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Bile duct injury (BDI) remains a critical complication following cholecystectomy. Prevention, early recognition, and appropriate management can significantly improve patient outcomes. In this chapter, we will discuss the current review of the surgical management of BDI, including prevention techniques during the cholecystectomy, intra-operative diagnosis of the injury, early evaluation and imaging, importance and challenges of the referrals to a hepatobiliary center, types and classification of biliary injuries, biliary drainage, and interventional procedures bridging to definitive repair, timing of surgical repair-early versus late, surgical repair techniques, evaluation and management of combined vasculo-biliary injury.

A paucity of evidence exists regarding the risks and benefits of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in adult kidney transplantation.This was a systematic review conducted from Jan 1, 2000 to April 24, 2020 of adult kidney transplant recipients (pre- or post- transplant) and donors who underwent veno-arterial or veno-venous ECMO cannulation. Death and graft function were the primary outcomes, with complications as secondary outcomes.Twenty-three articles were identified that fit inclusion criteria. 461 donors were placed on ECMO, with an overall recipient 12-month mortality rate of 1.3% and a complication rate of 61.5%, the majority of which was delayed graft function. Fourteen recipients were placed on ECMO intraoperatively or postoperatively, with infection as the most common indication for ECMO. The 90-day mortality rate for recipients on ECMO was 42.9%, with multisystem organ failure and infection as the ubiquitous causes of death. 35.7% of patients experienced rejection within 6 months of decannulation, yet all were successfully treated.ECMO use in adult kidney transplantation is a useful adjunct. Recipient morbidity and mortality from donors placed on ECMO mirrors that of recipients from standard criteria donors. The morbidity and mortality of recipients placed on ECMO are also similar to other patient populations requiring ECMO.

Aim was to study the early impact of acuity circle-based allocation implementation system on liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.We assessed characteristics of HCC and non-HCC deceased donor orthotopic liver transplants (OLT) in the year before (2/2019-2/2020) and after (3/2020-2/2021) introduction of the acuity circle policy using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)/United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.Total OLTs reduced from 6699 in the preacuity circle era to 6660 in the postacuity circle era (-.6%); this decrease is mostly driven by a decrease in HCC transplants (1529 to 1351; -11.6%). Six out of 11 regions had a reduction in the absolute number and percentage of HCC transplants with significant reductions in regions 2 (-37.8%, p .001) and 4 (-28.3%, p = .001).The introduction of median model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) at transplant minus 3 (MMaT-3) exception points, has created differential opportunities for HCC patients, in low-MELD as opposed to high-MELD areas, despite having the same disease. This effect has become more prominent following the implementation of acuity circle-based allocation system. Ongoing investigation of these trends is needed to ensure that HCC patients are not disparately disadvantaged due to their location.

