ObjectiveTo explore the technique of hepatic artery reconstruction in complicated hilar cholangiocarcinoma surgery. MethodThe clinicopathologic data of 3 patients with complicated hilar cholangiocarcinoma with arterial invasion underwent hepatic artery reconstruction in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Center of Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from March to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsAll 3 patients (case 1–3) were the males, aged 53, 68, and 56 years, respectively, and with hypertension or diabetes; the longitudinal diameters of the tumor were 3.5 cm, 3.0 cm, and 3.2 cm, respectively. All patients had the right hepatic artery invasion. Case 2 and 3 had the arterial stratification. The arterial defects after radical resection were 4.5 cm, 3 cm, and 3 cm, respectively. The right or right posterior hepatic artery was reconstructed by the autotransplantation of right gastroomental artery, the left hepatic artery, and the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery, respectively. After operation, the reconstructed hepatic arteries were unobstructed and free of stenosis, and there were no complications such as bleeding, infection, and thrombosis by Doppler ultrasound and CT angiography. The results of postoperative pathological diagnosis were the hilar cholangiocarcinoma with arterial invasion, and all the incisal edges were negative. ConclusionFrom the preliminary results of 3 cases, it is safe, feasible, and effective to select proper autologous artery (matched in length and caliber) for reconstruction the defective invaded hepatic artery which resected together with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, but the technical difficulty is still relatively high.
Objective To summarize the experience of l iving donor l iver transplantation using cryopreserved il iac vein for middle hepatic vein reconstruction. Methods Between July 2006 and June 2009, right l iver transplantation without middle hepatic vein was performed in 37 cases of 85 patients undergoing l iving donor l iver transplantation; of 37 cases, 30 received middle hepatic vein reconstruction using cryopreserved il iac vein. There were 27 males and 3 females, aged from 10 to 57 years (median, 44 years). Thirty cases included 11 hepatocellular carcinoma, 10 hepatic cirrhosis, 2 Wilson’ sdisease, 1 cholangiocarcinoma, 1 hepatoblastoma, 1 congenital hepatic fibrosis, 1 chronic severe hepatitis, and 1 congenital bil iary atresia. Il iac veins harvested from donors were put into 0-4℃ mixed antibiotics sal ine and transported to the operating room. The il iac veins were trimmed, placed into sterile bags (containing RMPI 1640 + 20% DMSO + 10% calf protein solution) and frozen at —70 . In l iving donor l iver transplantation process, the veins were melt and used for middle hepatic vein reconstruction. After operation, the patency of veins was monitored by regular Doppler ultrasound examination or enhanced CT for 3 months. Results In 30 patients, 30 il iac veins were used. The average cryopreserve time was 14 days (range, 3-44 days). Anastomosis were all successful; after cryopreservation, the blood vessels texture and elasticity were fit for surgery. No easily tearing or severe suture bleeding was observed. In 30 patients, 6 had segment V veins reconstruction; 3 had segment VIII; and 21 had both segments V and VIII. The patency rate of reconstructed vessels was 93% at 1 week, 90% at 2 weeks, 90% at 1 month, and 67% at 3 months. No serious compl ication was observed in donors. The prognosis was good with no small-for-size syndrome. Conclusion Cryopreserved il iac vein is an ideal material for the right hepatic l iving donor l iver transplantation in the reconstruction of middle hepatic vein.
Objective To investigate the effect of common iliac vein allograft replacing the portal vein-superior mesenteric vein transition area invaded by pancreatic cancer. Methods The clinical data of a patient with pancreatic cancer admitted to the Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital in December 2021 who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with common iliac vein allograft replacing the junction of portal vein, superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein were analyzed retrospectively. The patient was a 77-year-old man who complained of “epigastric pain for 1 month and pancreatic mass was found for 1 week”. After admission, the patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer through inspection, and then the surgery was required. Preoperative examination and intraoperative exploration confirmed that the junction of portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, and spleen vein was invaded by tumor. In addition, the length of the invaded vessels measured by preoperative 3D reconstruction image was 5.5 cm, and the distance between the broken end of portal vein and the broken end of superior mesenteric vein measured was 4.5 cm during the operation. After tumor and vessels were resected, vascular anastomosis could not be performed directly. After accurate evaluation, pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with common iliac vein allograft replacing the junction of portal vein, superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein was performed. The operative time was 11 h, and the intraoperative blood loss was 400 mL. After the operation, the routine treatment was performed in ICU and was transferred to the general ward on the 7th day. Postoperative laboratory tests were performed to monitor liver function changes routinely, and imaging examination were was performed to monitor portal venous system blood flow. Results Postoperative complications such as biliary fistula, pancreatic fistula, hemorrhage, infection and thrombosis were not occurred. Postoperative pathological diagnosis: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, medium-low differentiation. Enhanced CT reexamination on the 2nd and 13th day after the operation showed that the blood flow at the junction of portal vein, superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein of the common iliac vein allograft was unobstructed, and there was no stenosis or thrombosis at each anastomosis. Conclusions The application of common iliac vein allograft replacing the portal vein-superior mesenteric vein transition area invaded by pancreatic cancer is safe and feasible. The short-term efficacy is satisfactory, and long-term prognosis remains to be further observed.