选择性保留健侧肝动脉血流的入肝血流阻断技术在腹腔镜肝切除术中的应用

目的评价选择性保留健侧肝动脉血流的入肝血流阻断技术在腹腔镜肝切除术中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析11例腹腔镜肝切除时采用选择性保留健侧肝动脉血流的入肝血流阻断技术(甲组)及10例腹腔镜肝切除时采用全肝入肝血流阻断技术(乙组)病人资料,比较2组术中出血量、手术时间、入肝血流阻断时间、术后住院时间、术后丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)升高幅度及恢复正常时间。结果术后ALT升高幅度:甲组(8.16%±7.54%)<乙组(19.72%±13.20%)(t=-2.494,P=0.022);术后ALT恢复正常时间:甲组[(7.0±2.2)d]<乙组[(9.9±1.4)d](t=-3.560,P=0.002)。术中出血量、手术时间、入肝血流阻断时间、术后住院时间差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论腹腔镜肝切除时选择性保留健侧肝动脉血流的入肝血流阻断技术优于全肝入肝血流阻断技术,有推广价值。     

交替半肝入肝血流阻断解剖性肝中叶切除

目的：探讨交替半肝入肝血流阻断解剖性肝中叶切除的技术方法和优势。
　　方法：分别选取肝左内叶肿瘤、右前叶肿瘤及左内叶和右前叶均受肿瘤累及的患者各1例,术前运用肝功能、肝脏储备功能、肝脏血管情况及预留肝脏体积等综合评估进行手术规划。运用Glisson蒂解剖技术分别解剖出相应肝段的Glisson蒂,确定出明确的切除平面后,分别实施交替半肝入肝血流阻断,解剖性左内叶切除、右前叶切除及左内叶和右前叶的联合切除。
　　结果：3例患者均顺利完成交替半肝入肝血流阻断解剖性肝中叶切除。患者1、患者2、患者3手术时间分别为240、320、380min,术中出血量分别约250、450、1000mL,3例患者术后均顺利恢复, AFP在均术后2个月内降至正常,复查肝脏B超和CT未见肿瘤复发。
　　结论：交替半肝入肝血流阻断解剖性肝中叶切除能够获得清晰的切除平面,有效的减少术中出血,减轻肝脏缺血再灌注损伤。     

腹腔镜肝切除术中肝门血流阻断方式的探讨

目的 探讨腹腔镜肝切除术中3种肝门阻断方式的手术效果.方法 回顾性分析应用3种不同的肝门阻断方式的41例腹腔镜肝切除术患者的临床资料,其中15例应用Pringle法,即间歇肝门阻断法(IPO法),12例应用半肝血流阻断法(HVO法),即阻断一侧的(肿瘤侧)门静脉及肝动脉.14例应用选择性半肝血流阻断法(SVO法),即阻断门静脉和肿瘤侧的肝动脉.对术中出血量、手术时间、中转开腹率、术后肝功能、住院时间及并发症发生情况进行统计学分析,比较不同阻断方式间的差异.结果 41例患者手术均获得成功,无死亡及中转开腹.IPO、HVO、SVO三组术中出血分别为(218.4 ±43.5) mL、(289.5±54.5) mL、(231.1 ±53.7) mL,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);手术时间分别为(161.3±26.5) min、(179.1 ±33.4) min、(170.5 ±23.8) min,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);肝门阻断时间分别为(34.3±13.5) min、(45.6±18.6) min、(36.6±14.2) min、差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);平均住院时间为(14.7±5.3)d、(11.2±3.4)d、(12.1±2.9)d,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).三组共10例患者发生术后并发症,均治愈.HVO和SVO组的术后肝功能恢复无差异,但均较IPO组更快.结论 选择性的肝门阻断在腹腔镜肝切除中是安全可行的,HVO法适用于左半肝或肝左外叶的切除,而SVO法适用于肝右叶肿瘤的切除.     

