BackgroundLimited data are available on the importance of routine lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament in the treatment of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer in the literature.MethodsA single center retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate morbidity and long-term survival in patients who had undergone selective versus routine lymphadenectomy during surgery for colorectal liver metastasis. From January 2006 to December 2009, eighty-one patients undergoing radical resection due to liver metastasis from colorectal cancer were included. The combination of two surgical teams with different approaches to hepatoduodenal ligament lymphadenectomy at our institution allowed us to select two cohorts of patients undergoing selective or routine lymphadenectomy.ResultsNo significant differences between the cohorts were found in age, American Society of Anesthesiology score or Fong’s prognostic criteria. Patients with pN+ disease had significantly inferior survival compared to patients with pN0 disease (hazard ratio [HR] = 6.33, 95% CI 2.16–18.57, p = 0.0001). No significant difference in postoperative morbidity was observed in the group undergoing routine opposed to selective lymphadenectomy (13.63% vs. 8.69%, p = 0.36). There was no difference in long-term survival between the groups (HR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.52–1.58, p = 0.70). There were also no significant differences in the subgroup of patients with pN0 stage (HR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.6–2.11, p = 0.60).ConclusionsThese data suggest that there is no survival benefit from the use of routine lymphadenectomy during surgery for colorectal liver metastasis, but these data should be confirmed in a prospective randomized study.

Although venous resection in pancreatic cancer is widely used method, recently published data about its safety and survival benefit showed conflicting results. A retrospective case matched study was performed to compare the results of patients who underwent venous resection to those with no venous resection during radical surgery in pancreatic cancer.From January 2010 to December 2015, 297 pancreatic resections due to pancreatic tumor were performed in the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Fifty-three patients with venous resection were identified and enrolled into the study and matched with 66 patients without vascular resection during radical resection of pancreatic head/body cancer. Both groups matched for age, ASA score, need for preoperative biliary drainage and clinical staging of the tumor. Morbidity was determined according Clavien and Dindo classification [1] and was similar in both groups of patients (p = 0.48). Thirty day postoperative mortality was also equal in both groups 5.6 vs 4.5% (p > 0.99) and long term survival was with no significant difference. Median overall survival was 18.8 vs 20.7 months (p = 0.33) for patients with/without venous resection.Therefore we consider venous resection in pancreatic cancer safe procedure with equal morbidity and perioperative mortality as in patients with no need for vascular resection and with the same long term survival if R0 resection is achieved.

Background Pericardial effusions with its potential life threatening progression towards cardiac tamponade have to be often managed with surgical intervention. In our case study we describe a complication after a common surgical procedure which has only scarce literature mentions. Case presentation We present a case of a 22-year-old male patient who underwent subxiphoidal pericardial fenestration, due to symptomatic pericardial effusion with the Chamberlain procedure and biopsy of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. The histology report confirmed classical Hodgkin lymphoma and subsequently the patient underwent oncological treatment. Later on he was admitted to the hospital with dyspnoea and chest pain. The initial examinations stated a suspicion for intrathoracic tumour arising from the pericardium or liver. Further investigation revealed symptomatic intrathoracic liver herniation for which the patient underwent laparoscopic surgery with the mobilisation of liver and placement of a perforated Parietene™ composite mesh. Conclusion The purpose of this case report is to describe a rare complication after pericardial fenestration with its potential clinical implications.

Background Congenital abnormalities are not very common and are even rarer when two or more are combined. Congenital malformation of the superior mesenteric vein may not affect normal development, or it may lead to moderate or even severe symptoms. In combination with intestinal malrotation, however, it may lead to the need for surgical intervention in the early years of life. Case presentation We present the case of a 22-year-old patient who had been diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia at the age of two months. As a result of the absence of the proximal section of the superior mesenteric vein, the patient has always needed iron supplements and an occasional erythrocyte transfusion. This has resulted from the formation of collaterals throughout the small bowel, causing chronic blood loss with its clinical manifestation. Although, there are some congenital abnormalities of the superior mesenteric vein, the absence of the superior mesenteric vein is rare, and in this case the clinical course was quite severe. Therefore, we planned bypass surgery for this patient to reduce the duodenal collaterals and resolve the persistent anaemia caused by chronic blood loss from the duodenum. We successfully performed the surgery consisting of the formation of anastomosis between the large collateral vein from the distal end of the superior mesenteric vein and the anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein. Conclusion The purpose of this case report is to describe the rare anatomical malformation of the superior mesenteric vein accompanied by intestinal malrotation, with its potential clinical implications regarding symptoms, clinical presentation, and the impact on potential surgery planning.