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Background Diverting stoma is often performed in rectal cancer surgery for reducing the consequences of possible anastomotic failure. Closing of stoma follows in most cases after a few months. The aim of our study was to evaluate morbidity and mortality after diverting stoma closure and to identify risk factors for complications of this procedure. Patients and methods At our department, we have performed a retrospective cohort analysis of data for 260 patients with diverting stoma closure from 2003 to 2015. Age, stoma type, patient’s preoperative ASA score, surgical technique and time to stoma closure were investigated as factors which could influence the complication rate. Results 218 patients were eligible for investigation. Postoperative complications developed in 54 patients (24.8%). Most common complications were postoperative ileus (10%) and wound infection (5%). Four patients died (1.8%). There was no effect on complication rate regarding type of stoma, closing technique, patient’s ASA status and patient age. The only factor influencing the complication rate was the time to stoma closure. We found that patients which had the stoma closed prior to 8 months after primary surgery had lower overall complication rate (p Conclusions To reduce overall complication rate, our data suggest a shorter period than 8 months after primary surgery before closure of diverting stoma. As diverting stoma closure is not a simple operation, all strategies should be taken to reduce significant morbidity and mortality rate.

Key Clinical Message Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in the presence of chronic liver disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming a frequent cause of HCC in developed regions. Spontaneous rupture of HCC (rHCC) is a potentially life‐threatening complication of a tumor. The patient's compliance with surveillance after liver resection is vital for the prevention of rHCC.

Background: Limited evidence exists to guide the management of patients with liver metastases from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of this retrospective multicentre cohort study was to describe patterns of disease recurrence after liver resection/ablation for SCC liver metastases and factors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Method: Members of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association were invited to include all consecutive patients undergoing liver resection/ablation for SCC liver metastases between 2002 and 2019. Patient, tumour and perioperative characteristics were analysed with regard to RFS and OS. Results: Among the 102 patients included from 24 European centres, 56 patients had anal cancer, and 46 patients had SCC from other origin. RFS in patients with anal cancer and non-anal cancer was 16 and 9 months, respectively (P = 0.134). A positive resection margin significantly influenced RFS for both anal cancer and non-anal cancer liver metastases (hazard ratio 6.82, 95 per cent c.i. 2.40 to 19.35, for the entire cohort). Median survival duration and 5-year OS rate among patients with anal cancer and non-anal cancer were 50 months and 45 per cent and 21 months and 25 per cent, respectively. For the entire cohort, only non-radical resection was associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio 3.21, 95 per cent c.i. 1.24 to 8.30). Conclusion: Liver resection/ablation of liver metastases from SCC can result in long-term survival. Survival was superior in treated patients with liver metastases from anal versus non-anal cancer. A negative resection margin is paramount for acceptable outcome.

Background and objectives A previous pilot study proved the feasibility, safety and efficacy of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term effectiveness and safety of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of unresectable colorectal liver metastases. Patients and methods In this prospective phase II study, patients with metachronous colorectal liver metastases were included. In all patients, at least one metastasis was unresectable due to its central location or a too-small future remnant liver volume. Patients were treated by electrochemotherapy using intravenously administered bleomycin during open surgery. Treated were 84 metastases in 39 patients. Local tumor control, progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated. Results The objective response was 75% (63% CR, 12% PR). The median duration of the response was 20.8 months for metastases in CR and 9.8 months for metastases in PR. The therapy was significantly more effective for metastases smaller than 3 cm in diameter than for larger ones. There was no difference in response according to the metastatic location, i.e., metastases in central vs. peripheral locations. Progression-free survival was better in patients who responded well to electrochemotherapy compared to those metastases that had a partial response or progressive disease. However, there was no difference in overall survival, with a median of 29.0 months. Conclusions Electrochemotherapy has proven to be safe and effective in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases, with a durable response. It provides local tumor control that enables patients with unresectable metastases to receive further treatments.

