Cezar Stroescu

Major hepatectomies for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: Predictors for clinically relevant postoperative complications using the International Study Group of Liver Surgery definitions

BACKGROUND/AIM Major hepatectomies are widely used in curative-intent surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, but morbidity rates are high. The aim of the study is to explore potential predictors for clinically relevant complications after major hepatectomies for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS Seventy patients were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for risk factors of morbidities using the International Study Group of Liver Surgery definitions. RESULTS Severe morbidity rate was 36.5%. Clinically relevant posthepatectomy liver failure, bile leak, and hemorrhage rates were 24%, 22%, and 8.5%, respectively. A neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 3.3 is an independent prognostic factor for severe complications (hazard ratio = 1.258; 95% confidence interval 1.008-1.570; p = 0.042) while the number of blood units > 3 is an independent prognostic factor for clinically relevant liver failure (hazard ratio = 1.254; 95% confidence interval 1.082-1.452; p = 0.003). Biliary drainage and portal vein resection were not statistically correlated with any postoperative complication (p ≥ 0.101). Significantly higher bilirubinemia levels were observed in patients with postoperative hemorrhage (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION Clinically relevant morbidity rates after major hepatectomies for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma are high. Liver failure represents the main complication and is correlated with the number of transfused blood units. A patient with increased bilirubinemia appears to have a high risk for postoperative hemorrhage. Biliary drainage and portal vein resection does not appear to have a detrimental effect on morbidities. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a novel independent predictor for severe morbidity after major hepatectomies for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and may contribute to better and informed decision-making.

Clinical value of spleen‐preserving distal pancreatectomy: a case‐matched analysis with a special emphasis on the postoperative systemic inflammatory response

The impact of splenectomy on outcomes after distal pancreatectomy was assessed in the present study, with a special emphasis on the postoperative systemic inflammatory response.

Curative-intent Surgery for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma with and without Portal Vein Resection - A Comparative Analysis of Early and Late Outcomes

Introduction: The safety of portal vein resection (PVR) during surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) has been demonstrated in Asia, America, and Western Europe. However, no data about this topic are reported from Eastern Europe. The aim of the present study is to comparatively assess the early and long-term outcomes after resection for PHC with and without PVR. PATIENTS AND METHODS The data of 21 patients with PVR were compared with those of 102 patients with a curative-intent surgery for PHC without PVR. The appropriate statistical tests were used to compare different variables between the groups. Results: A PVR was performed in 17% of the patients. In the PVR group, significantly more right trisectionectomies (p=0.031) and caudate lobectomies (0.049) were performed and, as expected, both the operative time (p=0.015) and blood loss (p=0.002) were significantly higher. No differences between the groups were observed regarding the severe postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, and completion of adjuvant therapy. However, in the PVR group the postoperative clinicallyrelevant liver failure rate was significantly higher (p=0.001). No differences between the groups were observed for the median overall survival times (34 vs. 26 months, p = 0.566). A histological proof of the venous tumor invasion was observed in 52% of the patients with a PVR and was associated with significantly worse survival (p=0.027). CONCLUSION A PVR can be safely performed during resection for PHC, without significant added severe morbidity or mortality rates. However, clinically-relevant liver failure rates are significantly higher when a PVR is performed. Furthermore, increased operative times and blood loss should be expected when a PVR is performed. Histological tumor invasion of the portal vein is associated with significantly worse survival.

