Gi-Young Ko

Expanded indication criteria of living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma at one large‐volume center

The currently available indication criteria of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have high prognostic power but insufficient discriminatory power. On the basis of single‐center results from 221 HCC patients undergoing LDLT, we modified the indication criteria for LDLT to expand recipient selection without increasing the posttransplant recurrence of HCC. Our expanded criteria, based on explant pathology, were largest tumor diameter ≤ 5 cm, HCC number ≤ 6, and no gross vascular invasion. One hundred eighty‐six of the 221 HCC patients (84.2%) met our criteria, 10% and 5.5% more than those that met the Milan and University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) criteria, respectively. The overall 5‐year patient survival rates were 76.0% and 44.5% within and beyond the Milan criteria, respectively; 75.9% and 36.4% within and beyond the UCSF criteria, respectively; and 76.3% and 18.9% within and beyond our expanded criteria, respectively. Although these 3 sets of criteria had similar prognostic power, our expanded criteria had the highest discriminatory power. Thus, these expanded criteria for LDLT eligibility of HCC patients broaden the indications for patient selection and can more accurately identify patients who will benefit from LDLT. Liver Transpl 14:935–945, 2008.

Reappraisal of repeated transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein invasion

Background and Aim:  This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of repeated transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with additional radiation therapy (RT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein (PV) invasion.

Sequential preoperative ipsilateral hepatic vein embolization after portal vein embolization to induce further liver regeneration in patients with hepatobiliary malignancy.

Objective:To assess the effect of ipsilateral hepatic vein embolization (HVE) performed after portal vein embolization (PVE) on liver regeneration. Summary Background Data:PVE induces shrinkage of the embolized lobe and compensatory enlargement of the non-embolized lobe, but it does not always induce sufficient liver regeneration. There was no effective method to accelerate liver regeneration in addition to PVE yet. Methods:During a 1-year study period, preoperative HVE were performed on 12 patients who had shown limited liver regeneration after PVE awaiting right hepatectomy. The right hepatic vein was embolized with multiple coils after insertion of vena cava filters or vascular plugs. Results:No HVE procedure-related complications occurred, but embolization of the wrong hepatic vein trunk occurred in 1 patient. The increase in blood liver enzymes after HVE was comparable with that after PVE alone. In 9 patients who underwent hepatectomy, the proportions of future liver remnant volume to total liver volume were 34.8% ± 1.5% before PVE, 39.7% ± 0.6% 1 to 2 weeks after PVE, 44.2% ± 1.1% 2 weeks after HVE, and 64.5% ± 6.2% 1 week after right hepatectomy. Cirrhotic livers showed lower regeneration rates following HVE after PVE and 1 patient underwent hepatectomy 17 months after HVE. Immunohistochemistry showed that apoptosis occurred more in the liver area affected by both PVE and HVE than in that affected by PVE alone. Conclusions:Preoperative sequential application of PVE and HVE seems to be safe and effective in facilitating contralateral liver regeneration by inducing more severe liver damage than PVE alone.

Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization or Chemoinfusion for Unresectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Clinical Efficacy and Factors Influencing Outcomes

The role of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or transcatheter arterial chemoinfusion (TACI) for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has recently been questioned. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TACE or TACI in patients with unresectable ICC and to identify prognostic factors associated with clinical success.

Ligation of left renal vein for large spontaneous splenorenal shunt to prevent portal flow steal in adult living donor liver transplantation

Persistance of a large spontaneous splenorenal shunt (SRS) may result in graft failure in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) because it reduces the effective portal perfusion to the partial liver graft by diversion of hepatotrophic portal flow into this hepatofugal pathway. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of ligation of left renal vein (LRV) to prevent portal flow steal and the safety of this procedure to the renal function in adult LDLT patients with SRS. Between October 2001 and January 2005, 44 cirrhotic patients with large SRS underwent LDLT with ligation of LRV. Each patient received pre‐ and postoperative computed tomography and Doppler USG to assess the changes of collaterals and portal flow, as well as serial renal and liver function tests. Portal flow after ligation of LRV was statistically and significantly increased when compared with pre‐operative value (P = 0.001). Whereas four patients (9.1%) demonstrated sustained, elevated serum creatinine levels after operation, the renal function tests returned to normal in 40 patients. All patients recovered with satisfactory regeneration of the partial liver graft and there was no procedure‐related permanent renal dysfunction. In conclusion, ligation of LRV to prevent a ‘portal steal phenomenon’ seems to be a safe and effective graft salvage procedure for large spontaneous SRS (>10‐mm diameter) in adult LDLT.

Clinical outcome of 251 patients with extrahepatic metastasis at initial diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Does transarterial chemoembolization improve survival in these patients?

Background and Aims:  The therapeutic efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has not been evaluated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastasis. We investigated the efficacy of TACE with/without systemic chemotherapy (s‐chemo) in these patients.

