In selected patients, locoregional therapy (LRT) has been successful in downstaging advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) so that the conventional criteria for liver transplantation (LT) can be met. However, the factors that predict successful treatment are largely unidentified. To determine these factors, we analyzed our experience with multimodal LRT in downstaging advanced HCC before LT in a retrospective cohort study. Thirty-two patients with advanced HCC exceeding conventional and expanded criteria for LT underwent therapy, but only those patients whose tumors were successfully downstaged were considered for LT. Eighteen patients (56%) had their tumors successfully downstaged; 14 patients (44%) did not. No intergroup differences existed with respect to patient characteristics or the types and number of treatments. However, mean alpha-fetoprotein levels were significantly higher in the non-downstaged group than in the downstaged group (P < 0.048), and significantly more patients in the non-downstaged group had infiltrative tumors (P ¼ 0.0001). The median survival time was 42 and 7 months for the downstaged and non-downstaged groups, respectively (P ¼ 0.0006). Fourteen patients (43.3%) underwent LT. After a median follow-up period of 35 months (range, 1.5-50 months) after LT, 2 patients (14.2%) developed tumor recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier survival rates after LT were 92% at 1 year and 75% at 2 years. The noninfiltrative expanding tumor type was the sole predictor of successful downstaging and improved outcome on univariate and multivariate analyses. Our study suggests that, in patients with advanced HCC, morphological characteristics of the tumor may predict a good response to downstaging and an improved outcome after LT. Liver Transpl 16:289-299,

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Development of a fistula between an aberrant right subclavian artery and the esophagus is a rare cause of heretofore fatal hematemesis. We report the first known survivor of this devastating complication of the most common aortic arch anomaly. Intraoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy, intraesophageal balloon tamponade, and arteriography were the keys to successful management. This lesion should be suspected in the setting of bright red, "arterial" hematemesis. Prolonged nasogastric and/or endotracheal intubation should be avoided in patients with a known aberrant right subclavian artery or other aortic arch anomaly.

Patients with severely elevated baseline SBP (>180 mmHg) may be at higher risk for hemodynamic instability and neurological events during carotid stenting. The greater the change in SBP, the more severe the neurological event seems to be, but further studies in a greater number of patients are needed to evaluate the potential causes of SBP fluctuations in an effort to avoid neurological events.

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