Specialty

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: We investigated the usefulness of a clinical risk scoring system (CRS) for guiding management and defining prognosis for patients with colorectal liver met"astases (CLM). METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed data about the correlation between outcomes and Fong's CRS from 1989 to 2010 for patients treated for CLM at the Severance Hospital. RESULTS: Of 566 patients, 232 received adjuvant treatment after liver resection. Of these patients, 185 (81%) had a low CRS (0-2) and 47 (19%) had a high CRS (3-5)...

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) represents the most important cause of morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and contributes to prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality rates. This study presents a new technique, which involves end-to-end pancreaticojejunostomy with transpancreatic interlocking mattress sutures, and evaluates its safety and reliability. METHODS: From January 2011 to May 2012, 79 patients with periampullary malignancies underwent PD by using this modified technique, and the morbidity and mortality rates were calculated...

PURPOSE: Although genetic p53 aberrations are correlated with the prognosis of various types of cancer, their prognostic relevance is currently unclear in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the small intestine. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2008, 113 patients with resected localized GISTs of the small intestine were included in this analysis. Patients who received pre- and/or postoperative chemotherapy were excluded. p53 overexpression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining and defined as expression in >10 % of tumor cells...

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate prognostic factors and factors associated with the resectability of advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC). METHODS: This was a single-institution retrospective review of 274 consecutive surgically-treated cases of advanced GBC (excluding incidental GBC and early GBC). Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to assess prognostic variables. R0 resection and survival rates were investigated for each local extension factor. RESULTS: Long-term survival was uncommon among patients with multiple liver metastases (H2-3: n = 22; 2-year survival, 0 %), dissemination (P1-3: n = 16; 3-year survival, 0 %), invasion through the hepatoduodenal ligament (Binf3: n = 45; 5-year survival, 4...

BACKGROUND: A pneumoperitoneum of 12 to 16 mm Hg is used for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Lower pressures are claimed to be safe and effective in decreasing cardiopulmonary complications and pain. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of low pressure pneumoperitoneum compared with standard pressure pneumoperitoneum in people undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded until February 2013 to identify randomised trials,using search strategies...

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) most commonly metastasize to the liver. Hepatic resection of NET hepatic metastases (NETHM) has been shown to improve symptomology and survival. METHODS: A systematic review of clinical studies before September 2010 was performed to examine the efficacy of hepatic resection for NETHM. As a secondary end-point, the impact of treatment on safety and symptomology were determined and prognostic variables were identified. The quality of each study was also assessed using predefined criteria incorporating 9 characteristics...

Soft tissue sarcomas of the trunk are rare lesions, generally managed using an algorithm similar to that employed for extremity sarcomas. This review summarizes the standard treatment of truncal sarcomas and considers how these recommendations differ for each of the various common histologic subtypes observed on the trunk: desmoid, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), and angiosarcoma.

The biliary malignancies that are reviewed here are gallbladder cancer (GBC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC), and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). The focus is on outcomes after potentially curative resection of biliary malignancies. Key outcomes are postoperative mortality, median and 5-year overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival, and recurrence patterns. Poor prognostic factors for recurrence and survival as well as prognostic models are also discussed. The incidence of biliary malignancies in the United States is about 5 in 100,000...

BACKGROUND: Factors influencing long-term outcome after surgical resection for duodenal adenocarcinoma are unclear. METHODS: A prospectively created database was reviewed for patients undergoing surgery for duodenal adenocarcinoma in six UK hepatopancreaticobiliary centres from 2000 to 2013. Factors influencing overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) were identified by regression analysis. RESULTS: Resection with curative intent was performed in 150 (84·3 per cent) of 178 patients...

