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Summary: Aims of the study: To evaluate post-operative complications and the recurrence rate after repair of large ventral incisional hernia with an open technique using intraperitoneal composite mesh and an associated aponeurotic overlay. Patients and methods: This prospective study included a total of 280 patients who underwent repair of large incisional hernia using Parietex® composite mesh. Results: The post-operative mortality rate was 0.35%. Six patients (2%) developed subcutaneous surgical site infection without infection of the prosthesis. Six other patients (2%) developed a deep-seated infection; in three cases, the mesh had to be removed. Nine patients (3.2%) developed recurrent incisional hernia. Conclusion: Large ventral incisional hernias can be effectively treated by the intraperitoneal placement of Parietex® composite mesh overlaid by an aponeurotic graft; the incidence of complications in this prospective study was very low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of surgical site infections (SSI) in clean surgery and to identify high- and low-risk patients from whom efficacy of the antibiotic prophylaxis was analyzed. METHODS: From June 1982 to September 1996, a database was established from 3 prospective multicenter randomized studies, containing information of 5798 patients who underwent abdominal noncolorectal surgery. Multivariate analysis was performed using nonconditional logistic regression expressed as an odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: A total of 2374 patients underwent a clean surgery. An antibiotic prophylaxis was administered to 1943 patients (81.8%). A multivariate analysis was performed including only preoperative factors and disclosed 3 independent factors: cirrhosis (OR, 2.8; 95% CI: 1.6-12.8), other disease (OR, 2.7; 95% CI: 1.3-5.8), and preoperative urinary catheter (OR, 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1-4.6). A risk score for SSI was constructed: -4.9 + (1.5 x cirrhosis++) + (other disease++) + (0.8 x preoperative urinary catheter++) (++ = 0 if absent or 1 if present). The study included 1 group of patients having no risk factors for SSI with a score below -4.5 (S1R-) and 1 group of patients having 1 or more risk factors for SSI with a score over -4.5 (S1R+). Antibiotic prophylaxis did not reduce the infectious complication rate in the S1R- group, whereas, in the S1R+ group, it reduced significantly the rate of SSI and of parietal infectious complications by 58% and 69%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic prophylaxis in clean abdominal surgery was effective in high-risk patients. Urinary catheter must be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: But de l’étude. – La mise en place d’un renfort de paroi en situation intrapéritonéale dans le traitement des éventrations est une option thérapeutique, qui présente l’avantage de diminuer la dissection, de réduire la durée opératoire et la douleur postopératoire. Il est cependant rapporté un taux plus important d’adhérences viscérales. Pour pallier cet inconvénient, une prothèse recouverte sur une face par un film hydrophile résorbable (Parietex® Composite) a été proposée. Le but de cette étude a été de comparer le taux d’adhérences viscérales par détection échographique après utilisation d’une prothèse en polyester versus utilisation de la prothèse hydrophile. Patients et méthode. – Vingt-six patients ayant reçu une prothèse Parietex® Composite ont été prospectivement comparés à une série rétrospective de 26 patients asymptomatiques ayant reçu une plaque Mersilène®. Pour détecter les adhérences viscérales, nous avons utilisé un examen échographique qui a été dans un premier temps validé dans les deux groupes en comparant les données échographiques préopératoires aux données macroscopiques peropératoires, puis utilisé pour comparer ces deux groupes. Résultats. – Avec un suivi moyen de 33 mois, les deux groupes étaient équivalents en termes de critères d’inclusion sauf pour l’âge qui était plus élevé dans le groupe Mersilène®. Pour la détection des adhérences intrapéritonéales, l’échographie avait une sensibilité de 72 %, une exactitude de 69 % et une valeur prédictive négative de 67 %. En utilisant l’échographie, 81 % des patients du groupe Mersilène® présentaient des adhérences versus 27 % dans le groupe Parietex® Composite (p = 0,0002, χ2). Conclusion. – L’échographie semble fiable pour la détection des adhérences intrapéritonéales postopératoires. Une réduction significative du taux d’adhérences dans le groupe Parietex® Composite a été montrée. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Because of the increase of ultrasonographic exams, nonparasitic cyst of the liver is frequently encountered. Some giant cysts have complications. The surgical treatment for complicated forms consists in resection of the protruding part. We report a case of a giant non parasitic cyst of the liver which was responsible of a compression of the inferior vena caval with thrombus. The resection of the thrombus was performed after a double control of the veina cava and a control of the aorta. The fenestration of the cyst was performed in a second time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction. – The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term outcome of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.Material and methods. – From 1980 to 