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Background: Liver transplantation (LT) for unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRCLM) demonstrates good overall survival for selected patients in contemporary studies, with 5-year survival of 80%. A Fixed Term Working Group (FTWG), set up by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Liver Advisory Group (LAG), advised whether CRCLM should be considered for LT in United Kingdom. Their recommendation was that LT may be undertaken for isolated and unresectable CRCLM using strict selection criteria as a national clinical service evaluation., Methods: Opinions were sought from colorectal cancer/LT patient representatives, experts in colorectal cancer surgery/oncology, LT surgery, hepatology, hepatobiliary radiology, pathology, and nuclear medicine, and appropriate patient selection criteria, referral and transplant listing pathways were identified., Results: This paper summarises selection criteria for LT in United Kingdom for isolated and unresectable CRCLM patients, and highlights referral framework and pre-transplant assessment criteria. Finally, oncology-specific outcome measures to be utilised for assessing applicability of LT are described., Conclusion: This service evaluation represents a significant development for colorectal cancer patients in United Kingdom and a meaningful step forward in the field of transplant oncology. This paper details the protocol for the pilot study, scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 in United Kingdom., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None to declare., (Copyright © 2023 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Many patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) recur with poor survival. Overall survival (OS) following liver transplantation (LT) for CRLM is reported to be about 80% at 5 years. In this study, survival following resection versus transplantation for CRLM in patients with moderate (6-70 cm 3 ) metabolic tumor volume (MTV) from the preoperative positron emission tomography (PET) was compared., Methods: Disease-free survival (DFS), OS and post recurrence survival (PRS) following resection (n = 18) and LT (n = 12) was compared by using the Kaplan Meier method and log rank test for patients with moderate MTV., Results: Patients undergoing LT had unresectable metastases, significantly lower age, higher tumor burden score and number of liver metastases, longer time from diagnosis to surgery, and more patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. OS at 5 years was 39% in the resection group and 83% in the LT group (P = 0.012). PRS was significantly improved in patients treated with LT compared to resection with 71% alive at 5 years from recurrence compared to 17% in the resection group (P = 0.017)., Conclusion: LT for selected patients seems to be superior to resection as treatment for CRLM for patients with moderate MTV., (Copyright © 2021 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Liver transplantation (LTX) has been described as a rescue treatment option in severe, intractable post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), but is not considered to be indicated for this condition by many hepatobiliary and transplant surgeons. In this article we describe the clinical experience of five northern European tertiary centers in using LTX to treat selected patients with severe PHLF., Methods: All patients subjected to LTX due to PHLF at the participating centers were identified from prospective clinical databases. Preoperative variables, surgical outcome (both resection surgery and LTX) and follow-up data were assessed., Results: A total of 10 patients treated with LTX due to severe PHLF from September 2008 to May 2020 were identified and included in the study. All patients but one were male and the median age was 70 years (range 49-72). In all patients the indication for liver resection was suspected malignancy, but in six patients post-resection pathology revealed benign or pre-malignant disease. There was no 90-day mortality after LTX. Patients were followed for a median of 49 months (13-153) and eight patients were alive without recurrence at last follow-up., Discussion: In selected patients with PHLF LTX can be a life-saving procedure with low short-term risk., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Microdialysis catheters can detect focal inflammation and ischemia, and thereby have a potential for early detection of anastomotic leakages after pancreatoduodenectomy. The aim was to investigate whether microdialysis catheters placed near the pancreaticojejunostomy can detect leakage earlier than the current standard of care., Methods: Thirty-five patients with a median age 69 years were included. Two microdialysis catheters were placed at the end of surgery; one at the pancreaticojejunostomy, and one at the hepaticojejunostomy. Concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol were analyzed hourly in the microdialysate during the first 24 h, and every 2-4 h thereafter., Results: Seven patients with postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) had significantly higher