Aim. To evaluate short- and long-term results of laparoscopic and open surgeries for intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma.

Materials and Methods. The paper presents the retrospectively studied results of laparoscopic and open liver resections in 53 patients (2015–2020). The selection of patients for laparoscopic surgery consisted in maintaining the possibility of performing an R0 resection. A comparison was made before and after the alignment of the groups in relation to the complexity of resection due to the exclusion of resections and the reconstructions of vessels and bile ducts.

Results. 53 patients were operated on; 19 patients underwent laparoscopic resection. In the open group, resection and reconstruction of vessels and bile ducts were performed significantly more often. A significantly lower incidence of severe complications and bile leakage was noted in the laparoscopic group, which did not affect the duration of hospital stay. After eliminating the differences in resection complexity, the comparison showed lower blood loss and biliary complications as well as a higher R0 resection rate in the laparoscopic group. The overall and recurrence-free four-year survival did not differ in the groups before and after aligning in terms of resection complexity.

Conclusion. The first experience of using laparoscopic access for intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma indicates that it is possible to improve the immediate results of treatment without worsening short- and long-term oncological outcomes.

Aim. To analyze the results of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients with hepatocellular cancer in a multidisciplinary oncology clinic.

Materials and Methods. From 2007 to 2021, 259 patients with hepatocellular cancer were surgically treated in the Department of Liver and Pancreas Surgery of the city clinical hospital named after S.P. Botkin. Liver resections of different extent were performed in 74 (28.6%) patients, radiofrequency ablation – in 19 (7.3%), microwave ablation – in 20 (7.7%), hepatic artery chemoembolization with radiofrequency ablation – in 34 (13.1%), regional chemotherapy – in 104 (40.2%), liver transplantation – in 8 (3.1%) patients.

Results. The overall five- and ten-year survival after liver resection was 51.4% and 31.1% respectively. The poor prognostic factors following liver resection were age >70 years (p = 0.03), postoperative complications (p = 0.04), lymph node metastases (p = 0.01), and a body mass index >30 kg/m2 (p = 0.045). Complications that developed after radiofrequency (microwave) ablation and chemoembolization of the hepatic artery with radiofrequency ablation were 5.1% and 5.8%. Within 90 days after liver resection, three (1.1%) patients died. Complications after resection developed in 18 (24.3%) cases during the same period. With metastases measuring ≤3 cm, the overall five-year survival after radiofrequency and microwave ablation was 36.8% and 35% respectively. With neoplasms measuring 3–5 cm, the best five-year survival was after hepatic artery chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation (44.1%). The overall fiveyear survival after hepatic artery chemoembolization was 11.5%. No complications or deaths resulted from liver transplantation. With an average follow-up period of 12.5 months, none of the patients experienced disease recurrence or died.

Conclusion. Using a multidisciplinary approach in a multidisciplinary oncology clinic improves the results of treating patients with hepatocellular cancer.

Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms with different malignant potential. They often metastasize to the liver and require active combined therapy. For unresectable neuroendocrine tumors with liver metastases, transplantation has become a potential definitive treatment due to the slow growth and the clinical course of the metastatic process. We conducted a review of relevant literature, the criteria for including and excluding patients considered for liver transplantation as well as alternative methods of treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. The paper presents a clinical observation of a staged combined therapy of a patient with a neuroendocrine tumor of the small intestine and bilobar unresectable liver metastases. The study demonstrates satisfactory long-term results of liver transplantation.

Aim. To develop and implement a method for isolating the islets of Langerhans from pancreatic tissue after pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.

Materials and Methods. The study used ten Wiesenau miniature pig pancreases, 30 Wistar rat pancreases, eight resected human pancreases, and five human pancreases from extensive resection or pancreatectomy.

Results. Islets of Langerhans completely devoid of human and experimental animals’ acinar tissue were obtained. When using the protocol for mechanical isolation, the efficiency of isolating the islets of Langerhans in humans and experimental animals was 50%. The research proved that the isolated cells belonged to the islets of Langerhans. Additionally, their purity was confirmed. The survival of the isolated islets exceeded 90%. The enzyme immunoassay for insulin synthesis showed that the isolated islets of Langerhans remained functionally active. The sterility of the isolated islet cells was confirmed.

Conclusion. This proven isolation technology makes it possible to obtain pure, sterile, viable, and functionally active islet cells suitable for further autotransplantation.

Aim. To study the specific features of the splenic artery architectonics and evaluate the results of distal pancreatic resection for various tumors.