1997, 140 patients with chronic pancreatitis with dilated Wirsung duct were treated by PJ and were studied retrospectively. There were 123 men and 17 women, with a mean age of 46 years (range: 18–79 years). Ongoing alcoholic addiction was present in 116 patients (83%). Chronic pain uncontrolled by major analgesics was the indication of PJ in 126 patients (90%).Results. – The mortality rate was 1.4% (n = 2). The morbidity rate was 11% (n = 16). Mean hospital stay was 16 days (range: 8–25 days). The mean follow-up was 7.4 years (range: 2–15 years) in 94 patients. Functional results were good or mild in 93% of cases (n = 87). In seven patients (7%), the results were bad with persistence of chronic pain requiring major analgesics. A mean weight increase of 5.8 kg (range: 1–16 kg) was observed in 74 patients (79%). Twelve patients (13%) developed de novo diabetes mellitus. In the 43 patients with preoperative diabetes, 24 patients suffered deterioration of their status. No patient recovered from exocrine insufficiency.Conclusions. – In case of dilated Wirsung, PJ must be indicated preferentially because of its good efficiency on pain relief with low mortality and morbidity rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose of the study. – To assess clinical, therapeutic and diagnostic findings of strangulated obturator hernias.Patients and method. – Retrospective study of 17 patients (16 women, 1 man; average age: 81.7 years), all treated in the same service, for strangulated obturator hernia. The studied criteria were: clinical characteristics (general status, obstruction, sign of Romberg-Howship), morphologic exams, mean delay for surgical treatment, and occurrence of postoperative complications.Results. – The clinical examination revealed small bowel obstruction in 94% of the patients (n = 16) and incomplete obstruction in 1 patient; 23.5% of the patients presented a sign of Romberg-Howship. A major slimming was observed in 82% of the cases. A computed tomography, performed in 3 patients, showed the presence of air in the under-pubic channel. Preoperative diagnosis of obturator hernia was suspected in 23.5% of the cases. Surgical treatment was performed after a mean delay of 5.3 d. The mortality and morbidity rates were respectively 35 and 18%.Conclusion. – Due to the low specificity of clinical examination, preoperative diagnosis of obturator hernia remains difficult. Computed tomography can be of great help for the diagnosis. Any therapeutic delay increasing mortality rate, surgery is mandatory in case of small bowel obstruction in order to make the diagnosis and the treatment of such rare pathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NF-PanNET) ≤2 cm can be observed or resected. Surgery remains recommended for NF-PanNET >2 cm but its extent, enucleation (EN) versus formal resection, remains controversial., Methods: Multicentric retrospective cohort of sporadic NF-PanNET patients treated with EN. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared according to tumor size on imaging ≤2 cm versus >2 cm., Results: 131 patients underwent EN for NF-PanNET, including 103 (79.0%) ≤2 cm and 28 (21.0%) >2 cm (extremes, 4-55 mm). Patients' characteristics were comparable, and tumor characteristics only differed in their diameter. Clavien III-IV complications were similar (18.4% vs. 17.9%, p = 1.00) with one death in NF-PanNET ≤2 cm. Grade B/C pancreatic fistula were comparable (16.5% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.850). In NF-PanNET >2 cm there were more pT2/3 stage tumors (85.7% vs. 21.4%, p < 0.001), similar rates of grade G2/3 tumors (25% vs. 16.5%, p = 0.408) with a median Ki67 of 2 (interquartile range: 1-3), and of lymphovascular and perineural invasions. Lymph node picking was done in 46 (35.1%) patients, with a higher median number of harvested lymph nodes in NF-PanNET >2 cm (4 vs. 3, p = 0.01). All were pN0. R0 resection rate (78.6% vs. 82.5%, respectively; p = 0.670) was equivalent. Five-year overall (100% vs. 99%, p = 0.602) and 10-year disease-free (96% vs. 92%, respectively; p = 0.532) survivals were comparable., Conclusions: EN for selected NF-PanNET >2 cm carries equivalent morbidity, overall and disease-free survivals compared to those observed with NF-PanNET ≤2 cm., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Précis: Surgical site infections are an ever-increasing phenomenon worldwide due to different factors. This brief report aimeds to highlight at a glance, for both physicians and political and institutional leaders, the economic burden of surgical site infections. Objectives: This brief report aimed to highlight the economic burden of surgical site infections (SSIs). Methods: A narrative review focusing on this subject has been carried out. Results: Surgical site infections are responsible for generating important costs. In 2017, a French cohort highlighted a mean cost of each SSI treatment to be around €1,814; the same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines evaluated the mean cost caused by SSI treatment to be from $10,443 to $25,546 per SSI. This cost depends on many factors including the patient himself and the type of surgery. Conclusions: Prevention of the risk of infection is, therefore, a profitable concept for surgery that must be integrated within all healthcare managements worldwide., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Piednoir, Robert-Yap, Baillet, Lermite and Christou.)

