）。根据ROC 曲线分析结果，将肝癌组织LncRNA TINCR 相对表达水平大于1.89 的93 例（59.24%）患者纳入高表达组，而肝癌组织LncRNA TINCR 相对表达水平小于或等于1.89的64 例（40.76%）患者纳入低表达组。Kaplan－Meier 法生存分析发现高表达组术后3 年内有76 例患者死亡，3 年总生存率为18.28%（17/93）；低表达组术后3 年内有20 例患者死亡，3 年总生存率为68.75%（44/64），低表达组3 年总生存率明显优于高表达组（P＜0.0001，两组间死亡风险比为3.7534，95%可信区间为2.5158～5.6000）。结论 肝癌组织LncRNA TINCR 表达水平与肝癌术后长期生存显著相关，LncRNA TINCR 表达水平升高则预示着预后不佳。     

Two cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess necessitating liver resection for effective treatment

We report two British cases of liver abscess, due to Klebsiella pneumoniae and associated with synchronous infection elsewhere, which required liver resection for definitive treatment. They illustrate the geographic spread of aggressive K pneumoniae liver infection and demonstrate the importance of early aggressive treatment.     

Surgical Management and Outcomes of Patients with Multifocal Hepatoblastoma

ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of patients with multifocal hepatoblastoma (HB) treated at our institution with either orthotopic liver transplant (OLTx) or hepatic resection to determine outcomes and risk factors for recurrence.BackgroundMultifocality in HB has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor for recurrence and worse outcome. The surgical management of this type of disease is complex and primarily involves OLTx to avoid leaving behind microscopic foci of disease in the remnant liver.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review on all patients <18 years of age with multifocal HB treated at our institution between 2000 and 2021. Patient demographics, operative procedure, post-operative course, pathological data, laboratory values, short- and long-term outcomes were analyzed.ResultsA total of 41 patients were identified as having complete radiologic and pathologic inclusion criteria. Twenty-three (56.1%) underwent OLTx and 18 (43.9%) underwent partial hepatectomy. Median length of follow-up across all patients was 3.1 years (IQR 1.1–6.6 years). Cohorts were similar in rates of PRETEXT designation status identified on standardized imaging re-review (p = .22). Three-year overall survival (OS) estimate was 76.8% (95% CI: 60.0%–87.3%). There was no difference in rates of recurrence or overall survival in patients who underwent either resection or OLTx (p = .54 and p = .92 respectively). Older patients (>72 months), patients with a positive porta hepatis margin, and patients with associated tumor thrombus experienced worse recurrence rates and survival. Histopathology demonstrating pleomorphic features independently associated with worse rates of recurrence.ConclusionsThrough proper patient selection, multifocal HB was adequately treated with either partial hepatectomy or OLTx with comparable outcome results. HB with pleomorphic features, increased patient age at diagnosis, involved porta hepatis margin on pathology, and the presence of associated tumor thrombus may be associated with worse outcomes regardless of the local control surgery offered.Level of EvidenceIII.     

腹腔镜肝癌根治术的热点与未来发展

随着腹腔镜肝切除技术的发展与推广，腹腔镜肝切除中的一些难点，如术中出血的控制、解剖性肝切除、巨大肝癌切除、腹腔镜下联合肝脏分割与门静脉支结扎的二步肝切除术(ALPPS)等方面均基本解决。术中超声与荧光染色技术也得到普及。本文就上述问题做一概述，并对腹腔镜肝切除未来发展提出思路，以进一步推动我国腹腔镜肝切除的技术进步。     

肝段或肝叶切除术对肝内胆管结石再次手术效果的影响

目的对比不同术式对肝内胆管结石再次手术效果，探讨肝段或肝叶切除术的优势。 方法回顾性分析2011年8月至2014年8月收治的79例肝内胆管结石再次手术患者资料，依据术式不同分为肝段(叶)切除术组(甲组，n＝38)和非肝段(叶)切除术组(乙组，n＝41)两组。应用SPSS 19.0软件对所有临床数据进行统计学分析，手术相关指标等以( ±s)的形式表示，组间比较采用独立t检验；术后并发症发生情况及预后情况等计数资料以例(%)的形式表示，采用χ²检验；P<0.05差异有统计学意义。 结果两组患者术中出血量、手术时间及术后住院时间相比，差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)；甲组患者的术后并发症发生率5.3%(2/38)显著低于乙组22.0%(9/41)(P<0.05)；甲组残留结石发生率、症状复发率2.6%(1/38)、 0(0/41)均显著低于乙组17.1%(7/41)、 12.2%(5/41)(P<0.05)，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)；但两组患者的病死率2.6%(1/38)和0(0/41)相比，差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。 结论肝段(叶)切除术能够有效改善肝内胆管结石再次手术效果，值得推广。     