Materials and Methods. In the anatomical part, we examined 88 organ complexes taken from people whose death was not associated with diseases of the abdominal organs. We studied the topography of the splenic artery and the dependence of the number of its branches to the pancreas on the vessel tortuosity. The clinical part of the study presents the results of 122 distal resections performed during 2016-2021. 79 operations were carried out using the traditional method, 32 operations were robot-assisted, and 11 were performed laparoscopically.

Results. The research found a relationship between the degree of the splenic artery tortuosity and the number of branches to the pancreas, which varies from three to nine. Out of the 122 operated patients, in 24 (19.7%) cases a clinically relevant (type B) pancreatic fistula that required additional treatment was formed. Intra-abdominal bleeding developed in 15 (12.3%) patients: early – in 10, late arrosive hemorrhage associated with a pancreatic fistula – in 5 cases. One (0.8%) patient died.

Conclusion. It is necessary to consider the architectonics of the splenic artery during distal pancreatic resection. The frequency of pancreatic fistula formation does not depend on the method of performing the operation. Of the prognostic factors, the body mass index is statistically significant. Late arrosive bleeding develops against the background of a clinically relevant pancreatic fistula.

The paper describes a clinical case of pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with superior mesenteric vein resection without its reconstruction. This is the first case study of the kind found in Russian-language literature. In total, 16 such clinical observations have been described in the relevant world literature to date. A 74-year-old female patient was diagnosed with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head 1.1 × 1.1 cm in size adjacent to the superior mesenteric vein. After four courses of ineffective neoadjuvant therapy, the tumor completely obliterated the superior mesenteric vein. The control multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) showed that the tumor was complete with the formation of a distinct collateral between the superior mesenteric and the inferior mesenteric veins. The patient underwent pancreatoduodenal resection with resection of the involved vein segment without vascular reconstruction. The histopathological diagnosis was pT1cN1M0R0. The patient was discharged on the next day after the operation.

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of the PREPARE score in predicting severe complications after pancreatic surgery.

Materials and Methods. The case-control study included patients operated on the pancreas. Grade ≥III Clavien– Dindo complications were designated as “severe”. Patients were divided into two groups: “0–II degree” (control) and “III–V degree” (case). For all patients, scores were calculated, and risk categories were determined according to the PREPARE score.

Results. The study included 151 patients: “0–II degree” – 102 (68%) observations, “III–V degree” – 49 (32%). ROC analysis was used for the scores (AUC = 0.616; 95% CI 0.527–0.706; p = 0.014) and for the risk categories (AUC = 0.555; 95% CI 0.463–0.648; p = 0.241) of the PREPARE score.

Conclusion. The obtained data do not currently enable us to recommend the PREPARE score for predicting complications of pancreatic surgery.

Aim. To demonstrate our own experience of performing transfistula cholangioscopy and removing bile duct stones.

Materials and Methods. From 2017 to 2019, 230 patients with functioning external biliary drains underwent antegrade transfistula cholangioscopy. Preliminary dilatation and straightening of the fistulous tract were required in 37 patients.

Results. Bile duct stones were detected in 158 (68.7%) patients. During transfistula cholangioscopy, stones were removed from all patients. In 68 cases with large choledocholithiasis, it was necessary to perform contact lithotripsy. To this end, staged treatment and two hospitalizations were required in five cases. Adequate transfistular access to the bile ducts was formed during the first hospital stay; during the second, after hardening of the access walls, the stones were removed. The overall complication rate was 3.8%, including grade III–IV complications (1.9%) according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Mortality was 0.4%.

Conclusion. Transfistula cholangioscopy increases the reliability of stone detection in the bile ducts, permits removing them without mandatory dissection of the major duodenal papilla, and creates favorable conditions for a more accurate assessment of its functional state. When patients with functioning biliary drains and unresolved bile duct diseases are placed in a specialized medical center, they can be provided with high-quality care. Additionally, it creates rational conditions for the use of the highly effective methods of endobiliary diagnosis and treatment.