Importance: Splenic arterial embolization (SAE) improves the rate of spleen rescue, yet the advantage of prophylactic SAE (pSAE) compared with surveillance and then embolization only if necessary (SURV) for patients at high risk of spleen rupture remains controversial., Objective: To determine whether the 1-month spleen salvage rate is better after pSAE or SURV., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this randomized clinical trial conducted between February 6, 2014, and September 1, 2017, at 16 institutions in France, 133 patients with splenic trauma at high risk of rupture were randomized to undergo pSAE or SURV. All analyses were performed on a per-protocol basis, as well as an intention-to-treat analysis for specific events., Interventions: Prophylactic SAE, preferably using an arterial approach via the femoral artery, or SURV., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was an intact spleen or a spleen with at least 50% vascularized parenchyma detected on an arterial computed tomography scan at 1 month after trauma, assessed by senior radiologists masked to the treatment group. Secondary end points included splenectomy and pseudoaneurysm, secondary SAE after inclusion, complications, length of hospital stay, quality-of-life score, and length of time off work or studies during the 6-month follow-up., Results: A total of 140 patients were randomized, and 133 (105 men [78.9%]; median age, 30 years [interquartile range, 23-47 years]) were retained in the study. For the primary end point, data from 117 patients (57 who underwent pSAE and 60 who underwent SURV) could be analyzed. The number of patients with at least a 50% viable spleen detected on a computed tomography scan at month 1 was not significantly different between the pSAE and SURV groups (56 of 57 [98.2%] vs 56 of 60 [93.3%]; difference, 4.9%; 95% CI, -2.4% to 12.1%; P = .37). By the day 5 visit, there were significantly fewer splenic pseudoaneurysms among patients in the pSAE group than in the SURV group (1 of 65 [1.5%] vs 8 of 65 [12.3%]; difference, -10.8%; 95% CI, -19.3% to -2.1%; P = .03), significantly fewer secondary embolizations among patients in the pSAE group than in the SURV group (1 of 65 [1.5%] vs 19 of 65 [29.2%]; difference, -27.7%; 95% CI, -41.0% to -15.9%; P < .001), and no difference in the overall complication rate between the pSAE and SURV groups (19 of 65 [29.2%] vs 27 of 65 [41.5%]; difference, -12.3%; 95% CI, -28.3% to 4.4%; P = .14). Between the day 5 and month 1 visits, the overall complication rate was not significantly different between the pSAE and SURV groups (11 of 59 [18.6%] vs 12 of 63 [19.0%]; difference, -0.4%; 95% CI, -14.4% to 13.6%; P = .96). The median length of hospitalization was significantly shorter for patients in the pSAE group than for those in the SURV group (9 days [interquartile range, 6-14 days] vs 13 days [interquartile range, 9-17 days]; P = .002)., Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with splenic trauma at high risk of rupture, the 1-month spleen salvage rate was not statistically different between patients undergoing pSAE compared with those receiving SURV. In view of the high proportion of patients in the SURV group needing SAE, both strategies appear defendable., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02021396.