This study aimed to externally validate the Iwate scoring model and its prognostic value for predicting the risks of intra- and postoperative complications of laparoscopic liver resection.Consecutive patients who underwent pure laparoscopic liver resection between 2008 and 2019 at a single tertiary center were included. The Iwate scores were calculated according to the original proposition (four difficulty levels based on six indices). Intra- and postoperative complications were compared across difficulty levels. Fitting the obtained data to the cumulative density function of the Weibull distribution and a linear function provided the mean risk curves for intra- and postoperative complications, respectively.The difficulty levels of 142 laparoscopic liver resections were scored as low, intermediate, advanced, and expert level in 41 (28.9%), 53 (37.3%), 32 (22.5%), and 16 (11.3%) patients, respectively. Intraoperative complications were detected in 26 (18.3%) patients and its rates (2.4%, 7.5%, 34.3%, and 62.5%) increased gradually with statistically significant values among difficulty levels (P ˂ 0.001). Major postoperative complications occurred in 21 (14.8%) patients and its rates (4.8%, 5.6%, 28.1%, 43.7%; P ˂ 0.001) showed the same trend as for intraoperative complications. Then, the mean risk curves of both complications were obtained. Due to outliers, a new threshold for a tumor size index was proposed at 38 mm. The repeated analysis showed improved results.The Iwate scoring model predicts the probability of complications across difficulty levels. Our proposed tumor size threshold (38 mm) improves the quality of the prediction. The model is upgraded by a probability of complications for every difficulty score.

Background The aim of the study was to compare the outcome of pure laparoscopic and open simultaneous resection of both the primary colorectal cancer and synchronous colorectal liver metastases (SCLM). Patients and methods From 2000 to 2016 all patients treated by simultaneous resection were assessed for entry in this single center, clinically nonrandomized trial. A propensity score matching was used to compare the laparoscopic group (LAP) to open surgery group (OPEN). Primary endpoints were perioperative and oncologic outcomes. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results Of the 82 patients identified who underwent simultaneous liver resection for SCLM, 10 patients underwent LAP. All these consecutive patients from LAP were matched to 10 comparable OPEN. LAP reduced the length of hospital stay (P = 0.044) and solid food oral intake was faster (P = 0.006) in this group. No patient undergoing the laparoscopic procedure experienced conversion to the open technique. No difference was observed in operative time, blood loss, transfusion rate, narcotics requirement, clinical risk score, resection margin, R0 resections rate, morbidity, mortality and incisional hernias rate. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of the 3-year OS rate (90 vs. 75%; P = 0.842) and DFS rate (60 vs. 57%; P = 0.724). Conclusions LAP reduced the length of hospital stay and offers faster solid food oral intake. Comparable oncologic and survival outcomes can be achieved. LAP is beneficial for well selected patients in high volume centers with appropriate expertise.

BackgroundThe focus of the present study was to reveal any impact factors for perioperative morbidity and mortality as well as repercussion of perioperative morbidity on long-term survival in pancreatic head resection.Patients and methodsIn a retrospective study, clinic-pathological factors of 240 patients after pancreatic head (PD) or total resection were analyzed for correlations with morbidity, 30- and 90-day mortality, and long-term survival. According to Clavien–Dindo classification, all complications with grade II and more were defined as overall complications (OAC). OAC, all surgical (ASC), general (AGC) and some specific types of complications like leaks from the pancreatoenteric anastomosis (PEA) or pancreatic fistula (PF, type A, B and C), leaks from other anastomoses (OL), bleeding (BC) and abscesses (AA) were studied for correlation with clinic-pathological factors.ResultsIn the 9-year period, altogether 240 patients had pancreatic resection. The incidence of OAC was 37.1%, ASC 29.2% and AGC 15.8%. ASC presented themselves as PL, OL, BC and AA in 19% (of 208 PD), 5.8%, 5.8%, and 2.5% respectively. Age, ASA score, amylase on drains, and pancreatic fistulas B and C correlated significantly with different types of complications. Overall 30- and 90-day mortalities were 5 and 7.9% and decreased to 3.5 and 5% in P2.ConclusionsHigh amylase on drains and higher mean age were independent indicators of morbidity, whereas PL and BC revealed as independent predictor for 30-day mortality, and physical status, OAC and PF C for 90-day mortality.