Operative Management and Outcomes of 150 Patients with Curative-intent Surgery for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinomas: A Single Institute East European Perspective

Introduction: The knowledge of current approach and outcomes of curative-intent surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) has been highlighted in studies of the literature including mainly East Asian and Western patients. Thus, papers presenting the curative-intent surgery in East Europe are scarce. The study aims to present the operative management and outcomes of curative-intent surgery for PHC in an East European institutional experience. Patients and methods: The data of all patients with curative-intent surgery for PHC between 1996 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed from a prospective maintained electronic database at our Department of Surgery. The assessment was made for the operative management and early and late outcomes. Results: Liver resections were performed in 80.7% of patients, with caudate lobectomies in 64.7% of cases. Vascular resections were performed in 19.4% of patients. Preoperative biliary drainage was performed in 26% of patients. Negative resection margins were obtained in 76.7% of patients. Overall and severe morbidity rates were 57.3% and 24%, respectively. Postoperative bile leak, liver failure and hemorrhage rates were 31.3%, 24.7% and 10%, respectively. The 90-day mortality rate was 6%. The median overall and disease-free survival times were 26 months and 21 months, respectively. Conclusion: The standard approach for curative-intent surgery for PHC implies bile duct resection associated with major hepatectomies, including caudate lobectomy. Expertise in referral surgical centers of East Europe is associated with morbidity, mortality and overall survival rates comparable with those reported in Western centres, despite low rate of preoperative biliary drainage and no use of portal vein embolization. Improvements of preoperative optimization with portal vein embolization and biliary drainage may potentially lead to better early and long-term outcomes.

Pattern of the First Recurrence Has No Impact on Long-Term Survival after Curative Intent Surgery for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinomas

Aim To explore the pattern of the first recurrence and impact on long-term survival after curative intent surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinomas (PHC). Materials and Methods Patients with curative intent surgery for PHC between 1996 and 2017 were analyzed. Survival times were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparisons were made with the log-rank test. Results A number of 139 patients were included. The median overall survival was 26 months. A recurrence was observed in 86 patients (61.9%), during a median follow-up time of 89 months. The median disease-free survival was 21 months with 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year estimated recurrence rates of 38%, 60%, 69%, and 77%, respectively. A number of 57 patients (41%) developed distant only recurrence, while 26 patients (18.7%) presented local and distant recurrences. An isolated local recurrence was observed in 3 patients (2.2%). The median overall survival was 15 months for patients with local recurrence, 15 months for patients with liver metastases, and 17 months for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (p = 0.903) as the first recurrence. Conclusion Curative intent surgery for PHC is associated with high recurrence rates. Most patients will develop distant metastases, while an isolated local recurrence is uncommon. The pattern of recurrence does not appear to have a significant impact on survivals.

Surgical Treatment of a Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm in a Young Female Patient - A Case Report

The major challenge in the evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms is identifying lesions with malignant potential or signs of malignancy. Overall, the risk of malignancy in incidentally detected pancreatic cysts is low. Pancreatic cystic neoplasms with malignant potential are: serous cystic tumors (SCTs), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs). The risk for developing malignancy is very low for SCTs, moderate to high in MCNs, solid pseudopapillary tumors and some IPMNs (up to 70 percent for main-duct IPMNs). We present a thirty-five years old female patient, without risk factors for the occurrence of pancreatic cancer was diagnosed via clinical examination and crosssectional imaging of the abdomen with a 7 cm cystic lesion located in the pancreatic body and tail, in the context of gastric outlet obstruction and upper abdominal pain with no improvement following conservative treatment. A distal pancreatectomy was thus performed, with favorable postoperative outcome. The histopathology examination described a non-invasive mucinous cystic neoplasm with low grade dysplasia. Many pancreatic cysts can be followed with surveillance imaging, through an algorithm which combines CT scan, MRI or endoscopic ultrasound. The decision to recommend surgery should take into account factors such as the patients age and general health, the malignant risk of the specific lesion, potential complications and the suspicion for malignancy.

