ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical features of an adult patient with occult cerebral alveolar echinococcosis with liver and lung infection. MethodsA Tibetan male patient in his middle age from the epidemic area of echinococcosis infection was diagnosed to have liver, lung and cerebral alveolar echinococcosis infection in Ganzi People's Hospital. He had the resection surgery, and the pathological result confirmed the primary diagnosis. We searched the literatures from January 1985 to December 2015 for occult cerebral alveolar echinococcosis and reviewed all the full texts in China Journal Full-text Database. Seventeen articles were qualified and 42 patients were reported. Combining with the relevant English literature using Medline, we analyzed the epidemic, pathophysiological and clinical manifestations of cerebral alveolar echinococcosis infection and explored the methods of prevention and treatment. ResultsAccording to the results of literature analysis, cerebral alveolar echinococcosis appeared often secondary to infection of other organs. Nervous system symptom concealed or progressed slowly; imaging and pathological tests were important for diagnosis. Resection surgery was the essential method of cure. ConclusionAlveolar echinococcosis can affect multiple organs. In patients without neurological symptoms, if other organs are found to be infected, it is important to screen patients with intracranial involvement. Because this kind of patients with intracranial lesions with hydatid are often secondary to other organ infection, active treatment in early phase is necessary in order to avoid further expansion of lesions and metastasis.
Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease that seriously threatened human health. The disease is widely distributed in China, including in Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province, and other places, which has become a social and economic burden in China. Human beings are mainly infected with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE), which mainly involves liver, lung, brain, bone, and other organs or tissues. The surgical resection is the first line treatment, and antiparasitic agents therapy is the main supplementary or salvage treatment method. Currently, classic drugs mainly include albendazole and praziquantel, which use alone or in combination. There are also some attempts to treat echinococcosis, including broad-spectrum anti infective drugs such as nitrozotocin, cell proliferation inhibiting drugs such as bortezomib, metabolic drugs such as metformin, or traditional medicines such as Artemisinin. It was also suggested to adopt a cancer management model for echinococcosis, and the imaging follow-up time for CE after antiparasitic chemotherapy should be at least 3 years, and for AE should be at least 10 years. More importantly, measures such as education and vaccine inoculation should be taken to actively prevent and control the occurrence and spread of echinococcosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors affecting severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification Ⅲa or higher) in patients with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) underwent ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA), and to develop a nomogram prediction model. MethodsThe clinical data of end-stage HAE patients who underwent ELRA at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2014 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting severe postoperative complications. A nomogram prediction model was established basing on LASSO regression and its efficiency was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Simultaneously, a generalized linear model regression was used to explore the preoperative risk factors affecting the total surgery time. Test level was α=0.05. ResultsA total of 132 end-stage HAE patients who underwent ELRA were included. The severe postoperative complications occurred in 47 (35.6%) patients. The multivariate logistic analysis results showed that the patients with invasion of the main trunk of the portal vein or the first branch of the contralateral portal vein (type P2) had a higher risk of severe postoperative complications compared to those with invasion of the first branch of the ipsilateral portal vein (type P1) [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)=8.24 (1.53, 44.34), P=0.014], the patients with albumin bilirubin index (ALBI) grade 1 had a lower risk of severe postoperative complications compared to those with grade 2 or higher [OR(95%CI)=0.26(0.08, 0.83), P=0.023]. Additionally, an increased total surgery time or the autologous blood reinfusion was associated with an increased risk of severe postoperative complications [OR(95%CI)=1.01(1.00, 1.01), P=0.009; OR(95%CI)=1.00(1.00, 1.00), P=0.043]. The nomogram prediction model constructed with two risk factors, ALBI grade and total surgery time, selected by LASSO regression, showed a good discrimination for the occurrence of severe complications after ELRA [area under the ROC curve (95%CI) of 0.717 (0.625, 0.808)]. The generalized linear regression model analysis identified the invasion of the portal vein to extent type P2 and more distant contralateral second portal vein branch invasion (type P3), as well as the presence of distant metastasis, as risk factors affecting total surgery time [β (95%CI) for type P2/type P1=110.26 (52.94, 167.58), P<0.001; β (95%CI) for type P3/type P1=109.25 (50.99, 167.52), P<0.001; β (95%CI) for distant metastasis present/absent=61.22 (4.86, 117.58), P=0.035]. ConclusionsFrom the analysis results of this study, for the end-stage HAE patients with portal vein invasion degree type P2, ALBI grade 2 or above, longer total surgery time, and more autologous blood transfusion need to be closely monitored. Preoperative strict evaluation of the first hepatic portal invasion and distant metastasis is necessary to reduce the risk of severe complications after ELRA. The nomogram prediction model constructed based on ABLI grade and total surgery time in this study demonstrates a good predictive performance for severe postoperative complications, which can provide a reference for clinical intervention decision-making.
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.