BackgroundThis study aimed to externally validate and upgrade the recent difficulty scoring system (DSS) proposed by Halls et al. to predict intraoperative complications (IOC) during laparoscopic liver resection (LLR).MethodsThe DSS was validated in a cohort of 128 consecutive patients undergoing pure LLRs between 2008 and 2019 at a single tertiary referral center. The validated DSS includes four difficulty levels based on five risk factors (neoadjuvant chemotherapy, previous open liver resection, lesion type, lesion size and classification of resection). As established by the validated DSS, IOC was defined as excessive blood loss (> 775 mL), conversion to an open approach and unintentional damage to surrounding structures. Additionally, intra- and postoperative outcomes were compared according to the difficulty levels with usual statistic methods. The same five risk factors were used for validation done by linear and advanced nonlinear (artificial neural network) models. The study was supported by mathematical computations to obtain a mean risk curve predicting the probability of IOC for every difficulty score.ResultsThe difficulty level of LLR was rated as low, moderate, high and extremely high in 36 (28.1%), 63 (49.2%), 27 (21.1%) and 2 (1.6%) patients, respectively. IOC was present in 23 (17.9%) patients. Blood loss of >775 mL occurred in 8 (6.2%) patients. Conversion to open approach was required in 18 (14.0%) patients. No patients suffered from unintentional damage to surrounding structures. Rates of IOC (0, 9.5, 55.5 and 100%) increased gradually with statistically significant value among difficulty levels (P P ConclusionThis external validation proved this DSS based on patient’s, tumor and surgical factors enables us to estimate the risk of intra- and postoperative complications. A surgeon should be aware of an increased risk of complications before starting with more complex procedures.

Background Distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) is a treatment option for selected patients with pancreatic cancer involving the celiac axis. A recent multicenter European study reported a 90-day mortality rate of 16%, highlighting the importance of patient selection. The authors constructed a risk score to predict 90-day mortality and assessed oncologic outcomes. Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated patients undergoing DP-CAR at 20 European centers from 12 countries (model design 2000–2016) and three very-high-volume international centers in the United States and Japan (model validation 2004–2017). The area under receiver operator curve (AUC) and calibration plots were used for validation of the 90-day mortality risk model. Secondary outcomes included resection margin status, adjuvant therapy, and survival. Results For 191 DP-CAR patients, the 90-day mortality rate was 5.5% (95 confidence interval [CI], 2.2–11%) at 5 high-volume (≥ 1 DP-CAR/year) and 18% (95 CI, 9–30%) at 18 low-volume DP-CAR centers (P = 0.015). A risk score with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, multivisceral resection, open versus minimally invasive surgery, and low- versus high-volume center performed well in both the design and validation cohorts (AUC, 0.79 vs 0.74; P = 0.642). For 174 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the R0 resection rate was 60%, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies were applied for respectively 69% and 67% of the patients, and the median overall survival period was 19 months (95 CI, 15–25 months). Conclusions When performed for selected patients at high-volume centers, DP-CAR is associated with acceptable 90-day mortality and overall survival. The authors propose a 90-day mortality risk score to improve patient selection and outcomes, with DP-CAR volume as the dominant predictor. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1245/s10434-018-07101-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Če se pri bolniku, ki je bil operiran zaradi raka debelega črevesa in danke (RDČD), na novo pojavi tumor v jetrih, je mogoče že na podlagi tega sklepati, da gre za zasevek. Še več, diagnozo je mogoče z 99 % verjetnostjo potrditi na podlagi slikovnih in biokemičnih preiskav. Kljub temu nekateri vztrajajo, da je za potrditev diagnoze potrebna perkutana tankoigelna biopsija (PTB). Nepotrebnost in nevarnost tega postopka pri resektabilnih jetrnih zasevkih RDČD bomo poskušali utemeljiti s pregledom literature in analizo naše serije bolnikov. If in the patient who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (CC) a newly developed tumour is detected in the liver, it is possible to assume immediately that it is a metastasis. Moreover, it is possible to confirm the diagnosis with 99% probability based on imaging and biochemical screening. Despite this some insist that diagnosis needs to be confirmed with percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB). With a review of the literature and an analysis of our series of patients, we will try to show why this procedure is unnecessary and dangerous in patients with resectable liver metastases of CC.

