Portal vein blood flow is very important for the normal function of transplanted liver. The author reviewed the management methods of different portal vein thrombosis classification in the liver transplantation (LT). The prognosis of LT in the patients with Yerdel 1–3 thrombosis is similar to that the patients without thrombosis. The portal vein reconstruction of the patients with Yerdel 4 thrombosis can be realized by varicose vein to portal anastomosis, renoportal anastomosis or cavoportal hemitransposition. When anastomosis is made at the proximal side of a spontaneous shunt between the portal and cava system, the blood shunted from portal system can be reintroduced into the donor liver, which is crucial for the management of Yerdel 4 thrombosis. The establishments of artificial shunt by distal splenic vein, mesenteric vein or “multiple to one” anastomosis are effective attempts to drain the blood from portal system to the donor liver. For more severe diffuse thrombosis of portal vein system, multivisceral transplantation, including liver and small intestine, should be considered. The cases of LT in the patients with complex portal vein thrombosis are increasing, however the prognosis remains to be determined after accumulation of the cases.
Objective To summarize the effect of lenvatinib + transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) + programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibody in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus and cavernous transformation. Methods In this study, we reported the clinical data of four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus and cavernous transformation who received conversion therapy with lenvatinib combined with TACE and PD-1 antibody in West China Hospital. Results Among the four patients, two patients achieved complete response and two achieved partial response; tumor markers were significantly decreased after combination treatment. However, all four patients failed to undergo hepatectomy. ConclusionsLenvatinib + TACE + PD-1 antibody is effective for hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombus and cavernous transformation. However, there are still many problems worthy of further discussion.
Objective To compare therapeutic effects of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Thirty-five patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma admitted in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery of Shiyan Taihe Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine from August 1, 2014 to August 1, 2015 were randomly divided into ALPPS group and TACE group, in which 17 cases treated by the ALPPS and 18 cases treated by the TACE. The survival, changes of liver function and life quality, postoperative complications and mortality were compared in these two groups. The follow-up was performed by the telephone and the outpatient. Results ① The baselines such as the age, gender, diameter of tumor, complications had no significant differences in these two groups (P>0.05). ② The changes of liver function and life quality after operation in the ALPPS group were significantly better than those in the TACE group (P<0.05). ③ The complications after operation were observed in 5 cases (there were 2 cases of bile leakage, 1 case of intraabdominal bleeding, 1 case of peritoneal effusion, and 1 case of pulmonary infection) in the ALPPS group, which in 13 cases (there were 6 cases of nausea and vomiting, 4 cases of liver function damage, 2 cases of granulocytopenia, 1 case of fever) in the TACE group. The rate of the overall complications in the ALPPS group was significantly lower than that in the TACE group (5/17versus 13/18, P=0.018). ④ The overall survival in the the ALPPS group was significantly better than that in the TACE group (P=0.024). During follow-up period, the deaths happened in 3 cases duo to hepatocellular carcinoma and 1 case duo to traffic accident, 1 case was lost on month 8, 12 cases were still alive in the ALPPS group; the deaths happened in 10 cases duo to hepatocellular carcinoma, 1 case duo to coronary disease, and 1 case duo to cerebral infarction, 6 cases were still alive in the TACE group. Conclusion Preliminary results of limited cases in this study show that ALPPS has a better effect than TACE on patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Six patients with moderate to advanced primary carcinoma of the liver were treated in this hospital with perfusion chemotherapy and embolization through the regional portal vein under the guidance of B-ultrasongraph rather than (with) operatie catheteization of the portal vein. The results show that all the tumor masses were reduced in size after the treatment (1.2-3.2cm, average value 1.9cm). It might be a new way for treating the primary carcinom of liver. The detailed procedure is descibed and the effects are also discussed in this article.