Background and Aims Simple liver cyst (SHC) is a benign condition with no malignant potential. They are typically discovered incidentally due to the increased use of abdominal imaging, but some patients may present with abdominal pain. A radiologist’s differential diagnosis in cases of SHC will often include “rule out biliary cystadenoma.” Under these circumstances, patients and surgeons are more likely to pursue surgical options even in asymptomatic cases. The aim of this study is to conduct a retrospective analysis of presentation, radiologic reporting, management plan, and histopathology of patients referred to a tertiary hospital in order to determine the correlation between radiology and histology. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiological, and histopathological data of 20 patients operated for a diagnosis of a cystic lesion in the liver. Result The CT/MRI of 6 (30%) patients was reported as a biliary cystadenoma, 13 (65%) were reported as a simple hepatic cyst and 1 patient (5%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the additional diagnosis of multiple hepatic cysts. The lesion reported as HCC on the scan was separate from the cystic lesions. The modality of imaging for these cysts was evenly split, 50% of patients had a CT scan, and 50% had an MRI performed. All imaging studies were interpreted by an attending radiologist and most of them were discussed in multidisciplinary meetings. Nineteen patients (95%) had an intraoperative diagnosis of a simple liver cyst based on its visual appearance and clear fluid within the cyst. These patients underwent cyst wall fenestration and de-roofing with the cyst wall sent for histopathology. One patient (5%) with HCC underwent a non-anatomical liver resection. Histopathology was conclusive for a benign hepatic cystic lesion from the cyst wall biopsy. All 20 patients in this study underwent surgery, either due to symptoms or due to radiologic diagnosis of BCA. Four of the 20 cases (20%) were asymptomatic and out of these four cases, 3 (75%) were diagnosed as cystadenoma on the preoperative imaging studies. All 19 cases were diagnosed as a simple liver cyst on pathology. Conclusion In summary, there is a growing trend of “ruling-out the diagnosis of biliary cystadenoma” in patients who present with liver cysts. Patients are appropriately more anxious after this preoperative diagnosis and the treating surgeons have medico-legal concerns regarding conservative management in asymptomatic patients diagnosed as BCA. This single center experience draws attention to the radiology criteria utilized for diagnosing a biliary cystadenoma and suggests that it is time to revisit the imaging interpretation and differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND A paucity of evidence exists regarding risks and benefits of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adult liver transplantation. METHODS This was a systematic review conducted from January 1, 2000 to April 24, 2020 of adult liver transplant recipients (pre- or post-transplant) and donors who underwent Veno-arterial or Veno-venous ECMO cannulation. Death was the primary outcome, with graft function and complications as secondary outcomes. RESULTS Forty-one articles were identified that fit criteria. A total of 183 donors were placed on ECMO, with recipient complication profiles and mortality that mirrored rates from standard criteria donors. Sixty-one recipients were placed on ECMO intraoperatively or postoperatively. Most patients experienced at least one complication with infections as the most common cause and minimal complications specifically related to ECMO use. Multisystem organ failure (MSOF) and infections were more common among liver recipients who died compared to those who survived. Overall mortality at 90 days was 45.9%. Causes of death were most commonly MSOF and infections. CONCLUSIONS ECMO use in adult liver transplantation is a useful adjunct. Recipient morbidity and mortality from donors placed on ECMO parallel that of recipients from standard criteria donors, and morbidity and mortality of recipients placed on ECMO are similar to other ECMO populations.

Although elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the accepted strategy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), papillotomy, and common bile duct (CBD) clearance, the decision to perform a cholecystectomy in high-risk elderly comorbid patients remains subjective and is controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the outcome of elderly patients with cholecystectomy deferral after successful initial endoscopic removal of CBD stones. The study examined a retrospective patient database, which included all patients aged >60 years who underwent an ERCP for CBD stones at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. The study cohort was divided according to whether a subsequent cholecystectomy was performed and also by age 60 to 80 or >80 years. All biliary-related complications were recorded. The primary outcome measures were biliary complications, perioperative and periprocedural mortality, CBD stone recurrence, and the need for future surgical intervention. There were 111 patients (mean age 79.4 ± 9.1 years) who underwent ERCP with follow-up. After excluding 11 patients, 100 patients were left for analysis, 46 of whom underwent a cholecystectomy and 54 were observed without operation. There were significant longer term biliary complications in five of the operated patients (10.9%) and in four of the unoperated cases (7.4%). All biliary-related complications were managed successfully by conservative means except for one fatality in the nonoperated group. Biliary-related complications after successful ERCP for CBD stones were unaffected by surgery but were more commonly observed in older cases. A watch and wait policy may be justified in elderly comorbid patients.

The techniques of portal vein embolization (PVE) or ligation (PVL) have the goals of combining an induced atrophy of metastatic segments with the rapid relative compensatory hypertrophy of the postresection future liver remnant (FLR). Our study examines the anatomy of right-left hepatic lobar venous connections in the adult cadaver using corrosion cast analysis in an effort to define some of the inherent anatomical reasons why both PVL and PVE may be technically unsuccessful. Corrosion cast models of 215 cadaveric liver specimens were evaluated for hepatopetal venous blood flow, with a particular emphasis on cholecystic venous drainage patterns, including 57 cases prepared after lobar portal venous ligation. In 88.8 per cent of corrosion casts, there was a segmental venous communication between the gallbladder and all segments of the liver, except segment II. There was cystic vein drainage directly into a main lobar branch or directly into the portal vein itself in 11.2 per cent of cases. In all 57 cases, after portal lobar venous division, in situ cystic veins allowed persistent venous communication between lobes. Our cadaveric corrosion cast study has suggested that there is extensive intrahepatic cholecystic venous drainage to many segments of the liver. Perfusion from the gallbladder may potentially contribute to a limited response to procedures which interrupt the portal venous flow and could affect their capacity to induce an adequate FLR which would permit a wider hepatectomy.