glycerol levels (P < 0.01) in the microdialysate already in the first postoperative samples. Glycerol concentrations >400 μmol/L during the first 12 postoperative hours detected patients with POPF with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93% (P < 0.001). After 24 h, lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio were significantly higher (P < 0.05) and glucose was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients with POPF., Conclusion: High levels of glycerol in microdialysate was an early detector of POPF. The subsequent inflammation was detected as increase in lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio and a decrease in glucose (NCT03627559)., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Contemporary practice for superior mesenteric/portal vein (SMV-PV) reconstruction during pancreatectomy with vein resection involves biological (autograft, allograft, xenograft) or synthetic grafts as a conduit or patch. The aim of this study was to systematically review the safety and feasibility of the different grafts used for SMV-PV reconstruction., Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed and Embase according to the PRISMA guidelines (January 2000-March 2020). Studies reporting on ≥ 5 patients undergoing reconstruction of the SMV-PV with grafts during pancreatectomy were included. Primary outcome was rate of graft thrombosis., Results: Thirty-four studies with 603 patients were included. Four graft types were identified (autologous vein, autologous parietal peritoneum/falciform ligament, allogeneic cadaveric vein/artery, synthetic grafts). Early and overall graft thrombosis rate was 7.5% and 22.2% for synthetic graft, 5.6% and 11.7% for autologous vein graft, 6.7% and 8.9% for autologous parietal peritoneum/falciform ligament, and 2.5% and 6.2% for allograft. Donor site complications were reported for harvesting of the femoral, saphenous, and external iliac vein. No cases of graft infection were reported for synthetic grafts., Conclusion: In selected patients, autologous, allogenic or synthetic grafts for SMV-PV reconstruction are safe and feasible. Synthetic grafts seems to have a higher incidence of graft thrombosis., (Copyright © 2020 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection is considered standard of care for patients with tumour involvement of the superior mesenteric/portal vein (SMV/PV) and deemed justified if an R0-resection can be achieved. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed pathology assessment of the site and extent of margin involvement in specimens resulting from pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection., Methods: Retrospective observational study including patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with or without venous resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2015 and 2017. Detailed histopathological mapping of the tumour and its relationship to the margins was undertaken., Results: 98 patients met the inclusion criteria. An R0-resection, based on 1 mm clearance, was achieved in 16 of 73 patients without venous resection and in 1 of 25 patients with venous resection (p = 0.063). The surface of the SMV-groove was the most frequently involved margin (23 of 25 patients with venous resection, 37 of 73 patients without venous resection; p < 0.001). The broad invasive tumour front as well as the absence of peripancreatic fat at the SMV-groove were the reasons for these findings., Conlusion: An R0-resection following pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection for ductal adenocarcinoma can rarely be achieved due to microscopical involvement of the SMV-groove., (Copyright © 2019 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: SMV/PV resection has become common practice in pancreatic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and surgical outcome of using cold-stored cadaveric venous allografts (AG) for superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and portal vein (PV) reconstruction during pancreatectomy., Methods: Patients who underwent pancreatic resection with concomitant vascular resection and reconstruction with AG between January 2006 and December 2014 were identified from our institutional prospective database. Medical records and pre- and postoperative CT-images were reviewed., Results: Forty-five patients underwent SMV/PV reconstruction with AG interposition (n = 37) or AG patch (n = 8). The median operative time and blood loss were 488 min (IQR: 450-551) and 900 ml (IQR: 600-2000), respectively. Major morbidity (Clavien ≥ III) occurred in 16 patients. Four patients were reoperated (thrombosis n = 2, graft kinking/low flow n = 2) and in-hospital mortality occurred in two patients. On last available CT scan, 3 patients had thrombosis, all of whom also had local recurrence. Estimated cumulative patency rate (reduction in SMV/PV luminal diameter <70% and no thrombosis) at 12 months was 52%., Conclusion: Cold-stored cadaveric venous AG for SMV/PV reconstruction during pancreatic surgery is safe and associated with acceptable long-term patency., (Copyright © 2016 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)