Background: Patients presenting with synchronous colorectal liver metastases are increasingly being considered for a curative treatment, and the liver-first approach is gaining popularity in this context. However, little is known about the completion rates of the liver-first approach and its effects on survival. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of liver-first strategy for colorectal liver metastasis. The primary outcome was an assessment of the completion rates of the liver-first approach. Secondary outcomes included overall survival, causes of non-completion, and clinicopathologic data. Results: Seventeen articles were amenable for inclusion and the total study population was 1041. The median completion rate for the total population was 80% (range 20–100). The median overall survival for the completion and non-completion groups was 45 (range 12–69) months and 13 (range 10.5–25) months, respectively. Metadata showed a significant survival benefit for the completion group, with a univariate hazard ratio of 12.0 (95% confidence interval, range 5.7–24.4). The major cause of non-completion (76%) was liver disease progression before resection of the primary tumor. Pearson tests showed significant negative correlation between median number of lesions and median size of the largest metastasis and completion rate. Conclusions: The liver-first approach offers a complete resection to most patients enrolled, with an overall survival benefit when completion can be assured. One-fifth fails to return to intended oncologic therapy and the major cause is interim metastatic progression, most often in the liver. Risk of non-completion is related to a higher number of lesions and large metastases. The majority of studies stem from primary rectal cancers, which may influence on the return to intended oncologic therapy as well. PROSPERO id no: 170459

Background Effort rupture of the esophagus or Boerhaave’s syndrome is a rare entity, and prognosis is largely dependent on early diagnosis and treatment. Recurrent effort ruptures are very rare, only reported in a few case reports in English literature. We present a case with a third time effort rupture, and to the best of our knowledge there are no such previous publications. Furthermore, the presented case is also distinct because each episode was treated by different methods, reflecting the pathophysiology of recurrent disease as well as the last decade’s advancements in the management of esophageal perforations in our clinic and globally. Case presentation The patient is a 60-year-old White male, suffering from alcohol abuse, mild reflux esophagitis, and a history of effort esophageal ruptures on two previous occasions. He was now admitted to our ward once again because of a third bout of Boerhaave’s syndrome. The first time, 10 years ago, he was managed by thoracotomy and laparotomy with primary repair, and the second time, 5 years ago, by transhiatal mediastinal drainage through a laparotomy and endoscopic stent placement. Now he was successfully managed by endovascular vacuum-assisted closure therapy alone. Conclusions Recurrent cases of Boerhaave’s syndrome are very rare, and treatment must be tailored individually. The basic rationale is, however, no different from primary disease: (1) early diagnosis, (2) adequate drainage of extraesophageal contamination, and (3) restoration of esophageal integrity. Recurrent disease is usually contained and exceptionally suitable for primary endoscopic treatment. To cover the full panorama and difficult nature of complex esophageal disease, endoscopic modalities such as stent placement and endovascular vacuum-assisted closure, as well as the capacity for prompt extensive surgical interventions such as esophagectomy, should be readily accessible within every modern esophageal center.

Background Mortality after elective pancreatic surgery in modern high-volume centers is very low. Morbidity remains high, affecting 20–40% of patients. Late postpancreatectomy hemorrhage is a rare but potentially lethal complication. The exceptionality in our case lies in the underlying mechanism of its clinical presentation. It is a demonstration of the difficulties associated with finding the source of bleeding in late postpancreatectomy hemorrhage. Case presentation An 82-year-old White female was diagnosed with a periampullary malignancy and underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. Postoperatively, the patient suffered from an anastomotic leak in the hepaticojejunostomy, which was treated with percutaneous pigtail drains in the abdomen and in the biliary tract. On the fourth postoperative week she presented blood in both drains and in her stool. Given our knowledge about the biliary anastomotic leak, this presentation led us to suspect an intraluminal source (biliary tract or gastrojejunostomy) with blood leaking through the insufficient hepaticojejunostomy into the abdominal cavity. Upper tract endoscopy and computed tomography angiography were, however, unremarkable. Further investigation with conventional angiography identified the bleeding source at the gastroduodenal artery stump, which was successfully coiled. Hence, the gastroduodenal artery stump was bleeding into the insufficient hepaticojejunostomy, filling up the biliary tree and the small intestine. After coiling of the artery, the remainder of the postoperative care was uneventful. Conclusion Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage presents a major clinical challenge after pancreatoduodenectomy, with significant morbidity and high risk for mortality. The treating physician must be alert and active in the investigation and treatment of the bleeding source to ensure a successful outcome.