ObjectiveTo summarize the progress of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) and evolution of surgical procedure improvement, so as to summarize experience in selecting appropriate surgical method for patients. MethodThe domestic and foreign literature on the evolution of ALPPS surgical procedure improvement in recent years was reviewed. ResultsIn the decade since the emergence of ALPPS, the ALPPS had been rapidly developed in the hepatobiliary surgery. The ALPPS promoted a rapid increase in future liver remnant during a relatively shorter period to contribute to resectability of liver tumors and reduce the rate of postoperative liver failure, the patients with intermediate to advanced and huge liver cancer could obtain the surgical radical resection. In recent years, the domestic and foreign experts had refined the ALPPS procedure, which mainly focused on the operation of hepatic section separation and hepatic artery flow restriction in stage Ⅰ surgery, including partial ALPPS, radiofrequency ablation ALPPS, tourniquet ALPPS, transcatheter arterial embolization ALPPS, hepatic artery ringed and operation ALPPS, as well as laparoscopic ALPPS and robotic ALPPS with minimally invasive approach. ConclusionsDespite the ongoing controversy over ALPPS, with the continuous progress and innovation of improved procedures and the utilization of laparoscope and robot in surgery, the trauma of ALPPS surgery has a further reduction, and the morbidity and mortality have gradually been decreased. It is believed that with the continuous advancement and improvement of ALPPS surgery technology, the indications and safety of ALPPS will be further enhanced, bringing hope to more patients with intermediate to advanced liver cancer with huge tumors.
Objective To explore adaptive condition of preparation of animal model and afford reliable and stable model animal for further research on clinical diagnosis and treatment of cavernous transformation of portal vein (CTPV) by establishment of animal model by partial portal vein stenosis. Methods According to different straight blunttip needles used, 80 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly averagely divided into 4 groups: sham operation group, gauge 19 (19G) group, gauge 21 (21G) group and gauge 23 (23G) group. Six weeks after model making, pressure measurement and angiography of portal vein and pathological examination of portal vein and its surrounding tissues were used to evaluate portal hypertension and CTPV. Results Six weeks after model making no rat died in sham operation group, while the numbers of died rats in 19G group, 21G group and 23G group were 2, 4 and 16, respectively. No portal hypertension was displayed in sham operation group and 19G group 6 weeks after model making. Portography showed that the portal vein seemed smooth without variceal and dilatation in sham operation group and 19G group. Pathological examination demonstrated that the portal vein walls were not enlarged, endothelial cells were smooth. The smooth muscles of middle membrane were not thickened and adventitia was intact. Portal pressure increased and CTPV formed in 21G group and 23G group 6 weeks after model making. Portography showed that collateral circulation formed around portal vein in 21G group and 23G group. The vessel lumens with different size and irregular shapes were displayed by pathological examination. Within the narrow fibrous septum between there were the lumens the fat cells, scattered lymphocytes and mast cells, etc. The portal vein walls were enlarged notably, endothelial cells were damaged, the smooth muscle of middle membrane were thickened, thrombosis were formed. Conclusion Establishment of CTPV animal models by partial portal vein stenosis is a reliable method. 21G blund-tip needles fits well in the preparation of CTPV, which is reliable and stable with lower mortality.
ObjectiveTo summarize a patient diagnosed as Bismuth type Ⅲa hilar cholangiocarcinoma who unerwent the curative surgery combined with partial portal vein resection and reconstruction+hilar bile duct formation+Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy, meanwhile we reviewed the current status of surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma at home and abroad.MethodsTo retrospectively summarized and analyzed the clinical data of one case of Bismuth type Ⅲa hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The preoperative total bilirubin of this patient was 346.8 μmol/L, and this patient underwent the curative surgery combined with partial portal vein resection and reconstruction+hilar bile duct formation+Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy after reducing jaundice by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Then we retrieved domestic and foreign related literatures.ResultsOperative time of this patient was about 290 min and intraoperative bleeding was about 350 mL. No intraoperative blood transfusion occurred. The results of pathological examination showed middle-differentiatied adenocarcinoma of hilar bile duct with negative tumor margins and no regional lymph node metastasis (0/14). The postoperative recovery was uneventful with hospital stay time of 9 days and without any complication. The patient had been followed-up in the outpatient department for 3 years,and was generally in good condition. The evidence of recurrence or metastasis wasn’t found.ConclusionsPre-operative biliary drainage can improve the safety of operation and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, extend liver resection for the patient with Bismuth type Ⅲa hilar cholangiocarcinoma, which can improve R0 resection rate and extend postoperative survival.