Izhodišča: Pri bolnikih z jetrnimi metastazami (JM) pri kolorektalnem raku (KRR) le kirurško zdravljenje, sedaj pogosto kombinirano z drugimi načini zdravljenja, nudi možnost dolgotrajnejšega preživetja ali pa celo upanje na ozdravitev. Namen raziskave je prikaz možnosti multimodalnega načina zdravljenja in ocenitev rezultatov takšnega zdravljenja JM pri KRR pri naših bolnikih. Metode: V obdobju od 1. julija 1997 do 31. decembra 2011 je bilo opravljenih 377 jetrnih operacij pri 281 bolnikih z metastazami KRR (178 moški, 103 ženske povprečna starost 63,3 leta razpon 27 do 85 let). Rezultati: Od skupno 377 operacij zaradi JM KRR je bila 324-krat opravljena resekcija jeter, od tega pri 28 bolnikih kombinirana z RFA. 235 (79,4 %) je bilo R0 resekcij, 54 (18,2 %) je bilo R1 in 7 (2,4 %) R2 resekcij. Skupno 53 posegi so bile RFA JM. Pri 113 bolnikih so bile JM ugotovljene sinhrono ob ugotovitvi KRR, pri 168 pa je šlo za metahrone JM. 145 bolnikov je imelo unilobarne, 136 pa bilobarne metastaze. Povprečno je bilo 2,9 jetrnih metastaz, povprečna velikost metastaz pa je bila 4,3 cm. Pri 46 bolnikih je bilo obolenje prisotno tudi zunaj jeter. 131 bolnikov je pred jetrno operacijo prejemalo neoadjuvantno kemoterapijo. 16-krat je bila za povečanje preostanka jeter opravljena portalna embolizacija, 10-krat pa ligatura desne veje vene porte. Simultana resekcija jeter je bila narejena pri 41 bolnikih. Pri prvi operaciji je bila opravljena resekcija jeter pri 252 bolnikih. Pri 239 bolnikih je bila narejena samo resekcija jeter, pri 23 bolnikih pa je bila resekcija kombinirana še z radiofrekventno ablacijo JM (RFA). Od 239 resekcij JM brez dodatne RFA je bilo 198 (83 %) resekcij R0, 36 (15 %) R1, 5 (2 %) pa R2 resekcij. Pri 29 bolnikih je bila narejena samo RFA JM (20-krat odprta RFA, 9-krat perkutana RFA). Zaradi ponovitve obolenja smo operirali 73 bolnikov, pri katerih smo opravili 96 posegov (1 do 6 na bolnika). Upoštevajoč vse opravljene operacije (377) je bila skupna pooperacijska obolevnost 25,5 %, 30-dnevna umrljivost pa je bila 1,9 %. Pričakovano 5-letno preživetje pri bolnikih z R0 resekcijo JM in brez zunaj jetrnega obolenja je bilo 38,3 % (mediano preživetje: 43 mesecev). Zaključki: Resekcije jeter so varne (morbiditeta: 25,5 % 30 mortaliteta: 1,9 pri R0 resekcijah), glede na pričakovano dolgoročno preživetje (5-letno 38,3 %, mediana 43 mesecev) pa trenutno predstavljajo najučinkovitejši način zdravljenja bolnikov z metastazami KRR. Poudarjen je pomen multidisciplinarnega pristopa in multimodalnega zdravljenja bolnikov z metastazami KRR Background: Only surgical treatment in patients with liver metastases (LM) in colorectal cancer (CC), which is nowadays often combined with other forms of treatment, offers the possibility of long-term survival or even hope of a cure. The aim of this study is to present the possibilities of multimodal treatment and to assess the results of such treatment of LM in CC in our patients. Methods: In the period from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 2011, a total of 377 liver surgeries were performed in 281 patients with metastases of CC (107 men, 103 women mean age 63.3 years span of 27 to 85 years). Results: Of 377 surgeries for LM of CC, liver resection was performed 324 times, and in 28 of those patients in combination with RFA. 235 (79.4%) were R0 resections, 54 (18.2%) were R1 and 7 (2.4% were R2 resections. A total of 53 procedures were RFA of LM. In 113 patients, LM were diagnosed synchronously with CC, and 168 men had metachronous LM. Unilobar metastases were found in 145 patients, and 136 had bilobar metastases. On average, there were 2.9 liver metastases with an average size of 4.3 cm. In 46 patients, the disease was present also outside the liver. Prior to liver surgery, 131 patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In 16 cases, portal embolisation was performed to increase the residual liver volume, and ligature of the right branch of the vena porta was performed 10 times. Simultaneous liver resection was performed in 41 patients. At the first surgery, liver resection was performed in 252 patients. Liver resection alone was performed in 239 patients, whereas in 23 patients, it was combined with radiofrequency ablation of LM (RFA). Of 239 LM resections without additional RFA, 198 (83%) were R0 resections, 36 (15%) were R1 and 5 (2%) were R2 resections. In 29 patients, only RFA of LM was performed (open RFA 20 times, percutaneous RFA 9 times). Surgery for disease recurrences was performed on 73 patients, who underwent 96 procedures (1 to 6 per patient). Considering all surgeries (377), the total post-operative incidence was 25.5%, and 30-day morbidity was 1.9%. The expected 5-year survival in patients with R0 resection of LM and no disease outside the liver was 38.3% (median survival: 43 months Conclusions: Liver resections are safe (morbidity: 25.5% 30-day morbidity: 1.9% in R0 resections). Considering the expected long-term survival (5-year of 38.8%, median of 43 months), they currently represent the most effective method for the treatment patients with metastases of CC. The focus is on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and multi modal treatment of patients with metastases of CC.