Background: Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a life-threatening complication, with a reported mortality rate of between 16 and 30% and an incidence rate of approximately 3% in Europe. Survival data and risk factors after ruptured HCC are lacking, especially for peritoneal metastasis (PM)., Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the pattern of recurrence and mortality after hepatectomy for ruptured HCC, and to focus on PM., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the files of patients admitted to 14 French surgical centers for spontaneous rupture of HCC between May 2000 and May 2012., Results: Overall, 135 patients were included in this study. The median disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 16.1 (11.0-21.1) and 28.7 (26.0-31.5) months, respectively, and the median follow-up period was 29 months. At last follow-up, recurrences were observed in 65.1% of patients (n = 88). The overall rate of PM following ruptured HCC was 12% (n = 16). Surgical management of PM was performed for six patients, with a median OS of 36.6 months. An α-fetoprotein level > 30 ng/mL (p = 0.0009), tumor size at rupture > 70 mm (p = 0.0009), and vascular involvement (p < 0.0001) were found to be independently associated with an increased likelihood of recurrence. No risk factor for PM was observed., Conclusion: This large-cohort French study confirmed that 12% of patients had PM after ruptured HCC. A curative approach may be an option for highly selected patients with exclusive PD because of the survival benefit it could provide.

Background: In patients undergoing major liver resection, portal vein embolization (PVE) has been widely used to induce hypertrophy of the non-embolized liver in order to prevent post-hepatectomy liver failure. PVE is a safe and effective procedure, but does not always lead to sufficient hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR). Hepatic vein(s) embolization has been proposed to improve FLR regeneration when insufficient after PVE. The sequential right hepatic vein embolization (HVE) after right PVE demonstrated an incremental effect on the FLR but it implies two different procedures with no time gain as compared to PVE alone. We have developed the so-called liver venous deprivation (LVD), a combination of PVE and HVE during the same intervention, to optimize the phase of liver preparation before surgery. The main objective of this randomized phase II trial is to compare the percentage of change in FLR volume at 3 weeks after LVD or PVE., Methods: Patients eligible to this multicenter prospective randomized phase II study are subjects aged from 18 years old suffering from colo-rectal liver metastases considered as resectable and with non-cirrhotic liver parenchyma. The primary objective is the percentage of change in FLR volume at 3 weeks after LVD or PVE using MRI or CT-Scan. Secondary objectives are assessment of tolerance, post-operative morbidity and mortality, post-hepatectomy liver failure, rate of non-respectability due to insufficient FLR or tumor progression, per-operative difficulties, blood loss, R0 resection rate, post-operative liver volume and overall survival. Objectives of translational research studies are evaluation of pre- and post-operative liver function and determination of biomarkers predictive of liver hypertrophy. Sixty-four patients will be included (randomization ratio 1:1) to detect a difference of 12% at 21 days in FLR volumes between PVE and LVD., Discussion: Adding HVE to PVE during the same procedure is an innovative and promising approach that may lead to a rapid and major increase in volume and function of the FLR, thereby increasing the rate of resectable patients and limiting the risk of patient's drop-out., Trial Registration: This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov on 15th February 2019 (NCT03841305).

Background: The aim was to analyse the impact of cirrhosis on short-term outcomes after laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) in a multicentre national cohort study., Methods: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing LLR in 27 centres between 2000 and 2017. Cirrhosis was defined as F4 fibrosis on pathological examination. Short-term outcomes of patients with and without liver cirrhosis were compared after propensity score matching by centre volume, demographic and tumour characteristics, and extent of resection., Results: Among 3150 patients included, LLR was performed in 774 patients with (24·6 per cent) and 2376 (75·4 per cent) without cirrhosis. Severe complication and mortality rates in patients with cirrhosis were 10·6 and 2·6 per cent respectively. Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) developed in 3·6 per cent of patients with cirrhosis and was the major cause of death (11 of 20 patients). After matching, patients with cirrhosis tended to have higher rates of severe complications (odds ratio (OR) 1·74, 95 per cent c.i. 0·92 to 3·41; P = 0·096) and PHLF (OR 7·13, 0·91 to 323·10; P = 0·068) than those without cirrhosis. They also had a higher risk of death (OR 5·13, 1·08 to 48·61; P = 0·039). Rates of cardiorespiratory complications (P = 0·338), bile leakage (P = 0·286) and reoperation (P = 0·352) were similar in the two groups. Patients with cirrhosis had a longer hospital stay than those without (11 versus 8 days; P = 0·018). Centre expertise was an independent protective factor against PHLF in patients with cirrhosis (OR 0·33, 0·14 to 0·76; P = 0·010)., Conclusion: Underlying cirrhosis remains an independent risk factor for impaired outcomes in patients undergoing LLR, even in expert centres., (© 2020 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The primary objective of this non-randomised phase II study was to evaluate the combination of systemic chemotherapy plus cetuximab after complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS) for treatment of isolated colorectal peritoneal carcinoma (CRPC). This multicentre, prospective phase II clinical trial was conducted in seven national cancer referral centres, however research published during study recruitment indicated cetuximab treatment as ineffective in patients with mutated KRAS genes, leading to an additional exclusion criterion to the current protocol, excluding patients with mutated KRAS genes. This significantly impacted recruitment and the study did not achieve the necessary recruitment of 46 patients., Results: Fourteen patients underwent CCS and were included in the study, however one did not provide informed consent and another received only one cycle of chemotherapy leading to 12 patients in the per protocol population for analysis. Adjuvant Folfox Cetuximab was administered when CCS was achieved for patients > 18 years with histologically proven CRPC and no other metastatic disease (liver, lungs, lymphadenopathy, etc.). CRPC median index was 5.00 (range: 1-17). Median PFS was 12.3 months [95% CI (3.7-28.2)] with 8.3% [95% CI (0.5-31.1)] and 0% PFS at 3 and 5 years respectively. Median OS was 43.4 months [95% CI (16.8-60)]. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT00766142, October 3, 2008. Retrospectively registered.