Portal hypertension (PHT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis, which could be measured by the means of portal vein pressure (PVP). However, there is no report about an effective and reliable way to achieve noninvasive assessment of PVP so far. In this study, firstly, we collected ultrasound images and echo signals of different ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) concentrations and different pressure ranges in a low-pressure environment based on an in vitro simulation device. Then, the amplitudes of the subharmonics in the echo signal were obtained by ultrasound grayscale image construction and fast Fourier transform (FFT). Finally, we analyzed the relationship between subharmonic amplitude (SA) and bionic portal vein pressure (BPVP) through linear regression. As a result, in the pressure range of 7.5–45 mm Hg and 8–20 mm Hg, the linear correlation coefficients (LCC) between SA and BPVP were 0.927 and 0.913 respectively when the UCA concentration was 1∶3 000, and LCC were 0.737 and 0.568 respectively when the UCA concentration was 1∶6 000. Particularly, LCC was increased to 0.968 and 0.916 respectively while the SAs of two UCA concentrations were used as the features of BPVP. Therefore, the results show a good performance on the linear relationship between SA and BPVP, and the LCC will be improved by using SAs obtained at different UCA concentrations as the features of BPVP. The proposed method provides reliable experimental verification for noninvasive evaluation of PVP through SA in clinical practice, which could be a guidance for improving the accuracy of PVP assessment.
Objective To summarize the related risk factors and preventive measures of acute pancreatitis (AP) combined with portal vein system thrombosis (PVST). Method The literatures on the general clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, risk factors and prevention prognosis of AP with PVST in recent years at home and abroad were reviewed. Results The incidence of AP combined with PVST was increasing, and the pathogenesis was complex, primarily related to pancreatitis and direct venous compression, which caused blood flow stagnation and hemodynamic disturbance, followed by induced venous thrombosis. Pancreatic necrosis, peripancreatic fluid volume accumulation and the severity of pancreatitis were the main risk factors for the onset of pancreatitis. Other local and systemic factors such as coagulation dysfunction, malnutrition, esophageal and gastric varices had also been reported in the literatures. At present, the prevention methods reported in relevant studies include anticoagulation treatment, pancreatic surgery debridement and drainage, nutritional support, systemic and local inflammation intervention, and early fluid resuscitation, etc. Conclusions The risk factors and pathogenesis of AP combined with PVST are complex and diverse, which requires early identification by clinical workers, early intervention and treatment to avoid or reduce the occurrence of PVST as much as possible to improve the prognosis of patients. However, some preventive measures still need further research to verify their safety and effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo summarize experiences of diagnosis and treatment of intraperitoneal mass after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodThe clinicopathologic data of a 40 years old case of HCC with intraperitoneal mass after ALPPS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe patient was admitted to this hospital because of abdominal pain and abdominal distension for 5 d. The intraperitoneal mass was found and its nature was not clear on year 1 after ALPPS on admission. After discussion of multidisciplinary team (MDT), the exploratory laparotomy and abdominal tumor resection were planned to perform. The intraperitoneal mass and appendix were removed, the resected tissues were diagnosed as chronic inflammation and retroperitoneal abscess caused by perforation of suppurative appendicitis, respectively. The anti-infection and symptomatic support treatment were strengthened to perform after operation, the patient discharged after recovery. The patient was followed up so far, the general condition was good, and there was no clinical recurrence.ConclusionsFor patient underwent ALPPS, regular follow-up should be paid attention to. If intraperitoneal mass is found and nature is not clear, MDT discussion should be performed so as to make a more reasonable treatment plan. After exclusion of contraindications, surgical treatment should be carried out to furthest benefit patients.