An Attempt to Build a National Prospective Electronic Database for Pancreaticoduodenectomies in Romania - Preliminary Results of the First Year Enrollment

Introduction: National databases for pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD) have contributed to better postoperative outcomes after such complex surgical procedure because the multicentre collection of data allowed more reliable analyses with quality assessment and further improvement of technical issues and perioperative management. The current practice and outcomes after PD are poorly known in Romania because there was no national database for these patients. Thus, in 2016 a national-intent electronic registry for PD was proposed for all Romanian surgical centers. The study aims to present the preliminary results of this national-intent registry for PD after one-year enrollment. Patients Methods: The database was started on October 1st, 2016. Data were prospectively collected with an electronic online form including 102 items for each patient. The registry was opened to all the Departments of Surgery from Romania performing PD, with no restriction. Results: During the first year of enrollment were collected the data of 181 patients with PD performed by 24 surgeons from four surgical centers. The age of patients was 64 years (28 - 81 years), with slightly male predominance (61.3%). Computed tomography was the main preoperative imaging investigation (84.5%). All the PDs were performed by an open approach. The Whipple technique was used in 53% of patients, and a venous resection was required in 14.3% of cases. A posterior approach PD was considered in 16.6% of patients. The stomach was used to treat the distal remnant pancreas in 50.1% of patients. The operative time was 285 min (110 - 615 min), and the estimated blood loss was 400 ml (80 - 3000 ml). The overall morbidity rate was 55.8%, with severe (i.e., grade III-IV Dindo-Clavien) morbidity rate of 10%, and 3.9% in-hospital mortality rate. The overall pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying and hemorrhage rates were 19.9%, 39.8% and 15.5%. Periampullary malignancies were the main indications for PD (78.9%), with pancreatic cancer on the top (48%). Conclusions: To build a prospective electronic online database for PD in Romania appears to be a feasible project and a useful tool to know the current practice and outcomes after PD in our country. However, improvements are still required to encourage a larger number of surgical centers to introduce the data of patients with PD.

One Hundred Pancreatectomies with Venous Resection for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Invasion of portal vein (PV)/ superior mesenteric vein (SMV) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is no longer a contraindication for resection when reconstruction is technically feasible. However, the literature data reached conflicting conclusions regarding the early and long-term outcomes of patients with venous resection and pancreatectomies for PDAC. The study aims to present the outcomes in a large series of patients with pancreatectomies and associated PV/ SMV resection for PDAC, in a single center experience. Patients Methods: The data of 100 patients with pancreatectomies and PV and/ or SMV resection performed between 2002 and 2016 (February, 1st) were retrospectively analyzed from a prospectively maintained electronic database, which included 474 pancreatectomies for PDAC. Only patients with a final pathological diagnosis of PDAC were included in the present study. Results: Overall, 21.1% of patients with pancreatectomies for PDAC required a venous resection (100 patients out of 474 patients). Segmental resection was performed in 77 patients (out of 100 patients with pancreatectomies and venous resection - 77%), while 23 patients (23%) have had tangential venous resection. In the group of patients with segmental venous resection, reconstruction was made by end-to-end anastomosis in 53 patients (out of 77 patients - 68.8%), while in 24 patients (out of 77 patients - 31.2%) a graft interposition was necessary. Negative resections margins were obtained in 63 patients (63%). Histological tumor invasion of the resected vein was confirmed in 64 patients (64%). Postoperative complications occurred in 47 patients (47%), with severe complications (i.e., Dindo-Clavien grade III-V) in 19 patients (19%). Postoperative pancreatic fistulae, delayed gastric emptying and post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage rates were 9%, 20% and 15%, respectively. PV/ SMV thrombosis occurred in 5 patients (5%). The 90-day mortality rate in the group of patients with venous only resection, without any associated procedures, was 8%. Adjuvant treatment was performed in 63 patients (63%), while only 2 patients (2%) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up time was 105 months (range, 3 - 186 months), with a median overall survival time of 13 months (range, 3 - 186 months). In the group of patients with negative resection margins, the median overall survival time was 16 months (range, 3 - 186 months). Conclusions: PV/ SMV resection during pancreatectomies for PDAC is technically feasible, and grafts are rarely required for venous reconstruction. However, venous resection is associated with high postoperative complications rates, and the mortality rate is not neglectable. The main goal of such complex procedure is to obtain negative resection margins, a situation associated with encouraging survival rates.