Objective: Postoperative complications strongly impact the postoperative course and long-term outcome of patients who underwent liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Among them, infectious complications play a relevant role. The aim of this study was to evaluate if infectious complications still impact overall and disease-free survival after liver resection for CRLM once patients were matched with a propensity score matching analysis based on Fong's criteria., Methods: A total of 2281 hepatectomies were analyzed from a multicentric retrospective cohort of hepatectomies. Patients were matched with a 1:3 propensity score analysis in order to compare patients with (INF+) and without (INF-) postoperative infectious complications., Results: Major resection (OR = 1.69 (1.01-2.89), p = 0.05) and operative time (OR = 1.1 (1.1-1.3), p = 0.05) were identified as risk factors of infectious complications. After propensity score matching, infectious complications are associated with overall survival (OS), with 1-, 3-, 5-year OS at 94, 81, and 66% in INF- and 92, 66, and 57% in INF+ respectively (p = 0.01). Disease-free survival (DFS) was also different with regard to 1-, 3-, 5-year survival at 65, 41, and 22% in R0 vs. 50, 28, and 17% in INF+ (p = 0.007)., Conclusion: Infectious complications are associated with decreased overall and disease-free survival rates.

Background: Gemcitabine is a standard treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Many mechanisms are involved in gemcitabine resistance, such as reduced expression of the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) membrane transporter, deoxycytidine kinase deficiency, and changes in the signal transmission of mitogen-activity protein kinase (MAPK) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways., Aim: To evaluate the anti-tumor efficiency of blocking signaling pathways using combined action of gemcitabine, everolimus and zoledronic acid versus gemcitabine alone in a mouse subcutaneous xenograft., Methods: Implantations of two human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells lines (PANC1, K-ras mutated and gemcitabine-resistant; and BxPc3, wild-type K-ras and gemcitabine-sensitive) were performed on male athymic nude mice. The mice received different treatments: gemcitabine, gemcitabine plus everolimus, everolimus, gemcitabine plus zoledronic acid, everolimus plus zoledronic acid, or gemcitabine plus everolimus and zoledronic acid, for 28 days. We measured the tumor volume and researched the expression of the biomarkers involved in the signaling pathways or in gemcitabine resistance., Results: In wild-type K-ras tumors, the combinations of gemcitabine plus everolimus; zoledronic acid plus everolimus; and gemcitabine plus zoledronic acid and everolimus slowed tumor growth, probably due to caspase-3 overexpression and reduced Annexin II expression. In mutated K-ras tumors, gemcitabine plus everolimus and zoledronic acid, and the combination of zoledronic acid and everolimus, decreased tumor volume as compared to gemcitabine alone, inhibiting the ERK feedback loop induced by everolimus., Conclusion: The combination of zoledronic acid and everolimus has an antitumor effect and could increase gemcitabine efficacy., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Novartis.

Objective: The width of resection margin is still a matter of debate in case of colorectal liver metastasis resection. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for R1 resection. Once risk factors had been identified, patients were matched according to Fong's prognostic criteria, in order to evaluate whether R1 resection still remained a negative prognostic factor impacting overall and disease-free survival., Methods: A total of 1784 hepatectomies were analyzed from a multicentric retrospective cohort of hepatectomies. Patients were compared before and after a 1:1 propensity score analysis in order to compare R0 versus R1 resections according to Fong criteria., Results: Primary tumor nodes found positive after colorectal resection (RR = 1.20, p = 0.02), operative time (> 240 min) (RR = 1.26, p = 0.05), synchronous liver metastasis (RR = 1.27, p = 0.02), pedicle clamping (> 40 min) (RR = 1.52, p = 0.001), lesion size larger than 50 mm (RR = 1.54, p = 0.001), rehepatectomy (RR = 1.68, p = 0.001), more than 3 lesions (RR = 1.69, p = 0.0001), and bilateral lesions (RR = 1.74, p = 0.0001) were identified as risk factors in multivariate analysis. After a 1:1 PSM according to Fong criteria, R1 resection still remained a negative prognostic factor impacting overall and disease-free survival, with 1-, 3-, 5-year OS at 94, 81, and 70% in R0 and 92, 75, and 58% in R1, respectively, (p = 0.008), and disease-free survival (DFS) with 1-, 3-, 5-year survival at 64, 41, and 28% in R0 versus 51, 28, and 18% in R1 (p = 0.0002), respectively., Conclusion: Even after using PSM as an oncological prognostic criterion, R1 resection still impacts overall and disease-free survival negatively.

