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Background Many authors advocate lipase as the preferred serological test for the diagnosis of pancreatitis and a cut-off level of three or more times the upper limit of normal ( ULN) is often quoted. The literature contains no systematic review that explores alternative causes of a lipase level over three times as high as the ULN. Such a review was therefore the objective of this study. Methods The EMBASE and MEDLINE databases (1985 to August 2013) were searched for all eligible articles. Predetermined data were extracted and independently analysed by two reviewers. Results In total, data from 58 studies were included in the final analysis. The following causes other than pancreatitis of lipase levels exceeding three times the ULN were found: reduced clearance of lipase caused by renal impairment or macrolipase formation; other hepatobiliary, gastroduodenal, intestinal and neoplastic causes; critical illness, including neurosurgical pathology; alternative pancreatic diagnoses, such as non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymaemia, and miscellaneous causes such as diabetes, drugs and infections. Conclusions A series of differential diagnoses for significant serum lipase elevations (i.e. exceeding three times the ULN) has been provided by this study. Clinicians should utilize this knowledge in the interpretation and management of patients who have lipase levels over three times as high as the ULN, remaining vigilant for an alternative diagnosis to pancreatitis. The medical officer should be aware of the possibility of incorrect diagnosis in the asymptomatic patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Selected patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CLM) may be rendered resectable using the two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) approach. This review was conducted with the aim of collating and evaluating published evidence for TSH in patients with initially unresectable CLM. Methods Searches of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were undertaken to identify studies of TSH in patients with initially unresectable CLM. Studies were required to focus on the perioperative treatment regimen, operative strategy, morbidity, technical success and survival outcomes. Results Ten observational studies were reviewed. A total of 459 patients with initially unresectable CLM were selected for the first stage of TSH. Preoperative chemotherapy was used in 88% of patients and achieved partial and stable response rates of 59% and 39%, respectively. Postoperative morbidity and mortality after the first stage of TSH were 17% and 0.5%, respectively. Portal vein embolization (PVE) was used in 76% of patients. Ultimately, 352 of the initial 459 (77%) patients underwent the second stage of TSH. Major liver resection was undertaken in 84% of patients; the negative margin (R0) resection rate was 75%. Postoperative morbidity and mortality after the second stage of TSH were 40% and 3%, respectively. Median overall survival was 37 months (range: 24-44 months) in patients who completed both stages of TSH. In patients who did not complete both stages of TSH, median survival was 16 months (range: 10-29 months). The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 20% (range: 6-27%). Conclusions Two-stage hepatectomy is safe and effective in selected patients with initially unresectable CLM. Further studies are required to better define patient selection criteria for TSH and the exact roles of PVE and preoperative and interval chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review was undertaken to assess the published evidence for the safety, feasibility and reproducibility of laparoscopic liver resection. A computerized search of the Medline and Embase databases identified 28 non-duplicated studies including 703 patients in whom laparoscopic hepatectomy was attempted. Pooled data were examined for information on the patients, lesions, complications and outcome. The most common procedures were wedge resection (35.1%), segmentectomy (21.7%) and left lateral segmentectomy (20.9%). Formal right hepatectomy constituted less than 4% of the reported resections. The conversion and complication rates were 8.1% and 17.6%, respectively. The mortality rate over all these studies was 0.8% and the median (range) hospital stay 7.8 days (2–15.3 days). Eight case–control studies were analysed and although some identified significant reductions in-hospital stay, time to first ambulation after surgery and blood loss, none showed a reduction in complication or mortality rate for laparoscopically carried out resections. It is clear that certain types of laparoscopic resection are feasible and safe when carried out by appropriately skilled surgeons. Further work is needed to determine whether these conclusions can be generalized to include formal right hepatectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Portal triad clamping (PTC) is the most commonly used method of achieving vascular control during liver resection. However, the efficacy and safety of PTC, compared with those of other methods of vascular control, are uncertain. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PTC with other methods of vascular control during liver resection. Endpoints included in-hospital mortality, need for transfusion, number of complications and length of hospital stay. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model. Results: Ten RCTs were identified; these included a total of 820 patients. No statistically significant differences between PTC and other forms of vascular control in liver resection were demonstrated. Conclusions: There is no evidence, on the basis of this meta-analysis of RCTs, of any difference between PTC and other forms of vascular control in liver resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatic resection is a potentially curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but recurrence of disease is very common. Few studies have reported 10-year actual survival rates following hepatic resection; instead, most have used actuarial measures based on the Kaplan-Meier method. This systematic review aims to document 10-year actual survival rates and to identify factors significant in determining prognosis. Methods: A comprehensive search was undertaken of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Only studies reporting the absolute number of patients alive at 10 years after first resection for HCC were included; these figures were used to calculate the actual 10-year survival rate. A qualitative review and analysis of the prognostic factors identified in the included studies were performed. Results: Fourteen studies, all of which were retrospective case series, including data on 4197 patients with HCC were analysed. Ten years following resection, 303 of these patients were alive. The 10-year actual survival rate was 7.2%, whereas the actuarial survival quoted from the same studies was 26.8%. Positive prognostic factors included better hepatic function, a wider surgical margin and the absence of satellite lesions. Conclusions: The actual long-term survival rate after resection of HCC is significantly inferior to reported actuarial survival rates. The Kaplan-Meier method of actuarial survival analysis tends to overestimate survival outcomes as a result of censorship of data and subgroup analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]