Objective and Background: Clinically significant posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF B+C) remains the main cause of mortality after major hepatic resection. This study aimed to establish an aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio combined with an albumin-bilirubin grade (APRI+ALBI), based multivariable model (MVM) to predict PHLF and compare its performance to indocyanine green clearance (ICG-R15 or ICG-PDR) and albumin-ICG evaluation (ALICE). Methods: A total of 12,056 patients from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were used to generate a MVM to predict PHLF B+C. The model was determined using stepwise backwards elimination. The performance of the model was tested using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and validated in an international cohort of 2525 patients. In 620 patients, the APRI+ALBI MVM, trained in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program cohort, was compared with the MVM’s based on other liver function tests (ICG clearance, ALICE) by comparing the areas under the curve (AUC). Results: A MVM including APRI+ALBI, age, sex, tumor type, and extent of resection was found to predict PHLF B+C with an AUC of 0.77, with comparable performance in the validation cohort (AUC: 0.74). In direct comparison with other MVM’s based on more expensive and time-consuming liver function tests (ICG clearance, ALICE), the APRI+ALBI MVM demonstrated equal predictive potential for PHLF B+C. A smartphone application for the calculation of the APRI+ALBI MVM was designed. Conclusion: Risk assessment through the APRI+ALBI MVM for PHLF B+C increases preoperative predictive accuracy and represents a universally available and cost-effective risk assessment before hepatectomy, facilitated by a freely available smartphone app.

Modern chemotherapy and repeat hepatectomy allow to tailor the surgical strategies for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study addresses the hypothesis that parenchymal-sparing hepatectomy reduces postoperative complications while ensuring similar oncologic outcomes compared to the standardized non-parenchymal-sparing procedures. Clinicopathological data of patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM between 2012 and 2019 at a hepatobiliary center in Switzerland were assessed. Patients were stratified according to the tumor burden score [TBS2 = (maximum tumor diameter in cm)2 + (number of lesions)2)] and were dichotomized in a lower and a higher tumor burden cohort according to the median TBS. Postoperative outcomes, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients following parenchymal-sparing resection (PSR) for CRLM were compared with those of patients undergoing non-PSR. During the study period, 153 patients underwent liver resection for CRLM with curative intent. PSR was performed in 79 patients with TBS <4.5, and in 42 patients with TBS ≥4.5. Perioperative chemotherapy was administered in equal rates in both groups (PSR vs. non-PSR) both in TBS ≥4.5 and TBS <4.5. In patients with lower tumor burden (TBS <4.5), PSR was associated with lower overall complication rate (15.2% vs. 46.2%, p = 0.009), a trend for lower major complication rate (8.9% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.123), and shorter length of hospital stay (5 vs. 9 days, p = 0.006) in comparison to non-PSR. For TBS <4.5, PSR resulted in equivalent 5-year OS (48% vs. 39%, p = 0.479) and equivalent 5-year RFS rates (44% vs. 29%, p = 0.184) compared to non-PSR. For TBS ≥4.5, PSR resulted in lower postoperative complication rate (33.3% vs. 63.2%, p = 0.031), a trend for lower major complication rate (23.8% vs. 42.2%, p = 0.150), lower length of hospital stay (6 vs. 9 days, p = 0.005), equivalent 5-year OS (29% vs. 22%, p = 0.314), and equivalent 5-year RFS rates (29% vs. 18%, p = 0.156) compared to non-PSR. Among all patients treated with PSR, patients undergoing minimal-invasive hepatectomy had equivalent 5-year OS (42% vs. 37%, p = 0.261) and equivalent 5-year RFS (34% vs. 34%, p = 0.613) rates compared to patients undergoing open hepatectomy. PSR for CRLM is associated with lower postoperative morbidity, shorter length of hospital stay, and equivalent oncologic outcomes compared to non-PSR, independently of tumor burden. Our findings suggest that minimal-invasive PSR should be considered as the preferred method for the treatment of curatively resectable CRLM, if allowed by tumor size and location.

A key element in the postoperative phase of the standardized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) treatment pathways is mobilization. Currently, there are no recommendations in the ERAS guidelines for preoperative physical activity. Patients undergoing major surgery are prone to functional decline due to the impairment of muscle, cardiorespiratory, and neurological function as a response to surgical stress. It has been shown that preoperative physical training reduces postoperative complications. To date, there are limited studies that investigate preoperative physical training combined with ERAS. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of tailored physical training prior to colorectal surgery conducted according to an ERAS protocol on overall morbidity. This study proposes the initial hypothesis that 3-6 weeks of prehabilitation before elective colorectal surgery may improve postoperative outcome and reduce complication rates, assessed using the Comprehensive Complication Index. The primary objective is to evaluate overall morbidity due to postoperative complications. Additionally, complications are assessed according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, length of stay, readmission rate, mortality rate, and treatment-related costs. The prehabilitation Enhanced Recovery After colorectal Surgery (pERACS) study is a single-center, single-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial. Patients scheduled for colorectal resections are randomly assigned either to the prehabilitation group or the control group. All patients are treated with the ERAS pathway for colorectal resections according to a standardized study schedule. Sample size calculation performed by estimating a clinically relevant 25% reduction of postoperative complications (alpha=.05, power 80%, dropout rate of 10%) resulted in 56 randomized patients per group. Following ethical approval of the study protocol, the first patient was included in June 2016. At this time, a total of 40 patients have been included; 27 patients terminated the study by the end of March 2017. Results are expected to be published in 2018. The pERACS trial is a single-center, single-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of tailored physical training prior to colorectal surgery, conducted according to an ERAS protocol, in order to evaluate overall morbidity. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02746731; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02746731 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6tzblGwge).

A transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is a smart alternative to a conventional TME. However, worrisome reports of a high recurrence and complications triggered a moratorium in a few countries. This study assessed the outcomes and resource utilization of a taTME. Consecutive patients with distal rectal cancer treated by a taTME were prospectively included. Outcomes were reported as the median and interquartile range (IQR). One hundred sixty-five patients (67% male and 33% female) with a tumor 7 cm (IQR 5–10) from the anal verge were followed for 50 months (IQR 32–79). The resection margins were threatened in 25% of the patients, while 75% of the patients received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. A good mesorectal dissection and clear margins were achieved in 96% of the specimens, and 27 lymph nodes (IQR 20–38) were harvested. Ninety-day major morbidity affected 36 patients (21.8%), including 12 with anastomotic leakages (7.2%). A recurrence occurred locally in 9 patients (5.4%), and 44 patients had a distant metastasis (26.7%). The five-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 67% and 90%, respectively. A multivariate analysis found a long operation and frailty predicted an anastomotic leak, while a positive distal margin and lymph nodes predicted a local recurrence and distant metastasis. A two-team taTME saved 102 min of operative time and EUR 1385 when compared to a one-team approach. Transanal total mesorectal excision produced sound surgical quality and excellent oncologic outcomes.

Introduction: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) remains a very rare disease requiring complete radical resection for curative treatment. While open approaches are common, safety and efficacy of laparoscopic resections remain unknown. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study with patients undergoing liver resection for hepatic AE at the Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Bern University Hospital from December 2002 to December 2020. Postoperative outcomes of patients following laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) for hepatic AE were compared with those of patients undergoing open hepatectomy (OH). Results: A total of 93 patients underwent liver resection for hepatic AE. Laparoscopic hepatectomy was performed in 23 patients and open hepatectomy in 70 patients. While there were no significant differences in terms of gender, age and diagnostic tools, the majority of patients of the LH cohort were PNM stage 1 (78%) in contrast to only 39% in the OH cohort (p = 0.002). Patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy were treated by minor liver resections in 91% and in 9% by major liver resections in comparison to the open hepatectomy cohort with 61% major liver resections and 39% minor resections. Laparoscopic hepatectomy was associated with shorter mean operation time (127 minutes vs. 242 minutes, p <0.001), lower major complication rate (0% vs. 11%, p = 0.322) and shorter mean length of hospital stay (4 days vs. 13 days, p <0.001). Patients with LH had a distinct, but not significant lower recurrence rate (0% vs. 4%, p = 0.210) during a mean follow-up of 55 months compared with a follow-up of 76 months in the OH cohort. After subgroup analysis of PNM stage 1 patients, similar results are seen with persistent shorter mean operation time (120 minutes vs. 223 minutes, p <0.001), lower major complication rate (0% vs. 8%, p = 0.759) and shorter length of hospital stay (4 days vs. 12 days, p <0.001). Conclusion: Laparoscopy appears as a feasible and safe approach for patients with PNM stage 1 alveolar echinococcosis without impact on early disease recurrence.

Recurrence after curative resection of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis remains a clinical challenge. The current study tested if assessment of anti-recEm18 allows for postsurgical patient surveillance. A retrospective study with patients undergoing liver resection for alveolar echinococcosis (n = 88) at the University Hospital Bern from 2002 to 2020 and at the University Hospital and Medical Center Ulm from 2011 to 2017 was performed. Analysis was directed to determine a potential association of pre- and postoperative values of anti-recEm18 with clinical outcomes. Anti-recEm18 had a linear correlation to the maximum lesion diameter (R² = 0.558). Three trajectories of anti-recEm18 were identified based on a threshold of 10 AU/ml: "Em18-low" (n = 31), "responders" (n = 53) and "residual disease" (n = 4). The decline of anti-recEm18 in "responders" reached a plateau after 10.9 months at which levels decreased by 90%. The only patient with recurrence in the entire population was also the only patient with a secondary increase of anti-recEm18. In patients with preoperative elevated values, anti-recEm18 confirms curative surgery at 12 months follow-up and allows for long-term surveillance.