Background: The incidence of spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is low in Europe, at less than 3%. HCC rupture remains a life-threatening complication, with mortality reported between 16 and 30%. The risk of bleeding recurrence has never been clearly evaluated in such clinical situation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the current risk of mortality related to HCC rupture and to focus on the risk of bleeding recurrence following interventional management., Methods: All patients admitted to 14 French-Italian surgical centers for spontaneous rupture of HCC between May 2000 and May 2012 were retrospectively included. Clinical data, imaging features, relevant laboratory data, treatment strategies, and prognoses were analyzed., Results: Overall, 58 of the 138 included patients (42%) had cirrhosis. Thirty-five patients (25%) presented with hemorrhagic shock, and 19% with organ(s) dysfunction. Bleeding control was obtained by interventional hemostasis, emergency liver resection, and conservative medical management in 86 (62%), 24 (18%), and 21 (15%) patients, respectively. Best supportive care was chosen for 7 (5%) patients. The mortality rate following rupture was 24%. The bleeding recurrence rate was 22% with related mortality of 52%. In multivariate analysis, a bilirubin level >17 micromol/L (HR 3.768; p = 0.006), bleeding recurrence (HR 5.400; p < 0.0001), and ICU admission after initial management (HR 8.199; p < 0.0001) were associated with in-hospital mortality., Conclusion: This European, multicenter, large-cohort study confirmed that the prognosis of ruptured HCC is poor with an overall mortality rate of 24%, despite important advances in endovascular techniques. Overall, the rate of bleeding recurrence was more than 20%, with a related high risk of mortality.

Purpose: There is no consensual definition of postoperative ileus (POI), which leads to a lack of reproducibility. The aims of this study were (i) to propose and evaluate a classification of postoperative ileus based on its consequences and (ii) to assess the reproducibility of the classification., Methods: A national global survey was carried out according to the DELPHI method in order to create a classification of primary POI. The classification was subsequently tested on a cohort of patients who underwent colorectal surgery. Finally, a reproducibility test was performed in five teaching hospitals with junior and senior surgeons., Results: A five-stage classification was proposed: grade A (least) to grade E (worst). For better differentiation, subcategories (D1/D2) were included. Overall, 173 patients were included who underwent colorectal surgery. Forty of them experienced primary postoperative ileus (23.1%). Grade A occurred in 10 cases, grade B in 10 cases, grade C in 14 cases, grade D1 in 2 cases, and grade D2 in 2 cases. POI-related death (grade E) occurred in 2 cases. Patients with grade A POI recovered their gastrointestinal function significantly faster than those with higher grades (p = 0.01), and were more likely to undergo laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.04). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was 0.83 in the overall population, and 0.83 and 0.82 respectively in the junior and senior surgeon populations., Conclusion: This classification is easy to both use and reproduce. It will improve the reproducibility, evaluation, and assessment of POI. These preliminary results should be confirmed in a multi-centric international study.

Background: Liver resection is the curative treatment for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), with five-year survival rates of 30-50%. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a local and useful alternative for patients with non-resectable CRLMs to obtain complete tumor clearance. The aim of this study was to analyze survival rates with this local treatment., Materials and Methods: All patients who underwent RFA and resection or RFA alone for unresectable CRLMs between 2001 and 2012 were included in a retrospective study. Descriptive and survival statistics were calculated. Morbidity, mortality, and recurrence were also analyzed., Results: The study involved 72 patients and 179 lesions. RFA was performed in 109 procedures. Mortality was 2.7% and morbidity was 25.7%. Local recurrence concerned 25.7% of lesions. Independent risk factors for recurrence were more than one CRLM (p= 0.0427) and size of largest CRLM greater than 3 cm (p= 0.0139). The five-year overall survival rate was 45.5% and the five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 9.9%., Conclusion: This study shows RFA has good oncological outcomes. The combination of RFA and resection is considered as a curative treatment for patients with unresectable CRLMs.

Backgrounds/aims: The aim of this study was to describe clinical and biological changes in a group of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) without any complication during the postoperative period. These changes reflect the "natural history" of PD, and a deviation should be considered as a warning sign., Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2009, 131 patients underwent PD. We prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed demographic data, pathological variables, associated pathological conditions, and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables. Postoperative variables were validated using an external prospective database of 158 patients., Results: The mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 20.3±4 days. The mean number of days until removal of nasogastric tube was 6.3±1.6 days. The maximal fall in hemoglobin level occurred on day 3 and began to increase after postoperative day (POD) 5, in patients with or without transfusions. The white blood cell count increased on POD 1 and persisted until POD 7. There was a marked rise in aminotransferase levels at POD 3. The peak was significantly higher in patients with hepatic pedicle occlusion (866±236 IU/L versus 146±48 IU/L; p<0.001). For both γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase, there was a fall on POD1, which persisted until POD 5, followed with a stabilization. Bilirubin decreased progressively from POD 1 onwards., Conclusions: This study facilitates a standardized biological and clinical pathway of follow-up. Patients who do not follow this recovery indicator could be at risk of complications and additional exams should be made to prevent consequences of such complications.

