Objective To explore feasibility and safety of ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation in treating end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with secondary cavernous transformation of portal vein. Methods The patient was diagnosed with the end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with secondary cavernous transformation of portal vein. The ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were used to access the characteristics of the lesions and the extent of involvement of the portal vein and its branches. The liver model was reconstructed using a three-dimensional imaging data analysis system (EDDA Technology, Inc. USA), the remnant liver volume and the extent of involvement of the first hepatic hilum were recorded. Then the multidisciplinary team repetitively discussed the risks and procedures involved in the surgery. Finally, the ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation was proposed. Results The preoperative evaluation showed the patient had a large intrahepatic lesion which severely invaded the retrohepatic inferior vena cava, the right hepatic vein, and the middle hepatic vein and were completely occluded, the left hepatic vein was partially invaded, and the portal vein was spongiform. The remnant liver volume was 912 mL, the ratio of residual liver volume to standard liver volume was 0.81. The preoperative liver function Child-Pugh score was grade A. The ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation was successfully managed according to the expected schedule. The autografts (made by patient’s great saphenous vein) were used to reconstruct the hepatic vein and portal vein, and the retrohepatic inferior vena cava was not reconstructed. The patient recovered well and was discharged on day 20 after the operation. Conclusions Ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation could successfully be applied in treating patient with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with secondary cavernous transformation of portal vein. Adequate preoperative assessment and management of the first hepatic hilum are key to this operation.
ObjectiveTo summarize short-term and long-term effects of ex vivo liver resection followed by autotransplantation (Abbreviation: autotransplantation) in treatment of advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).MethodThe clinical data and follow-up data of 17 patients with advanced HAE who underwent autotransplantation from November 2016 to July 2019 in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture People’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe autotransplantations were performed successfully in the 17 patients with advanced HAE. Ten patients underwent the inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction with autologous saphenous veins, 5 patients underwent the artificial revascularization, 1 patient underwent the direct anastomosis of the original IVC, and 1 patient didn’t reconstructed (the retroperitoneal collateral circulation was abundant). The mean liver graft mass was 681.3 g (365–1 350 g) and operation time was 11.5 h (9–16 h). The median anhepatic period was 312 min (175–450 min), blood loss was 2 000 mL(950–4 500 mL), red blood cell suspension transfusion was 6.4 U (1–20 U), and fresh frozen plasma was 1.1 L (0.8–2.0 L). The postoperative hospital stay was 5 to 45 d with an average of 25.6 d. There were 4 patients with the postoperative hepatic enveloping effusion, 1 patient with bile leakage, and 1 patient with bile duct stenosis. All of them were treated and cured, and no death occurred. The follow-up time of 17 patients was 3 to 35 months with an average of 9.5 months, no recurrence of HAE and distant metastasis were observed.ConclusionsIn highlands, autotransplantation in treatment of advanced HAE patients with different IVC reconstruction is satisfactory, but it has a higher risk and is difficult. Choice of intraoperative reconstruction materials, judgment of posterior peritoneal collateral circulation, presence or absence of tension in end-to-end anastomosis of the IVC require precise consideration. At the same time, anticoagulation therapy and complications management are difficult, and it is only suitable for plateau medical center with rich experience.
ObjectiveTo explore value of partial liver preservation in situ for ex-vivo liver resection and auxiliatry autologous liver transplantation in end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.MethodsThe clinical data of one patient with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis treated with auxiliatry autologous liver transplantation combined partial liver preservation in situ were analyzed retrospectively. This patient was admitted on January 2019. During the auxiliatry autologous liver transplantation procedure, the S1, S4-S8 segments of the liver were resected for mass dissection, whereas the S2 and S3 segments of left liver were preserved in situ.ResultsThe preoperative evaluation and intraoperative exploration indicated that the mass located in the S4, S5, S8 segments, which was adjacent to the first hepatic portal and involved the anterior wall of posterior inferior vena cava, middle hepatic veins, the opening of right hepatic veins and the right wall of left hepatic veins. Based on the " in situ first” principle, the left lesion was slit using the anterior approach, the left hepatic vein was repaired and the S2 and S3 segments were preserved in situ. Then, the right lesion to involved hepatic vein was slit along the right interlobar fissure. The right hepatic artery, right portal vein and right bile duct were divided separately. The S1 and S4-S8 segments were removed completely. Next, the mass was resected, the out flow of the right liver was reconstructed using the allogeneic veins during the ex-vivo liver resection. Then, the auxiliatry autologous right liver transplantation was initiated by the wide-caliber hepatic vein-artificial inferior vena cava anastomosis. The surgical procedures lasted for 12 h, and the intraoperative bleeding was approximately 800 mL. The patient was routinely treated and smoothly recovered after the operation.ConclusionsProcedure of auxiliatry autologous liver transplantation preserved part functional liver in situ during ex-vivo resection, which could maintain stability of systemic and portal vein circulation, hold part liver function during operation, preserve functional liver furthest, and reduce risk of hepatic failure, is an effective attempt for end stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.