继发性肝癌的外科治疗

目的探讨继发性肝癌的手术适应证和方法。方法对52例继发性肝癌的临床病例资料进行回顾性分析。结果分别采用了左半肝切除、右半肝切除、左外叶切除、右前叶切除、右后叶切除和肝楔形切除术。术后1、3、5年的生存率分别为28.3%、19.4%和11.9%。结论对适合手术的继发性肝癌,行肝切除术可以获得满意的效果。     

腹腔镜规则性左肝外侧叶切除术15例

目的探讨腹腔镜左肝外侧叶切除术的可行性。方法2004年12月-2006年8月对病灶位于左肝外侧叶原发性肝细胞癌10例，肝海绵状血管瘤3例，结肠癌肝转移2例，腹腔镜下应用电刀或超声刀、线性切割器等切除左肝外侧叶。结果15例均在完全腹腔镜下行规则性左肝外侧叶切除，无中转开腹。手术时间65—120rain，平均100min；术中出血量50—100ml，平均80ml。肿瘤全部完整切除，无破裂，完整取出标本的边界距肿瘤切缘1cm以上，术后病理证实切端未见癌细胞侵犯。术后无出血及胆漏，术后腹腔引流管3—4d。术后住院3—5d。12例肝癌术后随访1-20个月，平均12．5月，未见肝内复发及手术切口肿瘤种植，所有患者均健康存活。结论腹腔镜规则性左肝外侧叶切除可行、安全。     

应用腔镜技术治疗肝内外胆管结石的临床研究

目的探讨腔镜技术在治疗肝内外胆管结石中的合理应用. 方法应用腹腔镜结合十二指肠镜和纤维胆道镜治疗96例肝内外胆管结石,其中胆囊结石合并胆总管结石72例,单纯胆总管结石16例,左肝管结石合并胆总管结石8例.主要术式包括腹腔镜胆囊切除联合EST(37例)、腹腔镜胆囊切除术结合胆道镜胆道探查术(54例)、腹腔镜下左肝叶切除联合胆道镜胆管探查术(5例). 结果 96例中,93例术后复查无残留结石.4例出现少量胆漏,平均10天内自愈,无其它严重并发症发生.3例中转开腹手术,其中2例由于存在高位胆管狭窄,1例由于肝门部严重粘连水肿. 结论腔镜治疗肝内外胆管结石可行,合理应用多种腔镜技术治疗肝胆管结石,可以达到安全、有效和微创的目的.     

Right Hepatic Lobectomy Using the Staple Technique in 101 Patients

Background Application of linear stapling devices for extrahepatic vascular control in liver surgery has been well-established. However, the technique for use of stapling devices in hepatic parenchymal transection is not well defined. Purpose To describe the safety and efficacy of our technique for use of vascular stapling devices in hepatic parenchymal transection during open right hepatic lobectomy is the purpose of this study. Methodology We reviewed our experience with 101 consecutive open right hepatic lobectomies performed by a single surgeon between January 2003 and July 2006, in which vascular staplers were utilized for the parenchymal transection phase. Results Of the 101 patients who underwent resection, 53 (52%) were female. The mean age was 58 years. Malignant disease was the indication for resection in the majority of patients (88%). Of those with cancer, 78% (69 of 89) had metastatic colorectal cancer, 6% (5 of 89) had metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, 4% (4 of 89) had hepatocellular carcinoma, 4% (4 of 89) had cholangiocarcinoma, and the remaining 8% were other metastatic cancers. Twelve patients (12%) underwent resection for hepatic adenoma or symptomatic benign disease (FNH or hemangioma). Forty-eight patients (48%) underwent a major ancillary procedure at the time of hepatic resection. Thirty-nine patients (39%) had a nonanatomic wedge resection of a left lobe lesion, 27 patients (27%) had one or more lesions treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and 6 patients (6%) were treated with a synchronous bowel resection. The median total operative time was 336 min (range 155–620 min). A Pringle maneuver for temporary vascular inflow occlusion was utilized in all cases, with a median time of 9 min (range 4–17 min). Ten patients (10%) required blood transfusion during surgery or in the postoperative period. The maximum transfusion was 2 U of packed red blood cells (PRBC) in seven patients and 1 U of PRBC in three patients. The mean nadir postoperative hematocrit was 28.2. All patients with malignant disease had tumor-free margins at the completion of the procedure. The average hospital length of stay was 6.0 days. One patient (1%) developed a clinically significant bile leak requiring a postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP). No patient required reoperation. The 30 and 60-day postoperative survival was 100%. Conclusion These findings indicate that application of vascular stapling devices for parenchymal transection in major hepatic resection is a safe technique, with low transfusion requirements and minimal postoperative bile leak. The technique allows for rapid transection of the entire right hepatic lobe in under 10 min. Short video clips of the technique will be demonstrated. Presented at the 2007 American Hepato–Pancreato–Biliary Association, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 19–22, 2007 (oral presentation/video presentation).