Introduction: The sensitivity of preoperative assessment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) ranges from 74 to 80%. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) associated with contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasound (CE-IOUS) may be able to improve this. Thus, the aims of this study were to assess the value of IOUS and CE-IOUS for the surgical approach and to determine risk factors both for the detection of new nodules and for the modification of the surgical strategy., Materials and Methods: Forty-three patients who underwent CRLM surgery were included. These patients had an MRI in the 8 weeks preceding surgery and benefited from intraoperative IOUS and CE-IOUS., Results and Discussion: The use of IOUS/CE-IOUS permitted the identification of 43 additional lesions and an improved characterization of nodules in 23 patients with a resulting modification of surgical strategy. Lesions were down-staged in six patients and up-staged in six patients. Chemotherapy (p = 0.02) and the presence of nodules in the left lobe (p = 0.04) were predictive factors for finding new nodules at IOUS/CE-IOUS. The discovery of a new nodule systematically modified surgical management. IOUS/CE-IOUS improved intraoperative management of liver metastases. The techniques enable pertinent modification of surgical resections and a reduction of residual lesions.

Objective: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a potentially severe complication of pancreatitis. The aim of this single-center, retrospective cohort study was to investigate the incidence of SVT and to determine the connected risk factors., Methods: All consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) managed in our hospital were included. The primary outcome was the occurrence of SVT and data was collected in accordance with Ranson's criteria., Results: A total of 318 patients were included, of whom 124 (39.0%) were women. Biliary lithiasis was the main cause of pancreatitis (n = 156, 49.1%). A total of 19 (6.0%) SVT were identified. In univariate analysis, alcohol intake, smoking and male gender were associated with SVT (P = 0.005, 0.003 and 0.007, respectively). Biological parameters significantly associated with thrombosis were lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) < 500 U/L and hyperglycemia (≥ 10 mmol/L) (P = 0.009 and 0.016, respectively). In multivariate analysis, prothrombin time >75% was a protective factor against thrombosis (OR 0.148, P = 0.019). Leukocytes >10 × 10(9)/L (OR 6.397, P = 0.034), hyperglycemia (≥ 10 mmol/L) (OR 6.845, P = 0.023), LDH < 500 U/L ((OR 22.61, P = 0.001) and alcoholic etiology (OR 8.960, P = 0.041) were risk factors for SVT., Conclusions: Alcohol intake, male gender and smoking should focus the physician's attention on the risk of SVT. When further associated with certain biological parameters, the physicians should consider therapeutic anticoagulation to prevent SVT., (© 2014 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Background: Although mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) has decreased, morbidity still remains high. The aim of this review article is to present, define, predict, prevent, and manage the main complications after pancreatic resection (PR)., Methods: A non-systematic literature search on morbidity and mortality after PR was undertaken using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases., Results: The main complications after PR are delayed gastric emptying (DGE), pancreatic fistula (PF), and bleeding, as defined by the International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery. PF occurs in 10% to 15% of patients after PD and in 10% to 30% of patients after DP. The different techniques of pancreatic anastomosis and pancreatic remnant closure do not show significant advantages in the prevention of PF, nor does the perioperative use of somatostatin and its analogues. The trend is for conservative or interventional radiology therapy for PF (with enteral nutrition), which achieves a success rate of approximately 80%. DGE after PD occurs in 20% to 50% of patients. Prophylactic erythromycin may reduce the incidence of DGE. Gastric aspiration with erythromycin is usually effective in one to three weeks. Bleeding (gastrointestinal and intraabdominal) occurs in 4% to 16% of patients after PD and in 2% to 3% of patients after DP. Endovascular treatment can only be used for a haemodynamically stable patient. In cases of haemodynamic instability or associated septic complications, surgical treatment is necessary. In expert centres, the mortality rates can be less than 1% after DP and less than 3% after PD., Conclusion: There is a need for improved strategies to prevent and treat complications after PR., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Postoperative pain is a major obstacle in hernia repair surgery, and the choice of clinically efficacious surgical technique should also result in the least postoperative pain and patients' quality of life (QoL). The aim of this prospective randomized study was to compare two surgical techniques for open inguinal hernia repair by assessing the patients' QoL. Men (18-to-75 years old) with primary unilateral inguinal hernia underwent Mesh Plug (MP; n = 156; Bard (PerFix Plug, CR Bard Inc, Murray Hill, NJ) and Shouldice (S; n = 144) techniques. We evaluated: 1) Intensity of postoperative pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) and 2) quality of life (QoL; Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 [SF-36]). Patients undergoing MP had significantly lower VAS scores on postoperative days (POD) 1 (22.1 vs 27.4, p = .003) and 2 (13.2 vs 21.4, p < .0001) compared to those in the S group. The QoL was also improved in patients undergoing MP on PODs 8 and 45. Total duration of operation, length of hospital stay, and cessation of normal activities were significantly shorter in the MP group. Compared to the S technique, the MP technique results in significantly less postoperative pain and improved QoL.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the short- and long-term results of the Frey procedure in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis., Methods: From September 2000 to November 2009, 44 consecutive patients underwent the Frey procedure. Patients were included in the study before surgery and followed prospectively with assessment of pain relief, weight gain and exocrine/endocrine insufficiency. Twenty-one patients (47.7%) were followed for more than 5 years., Results: This study included 40 men (91 %) and four women (9 %) (mean age: 49 years) with a mean follow-up of 51.5 months. The primary etiology of chronic pancreatitis was chronic alcohol abuse in 38 patients (86.4 %). The major indication for surgery was disabling pain (95.5 %). There was no postoperative mortality. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 15 patients (34.1 %), with specific surgical complications in 11 patients (25 %). The percentage of pain-free patients after surgery was 68.3 %. Eight patients (18.1 %) and seven patients (16 %) developed diabetes de novo and exocrine insufficiency, respectively. The Body Mass Index showed statistically significant improvement during follow-up. Similar beneficial results concerning pain relief and weight gain persisted after the initial 5-year follow-up., Conclusions: The Frey procedure is an appropriate, safe and effective technique for management of patients with chronic pancreatitis in the absence of neoplasia, based on long-term follow-up.

