Atılgan Tolga Akçam

Antiviral Combination Therapy With Low-Dose Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin for the Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Recurrence in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES This study presents the overall long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence rate with possible associated factors after hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) was given in combination with 4 different antiviral (lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, and tenofovir) drugs. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between September 2000 and October 2013, the medical records of 42 adult patients who underwent liver transplantation at the Cukurova University Medical Hospital for chronic liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to chronic HBV were reviewed retrospectively. The analyses of risk factors for recurrence were performed based on the efficacy of hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), HBV DNA, preoperative prophylaxis, and the presence of HCC. Posttransplantation HBV recurrence was defined as persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity after orthotopic liver transplantation, or the reappearance of HBsAg and HBV DNA after initial HBsAg undetectability despite prophylaxis. RESULTS The mean follow-up of 28 patients having HBIG and lamivudine prophylaxis was 73.25 ± 37.5 months with a recurrence rate of 3.5%. The mean follow-up of 2 patients having HBIG and adefovir prophylaxis was 90 ± 46.6 months with a 50% recurrence rate. The mean follow-up of each 6 patients who received prophylaxis with entecavir and tenofovir groups were 27.5 ± 16.1 and 16.17 ± 5.3 respectively, with no posttransplantation recurrence for both groups. On univariate analysis, preoperative factors such as anti-HBc, HBV DNA, preoperative prophylaxis, and the presence of HCC did not show any correlation with recurrence. However, HBeAg showed statistical significance for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose HBIG in combination with antiviral agents (lamivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir) is efficacious in preventing recurrence of HBV in posttransplantation patients.

Comparison of Diverting Colostomy and Bowel Management Catheter Applications in Fournier Gangrene Cases Requiring Fecal Diversion

In some patients of Fournier gangrene originated from perianal region, it is important to prevent fecal contamination in order to provide healing without wound infection. For this purposes, diverting colostomy or bowel management catheter methods were performed. In this study, it is aimed to carry out a comparison of prognosis and cost efficiency between diverting colostomy and bowel management catheter methods applied for preventing fecal contamination in Fournier’s gangrene patients. Fourty-eight patients with diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene, serious perianal infections, and preserved sphincters and without rectum injury after debridement were included in the study. The cases were divided into two groups as patients who were subjected to colostomy for fecal diversion and who were subjected to bowel management catheter without colostomy. Then, the groups were compared in terms of age, predisposing factors, duration of hospital stay, mortality, additional surgery requirements, and cost. Fourty-eight patients were included the study. Sixteen patients were treated without colostomy. Decreased duration of total hospital stay, additional surgery requirements, and hospital expense in bowel management catheter group has determined. It is thought that preferring bowel management catheter method instead of colostomy in patients without rectum injury, who require diverting colostomy and have undamaged anal sphincters, can relieve patients, patients’ relatives, healthcare organizations, and the national economy of a serious burden. In addition, although patients’ satisfaction and workforce loss factors are not taken into consideration in this study, the bowel management catheter method is thought to have positive effects also on these parameters.

Cyst of the canal of Nuck mimicking inguinal hernia

Highlights • This is a rare diagnosis, and the differential diagnosis often includes more common causes of inguinal masses.• In this document, we aimed to present the rare case of a Nuck canal cyst.

Karaciğer ve diafragmada senkron hemanjiom

Karacigerde gorulen en sik benign neoplazm hemanjiyomdur. Genellikle asemptomatik olup ender olarak komplikasyon olusturabilir. Karaciger ve senkron organ tutulumu gorulebilir. Genellikle medikal takip edilir. Semptomatik, hizli buyume gosterir ve tani kesin degilse cerrahi tedavi uygulanmalidir. Bu yazida karaciger ve diaframda ayni donemde gorulen senkron hemanjiyomu olan bir olgu sunulmustur.

Challenges, Prognosis and Outcomes of Surgical Resection for Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis: A Single Centre Experience

Objective: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an aggressive and potentially fatal infection, which affects the liver primarily and presents as a tumor-like lesion. Outcomes associated with surgical procedures for this infection have been rarely reported. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate long-term surgical treatment outcomes associated with hepatic AE. Methods: Between 2001 and 2013, the management and outcomes of twelve consecutive hepatic AE patients who were considered feasible for complete hepatic resection with/without metastasectomy were described. In all patients, pre-operative diagnosis of AE was based on clinical findings, imaging studies, and serological tests. Antibodies against antigens of Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes were screened as specific markers for the serological diagnosis of AE by Western blot. The oral albendazole protocol was administered for hepatic AE patients who had complete resection. Results: Twelve patients (F/M=7/5) underwent complete resection for pathologically confirmed hepatic AE during the study period. Median follow-up was 82 (32-164) months. The most common initial symptom was abdominal pain (n=9) followed by jaundice (n=4). Four patients had metastasis: Brain, surrenal, splenic and colon. One patient was lost due to massive pulmonary emboli despite appropriate interventions. All other complications that emerged were treated successfully. Conclusion: Long-term favorable outcomes can be achieved by complete surgical resection followed by chemotherapy with albendazole in advanced hepatic AE cases.

18F-FDG activitiy PET/CT and CA-19.9 levels for the prediction of histopathological features and localization of peri- ampullary tumors

BACKGROUND/AIMS We sought to investigate the roles of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in predicting the histopathological features of periampullary tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-four patients with histologically confirmed periampullary tumors were classified into two groups, according to the localizations of their tumors (ampulla Vateri or pancreas). SUVmax was obtained from [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). SUVmax and CA 19-9 levels were measured and compared with histopathological features of the tumors. Logistic regression was used to assess the significance and independence of predictive factors. RESULTS 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax (<2.5 vs. ≥2.5; p=0.031) and CA 19-9 level (normal vs. elevated; p=0.045) were significantly and independently predictive of the histopathological origin of the tumors (ampulla Vateri vs. pancreas). The ratio of CA 19-9 levels and SUVmax were found to be higher in cases of poorly differentiated tumors and tumors greater than 2 cm in diameter. CONCLUSION A surgical approach to treatment may be considered for patients who have both i) an established or suspected diagnosis of periampullary tumors and ii) low SUVmax and CA 19-9 levels.

A case of uneventful ABO-incompatible liver transplantation from a deceased donor managed with routine immunosuppressive treatment.

ABO-incompatible liver transplantation (ILT) was formerly contraindicated because of the increased risk of antibody-mediated humoral graft rejection due to preformed anti-A/-B antibodies on recipient endothelial cells. A 2.5-year-old girl with end-stage liver disease underwent cadaveric donation ILT because of acute liver failure and esophageal variceal bleeding before transplantation. The patients blood type was A Rh (-) and the donors blood type B Rh (+). The operation and postoperative course were uneventful. The immunosuppression consisted of steroids, and tacrolimus was initiated on the day of the surgery. The patients hemoglobin level did not change, and direct Coombs test performed daily was consistently negative. Anti-B titer was observed at a maximum of 1/8. The patient was followed up during the first year. This case of ILT from a cadaveric donor is significant because the 2.5-year-old recipient did not experience any complications after undergoing routine immunosuppressive treatment.