BACKGROUND: Liver resection represents the first choice of treatment for primary and secondary liver malignancies, offering the patient the best chance of long-term survival. The extensive use of major hepatectomy increases the risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), which is associated with a high frequency of postoperative complications, mortality and increased length of hospital stay. AIMS: The aim of this review is to investigate the different risk factors related to the occurrence of PHLF and to identify the limits for a safe liver resection in patients with normal liver and injured liver (cirrhosis, cholestasis, steatosis and post-chemotherapy liver injury)...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common sarcoma of the intestinal tract. Improvements in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of GIST have resulted in novel treatment strategies combining surgery with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Metastasectomy in carefully selected patients who have stable or responsive disease on imatinib should be considered in the multidisciplinary setting. We review existing data on surgical cytoreduction in metastatic GIST while on targeted therapy and compare outcomes with either treatment alone...

There are numerous techniques surgeons employ to reduce blood loss during partial hepatectomy. In this literature review, prospective studies from the last 20 years are examined to determine the techniques that are best supported by the literature. Some of the techniques include vascular control, multiple parenchymal transection techniques, various hemostatic agents, low central venous pressure, and hemodilution. The strategies supported most convincingly by the literature include low CVP and total hepatic inflow occlusion...

IMPORTANCE: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in Western countries. In approximately 10% of all patients with pancreatic cancer, it is possible to define a positive family history for pancreatic cancer or for one of the other related genetic syndromes. A screening program for individuals at risk is recommended; however, surveillance modalities have not been defined yet. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the short-term results of a prospective clinical surveillance program for individuals at risk for pancreatic cancer using a noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based screening protocol...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Serial levels of CA 19-9 are correlated with treatment response and survival; however, little is known about CA 19-9 kinetics in the absence of therapy. We hypothesize that preoperative CA 19-9 kinetics predict rate of resectability as well as survival. METHODS: Retrospective review of 72 patients with radiographically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma with two pre-operative CA 19-9 levels prior to planned pancreaticoduodenectomy. Primary outcome measures were resectability and overall survival...

OBJECTIVE: To research the optimal surgical strategy for chronic pancreatitis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, SpringerLink, and secondary sources from inception through December 31, 2011, with no restrictions on languages or regions. STUDY SELECTION: All controlled experimental (randomized and nonrandomized) studies in which duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection was compared with pancreaticoduodenectomy in chronic pancreatitis...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of timing of surgery on the long-term clinical outcome of surgery in chronic pancreatitis (CP). DESIGN: Cohort study with long-term follow-up. SETTING: Five specialized academic centers. PATIENTS: Patients with CP treated surgically for pain. INTERVENTIONS: Pancreatic resection and drainage procedures for pain relief. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain relief (pain visual analogue score ≤4), pancreatic function, and quality of life...

BACKGROUND: The mortality rates associated with hepatectomy are still not zero. Our aim was to define the risk factors for complications and to evaluate our perioperative management. STUDY DESIGN: Between 2001 and 2008, 793 consecutive patients (547 men and 246 women; mean age ± SD, 56.1 ± 14.9 years) underwent hepatectomy without gastrointestinal resection and choledocojejunostomy at our center. Of these patients, 354 (44.6%) were positive for the hepatitis B virus surface antigen and/or the hepatitis C virus antibody...

Pre-operative determination of the risk of liver dysfunction has come under criticism with regards to its usefulness in clinical practice. Opinion is split between centres which use such tests uniformly on all patients and those where clinical judgment alone is used. Published data would not suggest any difference in mortality, morbidity or liver failure rates between these groups. This review outlines and presents the evidence for pre-operative quantification of functional liver remnant volume.

HYPOTHESIS: A prognostic scoring system for colorectal cancer liver metastases that is derived from unselected patients referred for hepatic resection would improve the applicability and increase the accuracy of prognostication. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively documented data; validation against an unrelated cohort from another institution. The median follow-up was 16.4 months (95% confidence interval, 15.0-17.8 months) (original cohort). SETTING: Two tertiary referral centers at unrelated university hospitals...

Liver function assessment is important to ensure safe surgical procedures in patients with hepatocellular disease. Because the liver influences a wide variety of functions, including protein synthesis and metabolic, immune and storage functions, no single parameter is sufficient to adequately address all of these functions. We reviewed the relevant literature concerning the scoring systems, functional tests, plasma parameters and imaging modalities currently used to evaluate the liver function in an attempt to determine which parameters provide the most comprehensive and useful results...