Introduction Aim is to evaluate geographical and demographic factors influencing management of bile duct injuries occurring during cholecystectomy in a tertiary hepato-pancreato-biliary center in Southeast US. Methods All referrals for biliary injuries during cholecystectomy, between Jan 2017 and December 2020 were included. Results 19 patients were identified with a median age of 59 (47-65), average BMI of 30.3 (18-49), and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular disease of 11%, 47% and 16%, respectively. The average transfer distance was 76 miles (8-102) and median transfer time was 3 days (1-12). 16 (84%) had Strasberg E injury, with 4 (21%) having a concomitant vascular injury (3 - right hepatic artery, 1 - right portal vein). Two (10.5%) were managed non-operatively, immediate surgical repair was performed in 2 (10.5%) and 15 (78.9%) patients underwent a delayed repair with a median of 87 days (69-118) from injury to repair. Median operative time was 5 hours (4-7), blood loss was 150 mL (100-200) and hospital stay was 8 days (6-12). Discussion Factors including distance between hospitals, delays in patient transfer due to bed availability and transportation, play a role in the decision-making towards delayed repair. The delayed repair has the benefit of medical optimization of our high-risk patients’ population.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS), performed using closed-abdomen technique (CAT), may affect intraabdominal pressure (IAP). High IAP may increase postoperative complications due to decreased venous return and hypoperfusion to vital organs. Elevated core body temperature (CBT) may cause multiorgan dysfunction. Low IAP or CBT could result in suboptimal HIPEC and potentially translate into early disease recurrence. The aim of the present study is to identify possible correlations between IAP or CBT and postoperative complications. Continuous intraabdominal pressure measurement was performed by intraabdominal catheter. Inflow temperature was set at 44 °C, and mean perfusate temperature was 42 °C. CBT was measured continuously in the distal esophagus. We compared the rate of postoperative complications between the low IAP group (2–10 mmHg, n = 28), target IAP group (10–20 mmHg, n = 71), and high IAP group (20–34 mmHg, n = 16) as well as with CBT as a continuous variable. 115 patients were included in the study. There was no difference between IAP groups in terms of age, gender, primary diagnosis, operative peritoneal cancer index, CBT, or operative time. There was no correlation between IAP and postoperative complications or with prolonged hospital stay. On multivariate analysis, elevated mean CBT was a positive predictor of postoperative complications (p = 0.035). IAP level during closed-abdomen technique HIPEC is not associated with postoperative complications. However, elevated CBT may increase postoperative complications.

Bariatric surgery (BS) is effective in treating obesity and its associated comorbidities. However, there is a paucity of data on the effect of BS on thyroid function in hypothyroid patients, specifically in those treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THR). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of BS on thyroid function and on THR dosage in patients with hypothyroidism. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all hypothyroid patients who underwent BS between 2010 and 2014 was performed. Data collected included demographic and anthropometric measurements, as well as changes in thyroid hormone levels and THR dosage up to a year from surgery. During the study period, 93 hypothyroid patients (85 females, 91%), 83 of which treated with replacement thyroid hormone, underwent BS. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed in 77 (82.8%) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in 16 patients. Average age and body mass index (BMI) were 46.6 ± 11.2 years and 43.7 ± 6.4 kg/m2, respectively. Mean BMI and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) significantly deceased after 6 and 12 months following surgery whereas mean free T4 levels remained stable. TSH decrease was directly correlated to baseline TSH but not to BMI reduction. One year after surgery, 11 patients (13.2%) did not require THR, while the rest required a significantly lower average dose (P

The techniques of portal vein embolization (PVE) or ligation (PVL) have the goals of combining an induced atrophy of metastatic segments with the rapid relative compensatory hypertrophy of the postresection future liver remnant (FLR). Our study examines the anatomy of right-left hepatic lobar venous connections in the adult cadaver using corrosion cast analysis in an effort to define some of the inherent anatomical reasons why both PVL and PVE may be technically unsuccessful. Corrosion cast models of 215 cadaveric liver specimens were evaluated for hepatopetal venous blood flow, with a particular emphasis on cholecystic venous drainage patterns, including 57 cases prepared after lobar portal venous ligation. In 88.8 per cent of corrosion casts, there was a segmental venous communication between the gallbladder and all segments of the liver, except segment II. There was cystic vein drainage directly into a main lobar branch or directly into the portal vein itself in 11.2 per cent of cases. In all 57 cases, after portal lobar venous division