Early posttransplantation portal vein stenosis following living donor liver transplantation: Percutaneous transhepatic primary stent placement

Surgical treatments have usually been preferred for early posttransplantation portal inflow abnormalities. However, these treatments are limited due to their technical difficulty and multiple complicating factors. The present study reports the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic primary stent placement to treat early posttransplantation (≤1 month) portal vein (PV) stenosis. A total of 9 patients who had undergone living donor liver transplantation underwent percutaneous stent placement to treat PV stenosis. The average interval between liver transplantation and stent placement was 13 ± 10 days. Technical and clinical success was obtained in 7 (77.8%) of the 9 patients. Of the 7 patients with clinical success, 1 died of cerebral hemorrhage within 1 month following stent placement. The remaining 6 patients have remained healthy and without recurrence of PV stenosis until the time this manuscript was completed, and follow‐up Doppler ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT) obtained 66.6 ± 16.1 months after stent placement revealed patent portal inflow in all of these 6 patients. Major complications occurred in 3 patients, i.e., 2 cases of hemoperitoneum caused by blood oozing from a transhepatic tract of the liver grafts and 1 case of intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm. These complications were successfully treated using surgical ligation (n = 2) or transarterial coil embolization (n = 1). In conclusion, although we did experience some procedural complications, the percutaneous transhepatic primary stent placements in our study showed acceptable technical and clinical results for treating early posttransplantation PV stenosis. In addition, long‐term PV patency following stent placement was excellent. However, additional experience and further studies will be needed to verify the usefulness of primary stent placement in the early posttransplantation period. Liver Transpl 13:530–536, 2007.

Primary Postpartum Hemorrhage: Outcome of Pelvic Arterial Embolization in 251 Patients at a Single Institution

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pelvic arterial embolization (PAE) for the treatment of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and to determine the factors associated with clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective single-center study was institutional review board approved, and informed consent was waived. Outcomes were analyzed in 251 patients who underwent PAE for primary PPH between January 2000 and February 2011. Mode of delivery, causes of bleeding, detailed laboratory and treatment records, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Clinical success was defined as cessation of bleeding after initial session of PAE without the need for additional PAE or surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors related to clinical outcomes. RESULTS The clinical success rate was 86.5% (217 of 251). Among the 34 failed cases, 12 underwent repeat PAE, 16 underwent additional surgery, and three recovered with conservative management. Overall bleeding control was achieved in 98.0% (246 of 251) of the patients. Overall mortality was 2% (five of 251) after the first (n = 3) or second (n = 1) session of PAE or additional surgery (n = 1). Among the 113 patients with long-term follow-up, 110 (97.3%) maintained a regular menstrual cycle and 11 had successful pregnancies. Univariate analysis showed that cesarean section delivery, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and massive transfusion of more than 10 red blood cell units were related to failed PAE. Multivariate analysis showed that DIC (odds ratio, 0.36; P = .04) and massive transfusion (odds ratio, 0.10; P < .001) were significantly related to clinical failure. CONCLUSION PAE is safe and effective for managing primary PPH. Patients with DIC and massive transfusion were likely to have poor results after PAE.

Benign Tracheobronchial Stenoses: Long-term Clinical Experience with Balloon Dilation

PURPOSE To assess the safety and long-term efficacy of balloon dilation in the treatment of benign tracheobronchial stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Balloon dilation was performed under fluoroscopic guidance in 59 consecutive patients with benign tracheobronchial stenosis. Most patients had tuberculosis (48 of 59, 81%). Two to three serial balloon insufflations were performed for 5-180 seconds (mean, 85 sec) with inflation pressures as high as 16 atm with use of 6-20-mm-diameter balloon catheters. Patients with clinical evidence of restenosis underwent repeat balloon dilation. Patients were followed for 12-42 months (mean, 32 mo). RESULTS A total of 101 balloon dilation sessions were performed in 59 patients, with a range of one to four sessions per patient (mean, 1.7 sessions). Initial symptomatic improvement was achieved in 49 (83%) of the 59 patients; however, during the follow-up period, 39 (80%) of the 49 patients experienced recurrence of their symptoms. The primary patency rates at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 32 months were 92%, 60%, 45%, 24%, 20%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. The secondary patency rates at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 32 months were 92%, 87%, 75%, 43%, 43%, 43%, and 43%, respectively. Procedure-related major complications of deep mucosal laceration (n = 2) and bronchospasm (n = 1) occurred in three patients, but they experienced no subsequent problems. CONCLUSION Although the recurrence rate is high during the long-term follow-up period, balloon dilation seems to be a safe primary treatment modality for benign tracheobronchial stenoses and has an acceptable secondary patency rate.

Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Multivariate Analysis of Predicting Factors for Tumor Response and Survival in a 362-Patient Cohort

PURPOSE To evaluate the factors associated with tumor response and survival after chemoembolization in 362 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 2006 and August 2006, 362 patients who underwent chemoembolization for unresectable HCC were evaluated. The endpoints were tumor response and patient survival. Factors associated with tumor response were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Factors associated with patient survival were evaluated using multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS After chemoembolization, 69% of the study patients showed a tumor response. On multivariate analysis, tumor size (centimeter) (odds ratio [OR] 2.85, P = .002), tumor number (OR 4.58, P < .001), tumor vascularity (OR 11.97, P < .001), and portal vein invasion (OR 4.24, P < .001) were significant factors for tumor response. The median survival was 23 months. On multivariate analysis, Child-Pugh class (hazard ratio [HR] 2.43, P < .001), maximal tumor size (HR 1.66, P = .002), tumor vascularity (HR 2.13, P = .001), portal vein invasion (HR 2.39, P < .001), tumor number (HR, 1.92, P < .001), and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) value (HR 1.54, P = .003) were significant factors associated with patient survival after chemoembolization. CONCLUSIONS Tumor size, tumor vascularity, tumor number, and portal vein invasion are significant independent predictors of tumor response after chemoembolization in patients with unresectable HCC. Child-Pugh class B or C, large tumor size (≥ 4 cm), multiple tumors (five or more), portal vein invasion, and a high AFP value (> 83 ng/mL) indicated poor prognosis for overall patient survival after chemoembolization.