The research review presents literature data on the possibilities of performing minimally invasive necrosectomy for infected forms of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The paper provides detailed information concerning the terminology, indications for, and technical features of implementing the principal methods of minimally invasive surgical debridement of necrotic accumulations. The techniques include endoscopic transluminal necrosectomy, videoassisted retroperitoneal debridement, and minimally invasive retroperitoneal necrosectomy. The review describes results of numerous studies on the evaluation of their effectiveness and possible options for their combined use. Additionally, we present the materials of relevant international clinical guidelines which indicate the viability of performing minimally invasive necrosectomy as part of a phased strategy for the treatment of patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

The paper presents the results of various studies and meta-analyses which focus on assessing the frequency of formation of clinically significant pancreatic fistulas in various types of pancreatic-digestive anastomoses. Pancreatodigestive anastomosis is not an independent predictive factor of pancreatic complications. None of the modern types of pancreatodigestive anastomosis has proved its superiority. The choice of the pancreatodigestive anastomosis method is based on the correct selection of the organ with which the pancreatic stump is connected and the surgeon’s experience and skill in forming the anastomosis.

Gastric stasis constitutes a common complication of pancreaticoduodenal resection, which is insufficiently covered in Russian literature. The paper considers issues pertaining to terminology and the current classification of gastric stasis. The possibilities of preventing this complication are discussed from the perspective of evidence-based medicine.

The paper presents a description of long-term minimally invasive treatment of a patient with chronic biliary pancreatitis. The treatment consisted in stenting the pancreatic duct with plastic stents, their replacement, bougienage of strictures, drainage of a festering pancreatic pseudocyst, and lithoextraction from the common bile duct. A multidisciplinary assessment of gradually developing complications was not performed. No discussions with pancreatic surgeons on indications for radical resection intervention were held. This treatment strategy led to the syndrome of chronic abdominal pain, recurrent complications after endoscopic minimally invasive treatment, as well as to a significant deterioration in the quality of life. The patient developed depression. Clinical observation clearly demonstrates that it is only possible to determine the optimal timing and indications for resection intervention on the pancreas in complicated chronic pancreatitis within the framework of an interdisciplinary approach.

Despite the deep understanding of the importance of energy supply in the development of the vast majority of processes and phenomena in organism, there are practically no conceptual researches of energy requirements in severe diseases, traumatic injuries, stressful effects and related treatment in the medical literature.

The proposed hypothesis is based on the analysis of literature data (PubMed keywords: energy deficit, stressor, metabolic stress, ATP, gluconeogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondria, insulin secretion), reconsideration of the results of our experiments dedicated to the energetic statement of liver tissue in obstructive jaundice (OJ), ischemia and massive resection, summarization of 60 years of experience in clinical, surgical and scientific activities, which made it possible to make a number of assumptions that need further clinical and experimental verification.

Various pathogens (stressors) cause the additional energy production in the body, which is the energy basis of metabolic responses that ensure the adaptation of the body's vital functions and the elimination of the pathogen by activation of innate immunity, systemic inflammatory reaction, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, etc.

Additional energy is the integral strength of the response to the pathogen, that takes into consideration with the strength of the stressor and the individual strength of the body's response, which can be different for the same strength of the stressor. In fact, when stress develops, it determines its strength in digital form, i.e. in real view.

The concept of this hypothesis comes from the fact that stress, which main task is to provide the energy of organism, appears when there is a certain level of energy deficiency in the body.

Such level rarely appears immediately after the action of the stressor. At the beginning, pre-stress adaptive reactions usually occur, which use the energy reserve in cells in the form of ATP and glycogen, and are also the result of energy redistribution: a decrease in it in insulin-dependent tissues and an increase in insulin-independent ones, which include vital organs.

This made it possible to divide metabolic responses into two groups: pre-stress and stress, and to distinguish two periods: “pre-stress” and “metabolic stress”. Pre-stress reactions, in our opinion, are also aimed at preventing the development of metabolic stress, which generates energy through proteolysis and lipolysis of body tissues. Metabolic stress develops when pre-stress reactions cannot satisfy the needs of the body and a certain, expressed in numerical value, energy deficit occurs. In a certain extent the metabolic situation in the body reflects by the liver, which is a metabolic organ that performs many reactions both during normal and stressful metabolism, generates ATP energy, and takes into account the metabolic state of other organs. The level of energy deficiency of the liver tissue can be an indicator that causes the formation of metabolic stress and evaluates in a numerical value not only the energy position of the body, but also the severity of its general condition, promising opportunities, prognosis and priority treatment, which should be aimed at a comprehensive replenishment of the energy deficit.

This is especially important to keep in mind at this time with severe forms of COVID-19 and low blood oxygen saturation. Under any stressful influences, the doctor must solve two problems: to deal with a specific stressor and to provide energy for this struggle and the vital activity of the patient. Functional insufficiency of the liver in its diffuse diseases can lead to impaired gluconeogenesis or oxidative phosphorylation of glucose and the formation of “unsuccessful” or “incomplete” stresses.