Background Various minimally invasive therapies are important adjuncts to management of hepatic injuries. However, there is a certain subset of patients who will benefit from liver resection, but there are no reports in the literature on laparoscopic anatomical liver resection for the management of complications after blunt liver trauma. Case presentation A 20-year-old male was admitted to the Emergency Unit of a tertiary referral center following a car accident. The patient was hemodynamically stable, and a radiologic workup demonstrated an isolated grade 3 injury of the left hemiliver. Initially, a nonoperative management was indicated, but during days following the injury, a high-volume biliary fistula complicated the clinical course. Despite percutaneous drainage, the development of devastating consequences of biliary peritonitis was imminent. A pure laparoscopic anatomical liver resection was performed. Left lateral sectionectomy eliminated the source of bile leak, and the surgery was completed with abdominal cavity lavage. Postoperative outcome was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on day 9 after injury and day 4 after surgery returning to his normal activity. Conclusions In highly selected, hemodynamically stable patients with no other life-threatening concomitant injuries, laparoscopic liver resection in elective setting is feasible and safe for the management of complications after complex blunt trauma of the left liver. Extensive experience with hepatic surgery is needed, and surgeons should understand the increased risk they assume by taking on more complex surgical techniques.

BackgroundAdenocarcinomas at the cardia are biologically aggressive tumors with poor long-term survival following curative resection. For resectable adenocarcinoma of the cardia, mostly esophagus extended total gastrectomy or esophagus extended proximal gastric resection is performed; however, the surgical approach, transhiatal or transthoracic, is still under discussion. Postoperative morbidity, mortality and long-term survival were analyzed to evaluate the potential differences in clinically relevant outcomes.Patients and methodsOf altogether 844 gastrectomies performed between January 2000 and December 2016, 166 were done for the adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia, which we analyzed with using the Cox proportional hazards model.Results136 were esophagus extended total gastrectomy and 125 esophagus extended proximal gastric resection. A D2 lymphadenectomy was performed in 88.2%, splenectomy in 47.2%, and multivisceral resections in 12.4% of patients. R0 resection rate was 95.7%. The mean proximal resection margin on the esophagus was 42.45 mm. It was less than 21 mm in 9 patients. Overall morbidity regarding Clavien-Dindo classification (> 1) was altogether 28.6%. 15.5% were noted as surgical and 21.1% as medical complications. The 30-day mortality was 2.2%. The 5-year survival for R0 resections was 33.4%. Multivisceral resection, depth of tumor infiltration, nodal stage, and curability of the resection were identified as independent prognostic factors.ConclusionsTranshiatal approach for resection of adenocarcinoma of the cardia is a safe procedure for patients with Siewert II and III regarding the postoperative morbidity and mortality; moreover, long-term survival is comparable to transthoracic approach. The complications associated with thoracoabdominal approach can therefore be avoided with no impact on the rate of local recurrence.

In the original article, the institutional author the E-AHPBA DP-CAR study group was misspelled. It is correct as reflected here. The original article has also been corrected.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess whether biological markers can provide prognostic information additional to that supplied by the clinical risk score (CRS) in patients with colorectal liver metastases. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted. Patients selected for this study were treated between 1996 and 2011 with potentially curative liver surgery. Expressions of p53, Ki-67 and thymidylate synthase were assayed using immunohistochemical techniques on tissue microarrays. Results A total of 98 (24%) of 406 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up was 103 months. Analysis revealed a correlation between p53 protein overexpression and high CRS ( P = 0.058). Following multivariate analysis, only high CRS remained as an independent negative prognostic predictor of survival ( P = 0.018), as well as an indicator of early recurrence of disease ( P = 0.010). Of the biological markers investigated, only Ki-67 overexpression was identified as a positive predictor of survival on multivariate analysis ( P = 0.038). Conclusions Ki-67 overexpression was a positive predictor of survival. Only high CRS remained an independent negative prognostic predictor.