Objective The purpose of this study was to determine if an endosurgical approach that mimics open exploration would improve the accuracy of simple diagnostic laparoscopy. Summary Background Data Most patients with peripancreatic malignancy are found at exploration to be unable to undergo resection. Laparoscopy has been suggested as a sensitive method for detecting metastatic disease in this group of patients. However, the ability to assess resectability with simple diagnostic laparoscopy remains relatively low (<40%). Methods Between December 1992 and August 1994, 115 patients with radiologically resectable peripancreatic tumors underwent extended laparoscopy before undergoing a planned curative resection. This technique required assessment of the peritoneal cavity, liver, lesser sac, porta hepatis, duodenum, transverse mesocolon, and celiac and portal vessels. Results Sixty male and 55 female patients were included in the current study. The pancreatic head was involved in 74 patients (64%), followed by the body in 21 (18%), tail in 8 (7%), ampulla in 8 (7%), duodenum in 3 (3%), and distal bile duct in 1 (1%). An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed for all patients before laparoscopy, ultrasonography for 74 patients (64%), endoscopic retrograde choleangiopancreatography for 59 patients (51%), and mesenteric angiography for 9 patients (8%). Pneumoperitoneum was established successfully in all but 2 cases (98%). A complete examination of 108 patients was performed. Sixty-seven patients were considered to have resectable disease, and 61 resections were performed. Laparoscopy failed to identify hepatic metastases in 5 patients and portal venous encasement in 1 patient. Unresectable disease was identified in 41 patients. Hepatic metastases were observed in 20 patients, mesenteric vascular encasement in 14, extrapancreatic/peritoneal involvement in 16, and celiac or portal lymphatic metastases in 8. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the laparoscopic procedure. The positive predictive index, negative predictive index, and accuracy of laparoscopy were 100%, 91%, and 94%, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrates that extended laparoscopy is accurate and safe and makes exploration unnecessary in many patients with potentially resectable peripancreatic malignancy. In this series, 76% of patients explored were resected, compared with the authors' experience between 1983 and 1993 of 35%. The authors believe that laparoscopy is an important component in the staging of this group of patients and should be performed before exploration.

The value of minimal access surgery in the staging of patients with potentially resectable peripancreatic malignancy

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate if associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) could increase resection rates (RRs) compared with two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Background: Radical liver metastasis resection offers the only chance of a cure for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and an insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) volume are traditionally treated with chemotherapy with portal vein embolization or ligation followed by hepatectomy (TSH). This treatment sometimes fails due to insufficient liver growth or tumor progression. Methods: A prospective, multicenter RCT was conducted between June 2014 and August 2016. It included 97 patients with CRLM and a standardized FLR (sFLR) of less than 30%. Primary outcome - RRs were measured as the percentages of patients completing both stages of the treatment. Secondary outcomes were complications, radicality, and 90-day mortality measured from the final intervention. Results: Baseline characteristics, besides body mass index, did not differ between the groups. The RR was 92% [95% confidence interval (CI) 84%-100%] (44/48) in the ALPPS arm compared with 57% (95% CI 43%-72%) (28/49) in the TSH arm [rate ratio 8.25 (95% CI 2.6-26.6); P < 0.0001]. No differences in complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3a) [43% (19/44) vs 43% (12/28)] [1.01 (95% CI 0.4-2.6); P = 0.99], 90-day mortality [8.3% (4/48) vs 6.1% (3/49)] [1.39 [95% CI 0.3-6.6]; P = 0.68] or R0 RRs [77% (34/44) vs 57% (16/28)] [2.55 [95% CI 0.9-7.1]; P = 0.11)] were observed. Of the patients in the TSH arm that failed to reach an sFLR of 30%, 12 were successfully treated with ALPPS. Conclusion: ALPPS is superior to TSH in terms of RR, with comparable surgical margins, complications, and short-term mortality. (Less)

ALPPS Improves Resectability Compared With Conventional Two-stage Hepatectomy in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Liver Metastasis Results From a Scandinavian Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (LIGRO Trial)

Liver metastasis is the commonest form of distant metastasis in colorectal cancer. Selection criteria for surgery and liver-directed therapies have recently been extended. However, resectability remains poorly defined. Tumour biology is increasingly recognized as an important prognostic factor; hence molecular profiling has a growing role in risk stratification and management planning. Surgical resection is the only treatment modality for curative intent. The most appropriate surgical approach is yet to be established. The primary cancer and the hepatic metastasis can be removed simultaneously or in a two-step approach; these two strategies have comparable long-term outcomes. For patients with a limited future liver remnant, portal vein embolization, combined ablation and resection, and associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy have been advocated, and each has their pros and cons. The role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy is still debated. Targeted biological agents and loco-regional therapies (thermal ablation, intra-arterial chemo- or radio-embolization, and stereotactic radiotherapy) further improve the already favourable results. The recent debate about offering liver transplantation to highly selected patients needs validation from large clinical trials. Evidence-based protocols are missing, and therefore optimal management of hepatic metastasis should be personalized and determined by a multi-disciplinary team.

