Otto M. van Delden

Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis and determining resectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and determination of resectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: Articles reporting US, CT, or MRI data of patients with known or suspected pancreatic adenocarcinoma and at least 20 patients verified with histopathology, surgical findings, or follow-up were included. A bivariate random effects approach was used to calculate sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and resectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Results: Sixty-eight articles fulfilled all inclusion criteria. For diagnosis, sensitivities of helical CT, conventional CT, MRI, and US were 91%, 86%, 84%, and 76% and specificities were 85%, 79%, 82%, and 75% respectively. Sensitivities for MRI and US were significantly lower compared with helical CT (P = 0.04 and P = 0.0001). For determining resectability, sensitivities of helical CT, conventional CT, MRI, and US were 81%, 82%, 82, and 83% and specificities were 82%, 76%, 78%, and 63% respectively. Specificity of US was significantly lower compared with helical CT (P = 0.011). Conclusions: Helical CT is preferable as an imaging modality for the diagnosis and determination of resectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Percutaneous drainage and stenting for palliation of malignant bile duct obstruction

Percutaneous biliary drainage and stenting (PTBD) for palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice has evolved to a safe and effective technique. PTBD is equally effective for treatment of distal and proximal bile obstruction. Metal self-expandable stents have proved superior to plastic stents and should therefore be used. Technical success is >90% en clinical success is >75% in all major series. There are a considerable number of complications, but most can be treated conservatively and procedure-related mortality is <2% in most series. Thirty-day mortality after PTBD is >10% in many series, but this is largely due to the underlying disease. About 10–30% of patients will have recurrent jaundice at some point in their disease after PTBD and require re-intervention.

Endovascular Thrombectomy and Thrombolysis for Severe Cerebral Sinus Thrombosis : A Prospective Study

Background and Purpose— Most patients with cerebral sinus thrombosis (CST) recover after treatment with heparin, but a subgroup has a poor prognosis. Those patients may benefit from endovascular thrombolysis. Methods— Prospective case series. Patients with sinus thrombosis were selected for thrombolysis if they had an altered mental status, coma, straight sinus thrombosis, or large space-occupying lesions. Urokinase was infused into the sinuses (bolus 120 to 600×103 U; then 100×103 U/h) via a jugular catheter, in 15 cases combined with mechanical thrombus disruption or removal. Results— We treated 20 patients (16 women), mean age 32 years. Twelve patients were comatose and 14 had hemorrhagic infarcts before thrombolysis. Twelve patients recovered (Rankin score 0 to 2), 2 survived with handicaps, and 6 died. Factors associated with a fatal outcome were leukemia (3/6 versus 0/14, P=0.02) and large hemorrhagic infarcts (4/6 versus 2/14, P=0.04). Seizures were less frequent in the fatal cases (P=0.05). Patients who died had a larger mean lesion surface than survivors (30.5 versus 13.6 cm2; P=0.03), larger midline shift (5.2 versus 1.7 mm; P=0.02), and a more rapid course (2.7 versus 8.2 days; P=0.01). Five patients who died had large hemispheric infarcts and edema before thrombolysis, causing herniation. Five patients had increased cerebral hemorrhage (3 minor, 2 major) after thrombolysis. Conclusions— Thrombolysis can be effective for severe sinus thrombosis, but patients may deteriorate because of increased cerebral hemorrhage. Patients with large infarcts and impending herniation did not benefit.

Staging laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography in more than 400 patients with upper gastrointestinal carcinoma

BACKGROUND Resection offers the only chance of cure to patients with esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and hepatopancreatobiliary tumors. Staging is essential to select patients who will benefit from operation because palliation can also be performed nonoperatively. Several studies, including limited numbers of patients, have shown that laparoscopic staging prevents unnecessary laparotomies, but it is doubtful whether general application of this staging method can be advised. The aim of this study was to assess the benefit of diagnostic laparoscopy for staging patients with esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and hepatopancreatobiliary tumors. STUDY DESIGN Between June 1992 and December 1996, 420 patients with a resectable tumor after conventional staging underwent diagnostic laparoscopy combined with laparoscopic ultrasonography. Histologic proof of metastases or ingrowth was used to cancel laparotomy. RESULTS Laparoscopic staging avoided laparotomy in 20% of patients (sensitivity 0.70): 5% with an esophageal tumor, 20% with a gastroesophageal junction tumor, 15% with a periampullary tumor, 40% with a proximal bile duct tumor, 35% with a liver tumor, and 40% with a pancreatic body or tail tumor. Complications and port-site metastases were seen in 4% and 2% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic staging is a safe procedure with low morbidity and without mortality in this series. It has shown no benefit in esophageal cancer, but seems beneficial for staging tumors located at the gastroesophageal junction, proximal bile duct tumors, liver tumors, and pancreatic body and tail tumors. The value of laparoscopic staging for patients with periampullary tumors is not as great as stated in previous studies and is still the subject of investigation.