ObjectiveTo explore the efficiency of two-stage hepatectomy applicated in complex alveolar echinococcosis. MethodThe clinical data of one case who suffered from complicated alveolar echinococcosis with multiple lesions and then treated with two-stage hepatectomy were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsPreoperative enhanced CT revealed that the hydatid lesion with irregular shape, measuring 14.1 cm×9.2 cm, invaded several segments including left medial lobe and right anterior lobe of liver and the right branch of portal vein and medium hepatic vein were entirely surrounded by it. After preoperative examination surgical exploration was performed, two larger lesions measuring 6 cm×5 cm×4 cm and 5 cm×4 cm×4 cm respectively were found in caudate lobe of liver, three smaller lesions were found in the right and left lobe of liver, among which two measured 2 cm×2 cm×1 cm in the right lobe and one measured 3 cm×2 cm×1 cm in the left lobe. Mesohepatectomy was performed in the first stage, the lesion in left medial lobe and right anterior lobe of liver and the right anterior branch of portal vein were resected during the procedure. The patient recovered well after the operation without complications such as bile leakage or hemorrhage observed. The second stage surgery was performed at three months after operation, the computed tomograph before the surgery revealed that the remained lesions in the right lobe of liver did not proceed obviously and the left lateral external lobe of liver regenerated significantly. In the second stage, the right anterior lobe and part of the right posterior lobe of liver were resected. The patient was discharged on 7 days after operation, and there was no complication and relapse during the 7 months of follow-up period. ConclusionTwo-stage hepatectomy applicated in treating complicated alveolar echinococcosis with multiple lesions is safe and feasible, offering a choice with smaller trauma, lower expense and less complications for patients compared with liver transplantation.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application of in vivo hepatectomy with preservation of retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) with the invasion of IVC. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of a complicated HAE patient with large lesion (maximum cross-section 12.6 cm×9.6 cm), infiltrative growth, unclear boundary with surrounding tissues, and invasions of diaphragm and IVC (invasion length up to 4.6 cm) admitted to the Department of Liver Surgery in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University in December 2021 was retrospectively collected. The three-dimensional reconstruction of the liver model was performed by Mimics Medical 21.0 software before operation. The invading IVC of the right liver lesion was measured and the resection was simulated. During the operation, the HAE lesion and the affected IVC were gradually separated from IVC by the hemostatic forceps, and the residual lesions were gradually removed. ResultsIn this patient, the HAE lesion of right liver was resected, the IVC was entirely preserved, and the resection of liver was consistent with the preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction plan. The operation time was 275 min, the bleeding was approximately 500 mL. On the first day after the operation, the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased, no obvious abnormalities were observed in the plasma albumin and bilirubin, the patient recovered and was discharged on the seventh day after the operation. No complications occurred after the operation, and no recurrence or metastasis of HAE was observed during follow-up period. ConclusionsHepatectomy with preservation of retrohepatic IVC for HAE with invasion of IVC is safe and effective. Taking albendazole regularly after surgery will help maintain disease-free survival.
Objective To explore the effect of ex-vivo liver resection and autologous liver transplantation (ERAT) combined with complicated hepatic venous reconstruction for end stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Method Theclinical data of one case with hepatic AE who treated in Organ Transplantation Center of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital in December 2017 was analyzed retrospectively. Results Pre-operative examination and intraoperative exploration revealed the hepatic vein (HV) and retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RHIVC) were invaded widely. We successfully initiated operation through vivo and ex-vivo hepatic AE resection, portal vein reconstruction, right/short/right inferior HV reconstruction into a wide mouth outflow with the assist of autogenous saphenous vein, and then piggyback autologous liver transplantation by wide mouth outflow-artificial inferior vena cava anastomosis (side to side). The operative time was 16 hours, and blood loss was 1 000 mL approximately. The patient was admitted routine treatment after hepatectomy. The inject low-molecular-weight heparin sodium was admitted for anticoagulant therapy 24 hours after operation. This patient recovered smoothly without bile leakage, bleeding, infection and liver failure, and so on. The patient was discharged uneventfully 14 days after operation, and there was no special situation during the6 months follow-up period. Conclusions ERAT is an ideal surgical method for end stage hepatic AE. Hepatic parenchymal transection and individual duct reconstruction, especially hepatic outflow reconstruction, are the key steps for ERAT.