ObjectiveTo summarize the therapeutic effect and clinical significance of reduced volume lesion resection combined with drug therapy for end-stage alveolar hepatic echinococcosis.MethodClinical data of 46 patients with end-stage alveolar hepatic echinococcosis who received treatment of reduced volume lesion resection combined with drug therapy at Department of General Surgery of Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital from March 2013 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAmong the 46 patients, 3 patients were lost to follow-up and 43 patients received follow-up. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 79 months, with the median of 40 months. Fifteen patients died during the follow-up period, of which 5 patients with cerebral hydatid disease died during 16–36 months due to acute seizures and cerebral edema, 4 patients with multiple systemic metastases died during 9–36 months due to multiple organ failure, 2 patients with pulmonary echinococcosis died due to acute pulmonary embolism, 4 patients died in 2 years after operation due to recurrent biliary tract infection, other patients survived during follow-up period without distant organ metastasis.ConclusionReduced volume lesion resection combined with drug therapy in treatment of end-stage alveolar hepatic echinococcosis can improve the patient’s quality of life, reduce the hospital cost, reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications, and shorten the length of hospital stay.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and efficacy of preoperative liver regeneration and then two-stage liver resection for advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) patients pre-evaluating insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) after resection. MethodThe clinical data of the advanced HAE patients who were expected to have insufficient FLR after liver resection and underwent two-step liver resection in the Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from December 2016 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected and summarized. ResultsA total of 11 patients with advanced HAE pathologically confirmed were collected. Among them, 2 cases underwent portal vein embolization (PVE), 2 cases underwent liver vein deprivation (LVD), and 7 cases underwent associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) to promote residual liver regeneration in the first stage. The FLR/standard liver volume (SLV) exceeded the surgical requirement standard of 40%. Then the ex-vivo liver resection and autotransplantation, or directly radical liver resection was performed in the second stage. Only one patient underwent surgery to remove packed gauze on day 3 postoperatively due to massive intraoperative bleeding (approximately 4 000 mL). The median (P25, P75) follow-up time after surgery was 36 (15, 75) months, only one case was found to relapse at the third year after surgery and underwent surgical resection again, and the rest patients had no recurrence, long-term complications, or death. ConclusionsBased on the results from these cases, applying PVE, LVD, or ALPPS in the patients with advanced HAE who were expected to have insufficient FLR after resection aids to residual liver regeneration, creating conditions for the second stage radical resection. The second stage treatment including ex-vivo liver resection and autotransplantation or directly radical liver resection could achieve good results and is feasible and safe, which brings a hope of survival for the advanced HAE patients who could not previously undergo curative resection. However, this treatment strategy still incurs high costs and requires further optimization in the future.
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.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical application of two-step hepatectomy for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis which invaded the second and the third porta hepatis.MethodsThe clinical data of 60 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis invaded the second and the third porta hepatis who treated with two-step hepatectomy in West China Hospital of Sichuan University and The People’s Hospital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province from Jan. 2013 to Jun. 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsSixty patients had underwent radical hepatectomy successfully and no death happened during perioperative period. The average operative time was 309.17 min (150–475 min) and intraoperative blood loss was 586.67 mL (100–3 000 mL). Forty-eight patients blocked the blood flowing into the liver, the average blocking time was 25.85 min (15–50 min); 24 patients suffered red blood cell suspension, the average amount was 3.79 U (2–8 U), and 9 patients were infused with fresh frozen plasma, the average amount was 527.78 mL (350–850 mL). The average of hospital stays was 17.5 days (7–39 days) and average of hospitalization cost was 49 323.43 yuan (28 045.32–61 243.15 yuan). The liver function indicators returned to normal within 7 days after operation. After operation, 3 patients suffered from biliary fistula, 3 patients suffered from pleural effusion, 3 patients suffered from peritoneal effusion, 10 patients suffered from effusion. According to the rank of complication: 10 patients were defined as grade Ⅰ, 3 patients were defined as grade Ⅱ, 6 patients were defined as grade Ⅲa. The average follow-up time of 60 patients was 14.47 months (1–31 months). No recurrence and death occurred during follow-up period.ConclusionThe two-step hepatectomy in treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis invaded the second and the third porta hepatis can avoid the large flucyuations of intraoperative blood pressure and other vital signs, can increase the safety of surgery and reduce the difficulty and risk of surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate and discuss the various surgical methods for hepatic echinococcosis. MethodsFour hundred and two patients with hepatic echinococcosis were treated in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2009 to 2014 and 271 of them were undergone surgical treatment. The cystic echinococcosis was in 195 patients, including 80 cases performed classic endocystectomy or subtotal cystectomy, 109 performed total cystectomy or hepatectomy, 6 cases performed palliative surgery. The alveolar echinococcosis was in 76 patients, including 7 cases performed palliative surgery, 54 cases performed hepatectomy, 12 cases performed liver allotransplantation, and 3 cases performed liver autotransplantation. Results①The draining time, the rate of postoperative complications, and the recurrence was (18.6±2.7) d, 21.2% (17/80), and 15.0%(12/80) respectively in the cases of cystic echinococcosis underwent classic endocystectomy or subtotal cystectomy, which were significantly higher than those cases of cystic echinococcosis underwent total cystectomy or hepatectomy〔(5.4±0.6) d, 7.3% (8/109), and 0.9% (1/109), respectively, P < 0.05〕.②The draining time and the recurrence was (5.9±0.7) d and 1.8% (1/54) respectively in the cases of alveolar echinococcosis underwent hepatectomy, which were significantly lower than those in the cases of alveolar echinococcosis took palliative surgery〔(9.7±1.4) d and 57.1% (4/7), respectively, P < 0.01〕. The 12 patients underwent liver transplantation were complete rehabilitation, while the rest 3 were death. Conclusions①Total cystectomy or hepatectomy should be the first choice for cystic echinococcosis; Palliative treatment could improve the symptoms of unresectable patients with cystic echinococcosis.②Hepatectomy should be the first choice for alveolar echinococcosis, palliative surgery could only be used to alleviate symptoms and physical signs, delay the progression of this disease.③Liver transplantation might be an alternative for advanced hepatic echinococcosis.
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.