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Digestive Disease Interventions 2020; 04(01): 001-002
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709433
Preface
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Transplant Surgery

Koji Hashimoto
1   Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
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Publication Date:
08 April 2020 (online)

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Koji Hashimoto MD, PhD

In modern medicine, a multidisciplinary approach has become essential to improve patient care. By working closely with professionals from various medical fields, we can create a space to freely exchange opinions and hold discussions to overcome the challenges occurring in highly complex patients. There is no exception that close interaction and collaboration over the different specialties play a critical role from diagnosis to treatments of life-threatening medical conditions. We must keep our knowledge up-to-date not only in our specialty but also related fields to help improve the quality of patient management and achieve better outcomes.

In this issue of Digestive Disease Interventions, we are fortunate to learn about hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) diseases from experts of various specialties. In the field of HPB, particularly in liver diseases, the amount of new information is rapidly increasing. For instance, surgical treatments for hepatic malignancy, including hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic cancer, are facing a paradigm shift, where the role of liver transplantation has been evolving.[1] [2] [3] Aggressive medical and surgical approaches amaze us with satisfactory outcomes in locally advanced hepatic malignancy. An important question is how far can we push the envelope.[4] [5] The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is becoming one of the leading causes of liver failure. Do we understand how to follow these patients and choose the right treatments at the right timings? Dr. Alkhouri and group will guide us to review patient management in NAFLD.[6] Finally, acute alcoholic hepatitis is an evolving indication for liver transplantation with ongoing debates.[7] The reviews in this issue are grounded in not only the best scientific evidence but also in authors' experiences. I firmly believe that these reviews would help refine our knowledge and eventually contribute to better patient care.