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Translational studies in liver transplantation often require an endpoint of graft function or dysfunction beyond graft loss. Prior definitions of early allograft dysfunction (EAD) vary, and none have been validated in a large multicenter population in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) era. We examined an updated definition of EAD to validate previously used criteria, and correlated this definition with graft and patient outcome. We performed a cohort study of 300 deceased donor liver transplants at 3 U.S. programs. EAD was defined as the presence of one or more of the following previously defined postoperative laboratory analyses reflective of liver injury and function: bilirubin !10mg/dL on day 7, international normalized ratio !1.6 on day 7, and alanine or aspartate aminotransferases >2000 IU/L within the first 7 days. To assess predictive validity, the EAD definition was tested for association with graft and patient survival. Risk factors for EAD were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Overall incidence of EAD was 23.2%. Most grafts met the definition with increased bilirubin at day 7 or high levels of aminotransferases. Of recipients meeting the EAD definition, 18.8% died, as opposed to 1.8% of recipients without EAD (relative risk ¼ 10.7 [95% confidence interval: 3.6, 31.9] P < 0.0001). More recipients with EAD lost their grafts (26.1%) than recipients with no EAD (3.5%) (relative risk ¼ 7.4 [95% confidence interval: 3.4, 16.3] P < 0.0001). Donor age and MELD score were significant EAD risk factors in a multivariate model. In summary a simple definition of EAD using objective posttransplant criteria identified a 23% incidence, and was highly associated with graft loss and patient mortality, validating previously published criteria. This definition can be used as an endpoint in translational studies aiming to identify mechanistic pathways leading to a subgroup of liver grafts with clinical expression of suboptimal function. Liver Transpl 16:943-949,

Laparoscopic liver surgery is a safe and effective approach to the management of surgical liver disease in the hands of trained surgeons with experience in hepatobiliary and laparoscopic surgery. National and international societies, as well as governing boards, should become involved in the goal of establishing training standards and credentialing, to ensure consistent standards and clinical outcomes.

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Objective: We present the largest, most comprehensive, single center experience to date of minimally invasive liver resection (MILR). Ann Surg 2007;246: 385-394)

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Background and Aims Chemoembolization is a standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization with 90Y microspheres is a new, transarterial approach to radiation therapy. We performed a comparative effectiveness analysis of these therapies in patients with HCC. Methods We collected data from 463 patients who were treated with transarterial locoregional therapies (chemoembolization or radioembolization) over a 9-year period. We excluded patients who were not appropriate for comparison and analyzed data from 245 (122 who received chemoembolization and 123 who received radioembolization). Patients were followed for signs of toxicity; all underwent imaging analysis at baseline and follow-up timepoints. Overall survival was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included safety, response rate, and time-to-progression. Uni- and multi-variate analyses were performed. Results Abdominal pain and increased transaminase activity were more frequent following chemoembolization (P<.05). There was a trend that patients treated with radioembolization had a higher response rate than with chemoembolization (49% vs. 36%, P=0.104). Although time-to-progression was longer following radioembolization than chemoembolization (13.3 months vs 8.4 months, P=0.046), median survival times were not statistically different (17.4 months vs 20.5 months, P=0.232). Among patients with intermediate-stage disease, survival was similar between groups that received chemoembolization (17.5 months) and radioembolization (17.2 months, P=0.42). Conclusion Patients with HCC treated by chemoembolization or radioembolization with 90Y microspheres had similar survival times. Radioembolization resulted in longer time-to-progression and less toxicity than chemoembolization. Post-hoc analyses of sample size indicated that a randomized study with >1000 patients would be required to establish equivalence of survival times between patients given the different therapies.