Colorectal liver metastases: An update on multidisciplinary approach.

Objective:To determine the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) in a single high-volume hepatobiliary center.Background:The ALPPS approach allows achieving resectability of liver malignancies by a rapid and large fut

Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy offers high oncological feasibility with adequate patient safety: a prospective study at a single center.

Up to a fifth of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present with synchronous hepatic metastases. In patients with CRC who present without intestinal obstruction or perforation and in whom comprehensive whole-body imaging confirms the absence of extrahepatic disease, evidence indicates a state of equipoise between several different management pathways, none of which has demonstrated superiority. Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy is advocated by current guidelines, but must be integrated with surgical management in order to remove the primary tumour and liver metastatic burden. Surgery for CRC with synchronous liver metastases can take a number of forms: the 'classic' approach, involving initial colorectal resection, interval chemotherapy and liver resection as the final step; simultaneous removal of the liver and bowel tumours with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy; or a 'liver-first' approach (before or after systemic chemotherapy) with removal of the colorectal tumour as the final procedure. In patients with rectal primary tumours, the liver-first approach can potentially avoid rectal surgery in patients with a complete response to chemoradiotherapy. We overview the importance of precise nomenclature, the influence of clinical presentation on treatment options, and the need for accurate, up-to-date surgical terminology, staging tests and contemporary management options in CRC and synchronous hepatic metastatic disease, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary care.

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Management of colorectal cancer presenting with synchronous liver metastases

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

A systematic review of two‐stage hepatectomy in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases

Background: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using F18-fluorodeoxyglucose has been shown to be valuable in the management of malignant disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of this technique on the management of patients with resectable pancreatic tumours.



Methods:  Thirty-six patients with 37 potentially resectable pancreatic tumours on diagnostic CT imaging underwent PET/CT scans. Operative findings, histological reports and/or clinical follow-up served as standard of reference. The impact of PET/CT on patient management was estimated by calculating the percentage of patients whose treatment plan was altered due to PET/CT.



Results:  Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 30 patients, neuroendocrine tumours in 3, mass-forming pancreatitis in 3 and serous cystadenoma in 1. The median standard uptake (max) value was 5.0 (range 2.2–12.0). Sensitivity and specificity of detecting extrapancreatic metastatic disease were 73% and 100%, respectively. Three occult liver metastases were detected at laparotomy following negative PET/CT. PET/CT findings influenced the management of 8 (22%) patients – 3 with liver metastases, 3 with bone metastases, 1 with lymph node metastases and 1 by identifying the benign appearance of the pancreatic tumour.



Conclusion:  PET/CT achieves a significant diagnostic impact in detecting extrapancreatic metastatic disease. F18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT appears to be useful in assessing suspicious pancreatic masses.

Impact of F18-fluorodeoxyglycose positron emission tomography/computed tomography on the management of resectable pancreatic tumours.

Background: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) remains the gold standard treatment
for patients with type I diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal failure. Enteric drainage is utilised to handle
exocrine secretions from the graft, with enteric leaks being the most challenging of complications. There
remains a lack of published research regarding risk factors for enteric leaks.
Methods: As such we undertook a retrospective cohort study of SPK transplants performed at Westmead
Hospital over twenty years (between 1998-2017, n=425) to identify the occurrence of enteric leaks as
well as donor, recipient and transplantation procedure risk factors. Descriptive statistics were generated
using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY, USA). The student’s t-test
and/or Mann-Whitney U test was used to detect significance. All tests were two tailed and any statistically
significant difference was considered at the P <0.05 level.
Results: Of the 425 patients, 16 (3.5%) experienced an enteric leak. Of these, 12 (80%) had significant
vascular disease, defined as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, retinopathy, peripheral
neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease requiring surgical intervention. The risk of an enteric leak
increased in recipients with significant vascular disease.
Conclusion: The rates at Westmead Hospital were lower than those published in the literature. We
demonstrated that the presence of significant vascular disease predisposed recipients to enteric leak.
These findings highlight the importance of careful donor and recipient selection to optimise patient
outcomes.

Jerome M. Laurence

Papers

A systematic review of two‐stage hepatectomy in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases

Impact of F18-fluorodeoxyglycose positron emission tomography/computed tomography on the management of resectable pancreatic tumours.

Enteric Leaks from Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney Transplantation at a Single Centre: Risk Factors and Management Over a 20-Year Period