Objective To detect and analize the expressions and it’s clinical significance of apoptosis factors in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis tissues by using antibody chip technology. Methods The liver tissue specimens (including the edge of lesions and normal liver tissues) of surgical resection of 6 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University were collected. The tissue protein was extracted and the level of apoptosis was detected by antibody chip technology. The data were analyzed by AAH-APO-G1 software. Results The expression levels of 5 kinds of apoptosis factors (Bad, Fas, IGFBP-3, P21 and XIAP) in the liver tissues of the marginal zone of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis were compared with that of the normal liver tissues, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression levels of Bad, Fas, IGFBP-3 and P21 were up-regulated, and the expression level of XIAP was down regulated. Conclusions Apoptosis-related factors play a role in the progression of the hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, there may be contact with the immune escape mechanisms, while promote apoptosis factor and inhibitory apoptosis factor that may exist the function imbalance, so more in-depth exploration the mechanism of apoptosis factors on hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in diagnosis and treatment have important significance.
ObjectiveTo summarize and analyze the application of ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA) in the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases. MethodThe related literature about ELRA used to treat various hepatobiliary space-occupyingdiseases at home and abroad in recent years was comprehensively searched and summarized. ResultsELRA had overcome the limitations of limited operational space in traditional surgery for the treatment of hepatobiliary space-occupying diseases reduced dependence on donor livers, and avoided post-transplant rejection. It had been applied in the treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, liver cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and rare liver space-occupying diseases. ConclusionsWith the maturation of ELRA techniques and the continuous improvement of ex vivo liver perfusion technology, along with rigorous preoperative evaluation and meticulous postoperative management, postoperative complications of ELRA have significantly decreased compared to the initial stages of its application. By strictly adhering to surgical indications, this procedure is expected to be used treatment in an increasing number of hepatobiliary space-occupying diseases.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of preoperative red blood cell distribution width to platelet count ratio (RPR) and platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) scoring for postoperative complications after radical resection of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the clinicopathologic data of patients diagnosed with HAE and underwent radical hepatectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from January 2018 to October 2022 were retrospectively collected. The risk factors affecting postoperative complications after radical hepatectomy for HAE were analyzed by univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis, which were used to construct the nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the value in predicting postoperative complications by nomogram model. The discrimination of the nomogram was evaluated using Bootstrap internal 1 000 resampling and evaluated using a consistency index. The predicted postoperative complications probability by nomogram and actual postoperative complications probability were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and the calibration curve was drawn. The calibration ability of the nomogram model was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The decision curve analysis was used to evaluate clinical benefit of the nomogram model. ResultsA total of 160 patients with HAE radical hepatectomy were included, of which 105 had no postoperative complications and 55 had postoperative complications. The multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the operation time ≥207 min, intraoperative bleeding ≥650 mL, and albumin ＜38 g/L, RPR ≥0.054, and higher PALBI grading (3 levels) were the risk factors affecting postoperative complications after HAE radical hepatectomy (OR＞1, P<0.05). Based on the risk factors, the nomogram was constructed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95%CI) predicted by the nomogram for the postoperative complications was 0.873 (0.808, 0.937), with an optimal cutoff value of 0.499. The consistency index was 0.855 for discriminating postoperative complications after HAE radical hepatectomy. The calibration curve was tested by Hosmer-Limeshow and showed a good fit between the predicted curve by the nomogram and actual curve (χ2=3.193, P=0.367), indicating that the nomogram had a good calibration ability. The decision curve analysis showed that there was a good clinical applicability within the range of 11% to 93% of the threshold probability. ConclusionsThe preoperative RPR and PALBI scoring are risk factors affecting postoperative complications after radical hepatectomy for HAE. The nomogram constructed with risk factors including RPR and PALBI has a good predictive value for postoperative complications after radical hepatectomy for HAE.
Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) is a severe zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, primarily affecting the liver. Due to its insidious nature, the patients are often diagnosed at advanced stage, posing significant treatment challenges. We comprehensively examines the progress in surgical techniques for HAE management, focusing on various strategies across different disease stages. For the patients with early-stage HAE, ablation therapy has emerged as an effective treatment option. In the moderate to advanced cases, numerous surgical techniques and innovative approaches have been introduced, including laparoscopic surgery and liver transplantation, with particular emphasis on ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation. These advancements offer more effective treatment options for the patients with advanced HAE. However, significant challenges persist, notably the preservation of adequate liver function while achieving complete lesion removal. Future research should prioritize the exploration and optimization of existing surgical methods, especially for advanced HAE cases. This includes refining surgical techniques through precise preoperative evaluation and staging, as well as developing novel surgical approaches to enhance safety and efficacy. Furthermore, multicenter and long-term follow-up prospective studies are crucial for validating the effectiveness of new surgical techniques and strategies. Through these concerted efforts, it is anticipated that the survival rates and quality of life for HAE patients will significantly be improved, marking a new era in the management of this complex disease.