Safe and feasible inflow occlusion in laparoscopic liver resection

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Open Conversion During Minimally Invasive Major Hepatectomies: An International Multicenter Study on 3880 Procedures Comparing the Laparoscopic and Robotic Approaches

INTRODUCTION

Despite the advances in minimally invasive (MI) liver surgery, most major hepatectomies (MHs) continue to be performed by open surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and outcomes of open conversion during MI MH, including the impact of the type of approach (laparoscopic vs. robotic) on the occurrence and outcomes of conversions.

METHODS

Data on 3880 MI conventional and technical (right anterior and posterior sectionectomies) MHs were retrospectively collected. Risk factors and perioperative outcomes of open conversion were analyzed. Multivariate analysis, propensity score matching, and inverse probability treatment weighting analysis were performed to control for confounding factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 3211 laparoscopic MHs (LMHs) and 669 robotic MHs (RMHs) were included, of which 399 (10.28%) had an open conversion. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that male sex, laparoscopic approach, cirrhosis, previous abdominal surgery, concomitant other surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score 3/4, larger tumor size, conventional MH, and Institut Mutualiste Montsouris classification III procedures were associated with an increased risk of conversion. After matching, patients requiring open conversion had poorer outcomes compared with non-converted cases, as evidenced by the increased operation time, blood transfusion rate, blood loss, hospital stay, postoperative morbidity/major morbidity and 30/90-day mortality. Although RMH showed a decreased risk of conversion compared with LMH, converted RMH showed increased blood loss, blood transfusion rate, postoperative major morbidity and 30/90-day mortality compared with converted LMH.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple risk factors are associated with conversion. Converted cases, especially those due to intraoperative bleeding, have unfavorable outcomes. Robotic assistance seemed to increase the feasibility of the MI approach, but converted robotic procedures showed inferior outcomes compared with converted laparoscopic procedures.

Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided laparoscopic hepatectomy versus conventional laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center propensity score matching study

Background

Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided laparoscopic hepatectomy (ICG-guided LH) is increasingly used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether ICG-guided LH can improve surgical outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the short-term outcomes and survival outcomes of ICG-guided LH versus common laparoscopic hepatectomy (CLH) for HCC.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 104 ICG-guided LH and 158 CLH patients from 2014 to 2020 at our center. To avoid selection bias, 81 ICG-guided LH and 81 CLH cases were analyzed after 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). The baseline data and results were compared between the two groups.

Results

The baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable after matching. There was a significant difference in operative time: longer in the ICG-guided LH group than in the CLH group (p=0.004). However, there was no significant difference in operative time in anatomical resection between the two groups (p=0.987). There was a significant difference in operative time in non-anatomical resection: longer in the ICG-guided LH group than in the CLH group (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in positive surgery margin, blood loss, blood transfusion rate, postoperative complication rate, postoperative length of hospital stay, mortality within 30 days, and mortality within 90 days. The ICG-guided LH group appeared to have a trend towards better overall survival (OS), but there was no significant difference in OS (P=0.168) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (P=0.322) between the two groups.

Conclusions

Although ICG fluorescence-guided LH is a timelier procedure to perform, it is a safe and effective technique with the advantages of intraoperative positioning, low postoperative complication rates, and potential to improve OS.

The comparison of oncologic and clinical outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

We evaluate the operative outcome and oncologic outcome of laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and compare with open liver resection.

Methods

From January 2004 to December 2012, clinical data of 70 patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection for HCC (laparoscopic liver resection group, lapa-group) were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Control group (open liver resection group, open-group) were retrospectively matched, and compared with lapa-group.

Results

Laparoscopic major liver resections were performed in 4 patients. Laparoscopic anatomical resections and nonanatomical resections were performed in 39 patients, and 31 patients, respectively. Mean operative time was shorter in lapa-group (215.5 ± 121.84 minutes vs. 282.30 ± 80.34 minutes, P = 0.001), mean intraoperative transfusion rate and total amount were small in lapa-group (24.28%, 148.57 ± 3,354.98 mL vs. 40.78%, 311.71 ± 477.01 mL). Open conversion occurred in 6 patients (8.57%) because of bleeding, inadequate resection, invisible mass on intraoperative ultrasonography, and tumor rupture. In lapa-group and open-group, 3-year disease-free survival rates were 58.3% ± 0.08%, and 62.6% ± 0.06%, respectively (P = 0.773). In lapa-group and open-group 3-year overall survival rates were 65.3% ± 0.8%, and 65.7% ± 0.6%, respectively (P = 0.610).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC is feasible and safe in a large number of patients, with reasonable operative and oncologic results.

Extracorporeal tourniquet method for intermittent hepatic pedicle clamping during laparoscopic liver surgery: an easy, cheap, and effective technique

PURPOSE

This paper aims to describe an extracorporeal tourniquet (ET) method for laparoscopic Pringle maneuver (PM).

PATIENTS AND TECHNIQUE

From January 2007 to June 2011, we have performed 44 laparoscopic hepatic resections: one hand-assisted and 43 totally laparoscopic procedures. In 39 of these patients, an ET was prepared. In 20 cases (lesions posteriorly located), the patient was placed in the left lateral position, and in 19 cases (lesions anteriorly located), in the supine position. The ET is prepared according to the following steps: from the right flank and through the foramen of Winslow, a grasper is passed behind the hepatoduodenal ligament to place a 75-cm cotton tape around it. The tape is externalized through a 5-mm incision and then passed through a 22CH Tiemann catheter whose ends are cut. The internal end of the catheter is left close to the pedicle, while the other part, with the ends of the tape, is kept outside. The PM is performed from outside the abdomen.

RESULTS

In every patient, the ET was uneventfully prepared. No unsuccessful attempts were made. Intermittent clamping was applied. Median (interquartile range) occlusion time was 47.5 min (26.7-64.2). No lesions of any structures related to the placement and use of the tourniquet were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

This ET for laparoscopic liver resection is easy to prepare and its use simple, fast, and safe.