We reported the case of a 61-year-old woman, who has been hospitalized in ICU because of an extensive mesenteric ischaemia, involving the small bowel, secondary to a naratriptan overuse. This mesenteric ischaemia was complicated by multiple organ failure and was responsible for extensive small bowel resection and left colectomy. A concomitant abundant absorption of grapefruit juice, a well-known P450 inhibitor, may have enhanced this naratriptan toxicity. This case underscore that an abdominal pain occurring in the context of headache treatment may be related to a mesenteric ischaemia., (Copyright © 2012 Société française d’anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is indicated in benign or malignant pancreatic head diseases. It is a difficult operation with high morbidity especially in elderly patients. The aim of our study was to determine whether pancreaticoduodenectomy is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in patients ≥ 70 years old., Methodology: During 17 years, 173 patients were operated by Whipple intervention, whatever the disease. From a prospective database, patients were divided in 2 groups (Group A ≥ 70 years old, Group B <70)., Results: Postoperative mortality was not significantly higher in elderly (12% vs. 4.1%; p=0.06). However, re-intervention and morbidity were more important in univariate analysis (p=0.03 and p=0.002 respectively). In multivariate analysis, age ≥ 70 years old was not an independent prognostic factor of mortality (p=0.27) and re-intervention (p=0.07). Whereas age (p=0.04) and preoperative morbidity (p=0.02) were independent prognostic factors of morbidity., Conclusions: PD requires careful patient selection. However, age should not be a limiting factor.

The aim of this review is to define the relevance of surgical resection for liver metastasis of breast cancer. We report the rationale for hepatic surgery of liver metastasis, the survival prognosis factors for these patients, and the influence of liver resection on overall survival. The aim of this surgery is not only the local control, but also general control of the disease by preventing the selection of resistant tumor cell clones. Adjuvant therapies remain necessary for general control of the disease. While preoperative detection of small intra hepatic lesions remains difficult, MRI and preoperative ultrasound may help., (Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: There is a need to identify a subgroup of high-risk patients with node-negative colorectal cancer who have a poor long-term prognosis and may benefit from adjuvant therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of clinical and pathological parameters in a retrospective study from a prospective, continuous database of homogenously treated patients., Methods: This study included 362 patients operated in a single institution for Dukes A and B (node-negative) colorectal cancer. The median follow-up was 140 months. The prognostic value of 13 clinical and pathological parameters was investigated., Results: Multivariate analysis identified six independent prognostic factors: age at time of diagnosis (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.076), number of lymph nodes removed (HR = 0.948), perineural invasion (HR = 2.173), venous invasion (HR = 1.959), lymphatic vessel invasion (HR = 2.126), and T4 stage (HR = 5.876)., Conclusion: These parameters could be useful in identifying patients with high-risk node-negative colorectal cancer who should be presented to adjuvant therapy.