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an accepted bariatric procedure. Swallow studies (SS) after LSG are not uniform and display different patterns with regard to contrast passage through the gastric sleeve. The impact of immediate postoperative contrast transit time on weight loss has not been studied. The influence of immediate fluid tolerance on weight loss after LSG is herein reported.Ninety-nine patients after LSG were included. There were 67 females, mean age 41 (range 17-67), mean BMI 44.4 (range 37-75). A routine SS was performed on postoperative day (POD) 1. Pattern of contrast transit was noted. Patients were followed-up in our bariatric clinic.Percent excess weight loss was significantly lower in the patients with rapid contrast passage (Group 1, n = 50) than those with delayed passage (Group 2, n = 49). Group 1 achieved 62, 58, and 53 % at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, while Group 2 attained 69, 74, and 75 % at the same time points (p = 0.05, 0.001, and 0.04, respectively). Group 1 patients displayed a negative weight loss trend after 1 year whereas Group 2 patients plateaued after 2 years.Tolerance of fluid intake after LSG is crucial for patient recovery and discharge. Distinct radiologic appearance on POD 1 helps predict this behavior. Mid-term weight loss after LSG appears to be dependent on immediate postoperative contrast transit time, whereas patients with slow contrast passage tend to lose more weight. Long-term follow-up will reveal whether this finding will hold true.

Obesity causes specific sexual problems, including diminished sexual desire, poor performance and avoidance of sexual encounters.To systematically evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on patients' sexual function as compared to their preoperative status.Bariatric surgery candidates were given a validated sexual function questionnaire the day before surgery and again 6 months after surgery. Females were polled with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and males with the Brief Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI). Statistical analysis was performed to elucidate differences in response to the questionnaires.The study population included 34 females and 14 males. Mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 40.2 ± 10.2 years and 43.4 ± 5.3 kg/m2, respectively. Postoperative BMI was 31.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2 (P0.001). Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed in 36 patients and laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass in 12. In females, the FSFI index rose significantly from 24 to 30 (P = 0.006), indicating increased sexual performance and satisfaction. In males the BSFI increased from 40.2 to 43.9 but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.08). However, general satisfaction, desire and erection were each significantly improved within the BSFI.In addition to the well-documented medical and quality-of-life benefits of bariatric surgery, there is also clear improvement in patients' sexual function, both physical and psychosexual.

In the latest decades an important change was registered in liver surgery, however the management of liver cirrhosis or small size hepatic remnant still remains a challenge. Currently post-hepatectomy liver failure (PLF) is the major cause of death after liver resection often associated with sepsis and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). ‘‘Small-for-size’’ syndrome (SFSS) and PFL have similar mechanism presenting reduction of liver mass and portal hyper flow beyond a certain threshold. Few methods are described to prevent both syndromes, in the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative stages. Additionally to portal vein embolization (PVE), radiological examinations (mainly CT and/or MRI), and more recently 3D computed tomography are fundamental to quantify the liver volume (LV) at a preoperative stage. During surgery, in order to limit parenchymal damage and optimize regenerative capacity, some hepatoprotective measures may be employed, among them: intermittent portal clamping and hypothermic liver preservation. Regarding the treatment, since PLF is a quite complex disease, it is required a multi-disciplinary approach, where it management must be undertaken in conjunction with critical care, hepatology, microbiology and radiology services. The size of the liver cannot be considered the main variable in the development of liver dysfunction after extended hepatectomies. Additional characteristics should be taken into account, such as: the future liver remnant; the portal blood flow and pressure and the exploration of the potential effects of regeneration preconditioning are all promising strategies that could help to expand the indications and increase the safety of liver surgery.

Expanded surgical intervention in colorectal liver metastasis (LM) and improved chemotherapy led to increasing problem of disappearing liver metastases (DLM). Treatment of those continues to evolve and poses a real challenge for HPB surgeons. This review discusses a clinical approach to DLM, emphasizing crucial steps in clinical algorithm. Particular issues such as imaging, intraoperative detection and surgical techniques are addressed. A step-by-step algorithm is suggested.