Controversies in the Use of Portal Vein Embolization

Background/Aims: Portal vein embolization (PVE) has reached worldwide acceptance to increase future remnant liver (FRL) volume before undertaking major liver resection. The aim of this overview is to point out and discuss current controversies in the application of PVE. Methods: Review of literature pertaining to techniques of PVE, complications, tumor proliferation, timing of resection, and hypertrophy response after PVE. Results: Procedure-related complications after PVE include hematoma, hemobilia, overflow of embolization material, and thrombosis of portal vein branch(es) of the non-embolized lobe. Persistence of the embolized, atrophic lobe is usually not harmful. Embolization of the portal branches to segment 4 in addition to embolization of the right portal trunk is controversial and is advised only in selected cases. It remains undecided whether embolization of the portal venous system is more effective in inducing hypertrophy of the FRL than ligation of the portal vein. Accelerated tumor growth after PVE is a major concern and requires consideration of post-PVE chemotherapy. A waiting time of 3 weeks between PVE and liver resection is advised. Post-hepatectomy regeneration is not hampered after preoperative PVE. Conclusion: PVE is a useful preoperative intervention to increase volume and function of the FRL. Further progress awaits clarification of the mechanisms of the hypertrophy response induced by PVE in conjunction with new embolization materials and protective chemotherapy.

Management of spontaneous haemorrhage and rupture of hepatocellular adenomas. A single centre experience

Abstract: Background: Hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) may present with spontaneous haemorrhage and rupture. The aim of this study was to assess management in 22 patients treated for haemorrhage and/or rupture of HCA.

Incidence and management of biliary leakage after hepaticojejunostomy

This study analyzes the change in the management of biliary leakage after hepaticojejunostomy. Between 1993 and 2003 all patients (n = 1033) were studied with a hepaticojejunostomy as part of a pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 486), proximal bile duct resection (without liver resection) (n = 35), and biliodigestive bypass for malignant (n = 302) and benign (n = 210) disease. Biliary leakage was defined as the presence of bile-stained fluid (>50 mL) in the abdominal drain more than 24 hours after surgery, proven radiologically or at relaparotomy. The studied patients were divided into two equal periods to analyze the change in management. Overall, 24 of 1033 patients (2.3%) had biliary leakage. In multivariate analysis, a body mass index greater than 35 kg/m2 (P = .012), endoscopic biliary drainage (P = .044), and an anastomosis on the segmental bile ducts (P < .001) were independent predictors of leakage. Management in the first half of the study period (1993-1998) versus the second half (1999–2003) was maintenance of operatively placed drains (18% vs. 15%, respectively, P = 1.000), percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (18% vs. 69%, respectively, P = .012), surgical drainage (55% vs. 8%, respectively, P = .023), and re-hepaticojejunostomy (9% vs. 8%, respectively, P = 1.000). There was no mortality in the patients with biliary leakage. Leakage after a hepaticojejunostomy is a relatively rare complication without mortality and can safely be managed with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

Management of liver hemangiomas according to size and symptoms

Background and Aim:  Liver hemangiomas are the most common benign liver tumors. These lesions are usually incidental findings during imaging studies of the abdomen performed for other reasons. The indication for surgical resection of these lesions remains controversial.

Consensus strategies for the nonoperative management of patients with blunt splenic injury: A Delphi study

BACKGROUND Nonoperative management is the standard of care in hemodynamically stable patients with blunt splenic injury. However, a number of issues regarding the management of these patients are still unresolved. The aim of this study was to reach consensus among experts concerning optimal treatment and follow-up strategies. METHODS The Delphi method was used to reach consensus among 30 expert trauma surgeons and interventional radiologists from around the world. An online survey was used in the two study rounds. Consensus was defined as an agreement of 80% or greater. RESULTS Response rates of the first and second rounds were 90% and 80%, respectively. Consensus was reached for 43% of the (sub)questions. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma organ injury scale for grading splenic injury is used by 93% of the experts. In hemodynamically stable patients, observation or splenic artery embolization (SAE) can be applied in the presence of a small or no hemoperitoneum combined with an intraparenchymal contrast extravasation or no contrast extravasation, regardless of the presence of an arteriovenous (AV) fistula/pseudoaneurysm. Hemodynamic instability is an indication for operative management, irrespective of computed tomographic characteristics and grade of splenic injury (≥82% of the experts). Operative management is also indicated in the presence of associated intra-abdominal injuries and/or the need for five or more packed red blood cell transfusions (22 of 27 experts, 82%). Recommended time span to start SAE in a stable patient with an intraparenchymal contrast extravasation is 60 minutes (19 of 24 experts). Patients should be admitted 1 to 3 days to a monitored setting (27 of 27 experts, 100%). Serial hemoglobin checks are performed by all experts, every 4 to 6 hours in the first 24 hours and once or twice a day after that (21 of 24 experts, 88%), in nonoperative management as well as after SAE. Routine postdischarge imaging is not indicated (21 of 24 experts, 88%). CONCLUSION Although treatment should always be adjusted to the specific patient, the results of this study may serve as general guidelines.

Selective Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Treatment of Bleeding Complications or Reduction of Tumor Mass of Hepatocellular Adenomas

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) are benign liver lesions which may be complicated by spontaneous intratumoral bleeding, with or without rupture into the abdominal cavity, or malignant degeneration. Recent advances in radiological interventional techniques now offer selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) as an alternative approach to surgery as the initial treatment to stop the bleeding or as an elective treatment to reduce the tumor mass of the HCA. Herein, we report our initial experience using TAE in the management of HCA. Five female patients and one male patient presented with spontaneous hemorrhage of HCA. Four patients were initially treated with selective TAE to stop the bleeding. In two patients in whom the bleeding stopped spontaneously, TAE was electively undertaken 1 year after presentation to reduce the tumor mass of HCAs >5 cm. Selective TAE as initial treatment in patients with spontaneous bleeding of HCA with or without rupture is effective and will change the need for urgent laparotomy to control bleeding. Selective TAE may also be used as an elective treatment to reduce the tumor mass of larger HCAs.