Background
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life‐sustaining therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure (IF) but inevitably has an impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to examine multiple aspects of QoL by utilizing the standardized Short Form 36 (SF‐36) health survey.
Methods
Between 2014 and 2017, a total of 90 adult patients with IF who were receiving PN were prospectively enrolled in an observational study. All subjects underwent nutrition status assessment, liver assessment, blood tests, and QoL assessment based on the SF‐36. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify determinants of 8 domains and 2 summary scales of the SF‐36.
Results
Analysis of the SF‐36 questionnaire data showed that QoL was significantly worse compared with the general German population across all categories. Multivariable analysis revealed that bioelectrical impedance analysis of phase angle (1/10 categories), stoma/fistula (4/10 categories), oral intake (4/10 categories), infusions per week (1/10 categories), duration of PN (1/10 categories), citrulline (4/10 categories), and hemoglobin levels (1/10 categories) are independent risk factors affecting QoL.
Conclusion
This study uses the largest cohort of IF patients assessed by the standardized SF‐36 questionnaire to comprehensively analyze QoL. Presence of oral intake, presence of ostomy, and citrulline levels were independently correlated with 4 of 10 categories of the SF‐36. These results indicate that to improve QoL for IF patients, clinical care should focus on addressing the social and emotional value of oral intake, educational interventions, early stoma closure, and application of new targeted therapies.
Background: Surgical procedures in patients with underlying liver disease are still burdened by a high rate of postoperative morbidity, especially posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), ranging from 1.2 to 33.8%. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of volume/function analysis for the prediction of hepatectomy-related morbidity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Clinicopathological data were analysed in 261 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC between 2001 and 2014. Future liver remnant volume (FLRV) and future liver remnant function (FLRF) based on LiMAx test were obtained retrospectively. A subgroup analysis for high-risk patients with impaired liver function was conducted. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for major complications, defined by Dindo ! IIIb and PHLF grade ! B.Results: In the total cohort, FLRF was independently associated with major complications. FLRV, resected liver volume, and FLRF were independent risk factors for PHLF. In a subgroup analysis of highrisk patients, FLRF was identified as the only independent risk factor for major complications and PHLF development.Discussion: These results suggest the superior value of FLRF to FLRV in predicting postoperative complications as well as PHLF in patients with chronic liver disease.
These are the first data evaluating the impact of PBL on functional regeneration after liver surgery. Liver regeneration after partial liver resection is impaired by PBL. However, a nearly normal recovery is possible if the bile leak is diagnosed early and immediately treated. Moreover, patients presenting with delayed functional recovery in the postoperative course are likely to have complications, e.g., bile leakage.
Liver abnormalities in intestinal failure (IF) patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) can progress undetected by standard laboratory tests to intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD). The aim of this longitudinal study is to evaluate the ability of non-invasive liver function tests to assess liver function following the initiation of PN. Twenty adult patients with IF were prospectively included at PN initiation and received scheduled follow-up assessments after 6, 12, and 24 months between 2014 and 2019. Each visit included liver assessment (LiMAx [Liver Maximum Capacity] test, ICG [indocyanine green] test, FibroScan), laboratory tests (standard laboratory test, NAFLD [non-alcoholic fatty liver disease] score, FIB–4 [fibrosis-4] score), nutritional status (bioelectrical impedance analysis, indirect calorimetry), and quality of life assessment. The patients were categorized post-hoc based on their continuous need for PN into a reduced parenteral nutrition (RPN) group and a stable parenteral nutrition (SPN) group. While the SPN group (n = 9) had significantly shorter small bowel length and poorer nutritional status at baseline compared to the RPN group (n = 11), no difference in liver function was observed between the distinct groups. Over time, liver function determined by LiMAx did continuously decrease from baseline to 24 months in the SPN group but remained stable in the RPN group. This decrease in liver function assessed with LiMAx in the SPN group preceded deterioration of all other investigated liver function tests during the study period. Our results suggest that the liver function over time is primarily determined by the degree of intestinal failure. Furthermore, the LiMAx test appeared more sensitive in detecting early changes in liver function in comparison to other liver function tests.
We provide evidence that liver function capacity is significantly impaired due to ALPPS step I. This is particularly notable when compared to PVE. Our data also shows that the portal ligated liver lobe still continues to contribute significantly to overall liver function. Therefore, FLR function after step II is still predictable by volume/function analysis.
The glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2) analogue teduglutide is a medical treatment option for patients with short‐bowel syndrome–associated chronic intestinal failure. Because studies in mice have shown that GLP‐2 analogues may promote the growth of colonic neoplasms, surveillance colonoscopies before and during teduglutide therapy were recommended. The occurrence of small‐intestinal neoplasms has not been reported so far, except for a recent report about de novo development of hamartomatous duodenal polyps. We report a case of de novo development of small‐intestinal premalignant adenomatous polyps in both bulbar duodenum and distal jejunum in a patient treated with teduglutide for 41 months. Therefore, additional endoscopic surveillance of the upper gastrointestinal tract may be advised during teduglutide therapy for early detection and removal of potential small‐bowel adenomas.
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