单侧入肝血流选择性阻断肝切除术

自1993年9月以来，我院共采用入肝血流选择性阻断行肝切除治疗原发性肝癌76例，其中用Pringle’s法56例(肝门组)，单侧入肝血流选择性阻断20例(单侧组)。比较两组的肿瘤大小、手术时间，术中出血量、术中输血量，术后并发症及术前、术后肝功能和总胆红素变化。结果表明；单侧入肝血流阻断具有第一肝门阻断的优点，虽然阻断血流时间单侧组长于肝门组，但肝功能损害却没有肝门组重，可视手术需要决定阻断血流时间，操作从容，而且利于防止术中扩散和取出属支的门静脉癌栓。因此，我们认为单侧入肝血流阻断能很好保存健侧肝的动脉和门静脉血供，术后肝功能损害轻，恢复快，故比第一肝门阻断更适于有肝硬变的原发性肝癌病人手术。     

入肝动脉血流选择性阻断技术在肝肿瘤切除中的应用

目的 探讨一种新的入肝动脉血流选择性阻断技术,以减少手术失血量、降低手术风险.方法 选择肝右叶肝癌患者56例,其中实验组25例,对照组31例.2组患者均采取常规后入路法行肝肿瘤切除.实验组先选择性阻断右肝动脉血流,再游离肿瘤所在肝右叶,当游离完成后再结合门静脉阻断,行肝肿瘤切除.对照组不先行阻断肝动脉血流,其他手术步骤与实验组相同.结果 实验组与对照组的年龄、性别、肿瘤直径、肝硬化、HBsAg、AFP、门静脉主干癌栓、肝门阻断时间、手术时间、切除范围均无明显差别.实验组较对照组术中出血量明显减少,( 272±113)ml比(547±221)ml,两组比较差异有统计学意义(t=-5.6,P＜0.01).实验组患者术后恢复顺利,住院时间较对照组缩短,差异有统计学意义(t=-2.12,P＜0.05).结论 选择性阻断右肝叶的入肝动脉血流技术安全、可靠,能有效减少手术失血量,降低手术风险,提高安全性.     

不解剖肝门的半肝与全肝入肝血流阻断在肝细胞癌患者行肝切除术中的临床应用比较

目的探讨不解剖肝门的半肝入肝血流阻断(HIO)与全肝入肝血流阻断(TIO)在肝细胞癌患者行肝切除术中的临床应用效果。 方法回顾性分析肝细胞癌行肝切除术患者63例,并随机分为两组,HIO组(33例)行不解剖肝门的半肝入肝血流阻断联合控制性低中心静脉压肝切除,TIO组(30例)行全肝入肝血流阻断联合控制性低中心静脉压肝切除。比较两组手术时间、血流阻断时间、术中出血量、术中输血情况,以及术后住院时间、ICU时间、术后第1、3天肝功能。 结果两组手术时间、血流阻断时间、术后ICU时间、术中出血量、术中输血情况差异无统计学意义, HIO组术后住院时间显著短于TIO组[(14.1±5.5) d vs (17.2±5.8)d,t=-2.142,P=0.036];术后第1天HIO组患者血清白蛋白(Alb)水平显著高于TIO组[(34.2±3.5)g/L vs (31.6±3.8)g/L,t=2.784,P=0.007],其余肝功指标(ALT、AST、AKP、GGT、TB、DB)在术后第1天的水平差异无统计学意义,术后第3天两组间肝功指标水平差异无统计学意义。 结论两种肝血流阻断技术同样安全、有效,半肝入肝血流阻断在术后住院时间及早期Alb水平恢复上更优。     

半肝血流阻断技术用于肝硬化肝癌的肝切除

目的 探讨半肝血流阻断技术在合并肝硬化的肝癌手术治疗中的意义.方法 回顾性分析山东大学齐鲁医院普外科2006年3月至2008年9月因肝癌行肝切除205例患者的临床资料,其中术中应用Pringle法第一肝门阻断入肝血流44例(A组)、半肝血流阻断76例(B组)、半肝血流阻断加选择性肝静脉控制85例(C组).比较3组患者肝切除手术时间和术中出血量,术后肝功能的恢复以及术后并发症.结果 3组患者肝切除手术时间比较差异无统计学意义(F=2.53,P>0.05);术中平均出血量分别为543.7、415.8、324.5 ml,3组间比较差异有统计学意义(F=98.96,P<0.001);在术后3 d和6 d的血清丙氨酸转氨酶、胆红素水平比较,B组和C组明显优于A组.结论 半肝血流阻断可防止健侧肝脏缺血再灌注损伤;肝外控制肝静脉,可显著减少肝切除术中的出血量.     

保留半肝动脉血供联合肝缺血预处理在肝硬化复杂肝切除术中的应用

目的:探讨减轻肝硬化患者复杂肝切除缺血再灌注损伤的措施。方法:回顾性分析46例肝硬化患者复杂肝切除术中保留半肝动脉血供入肝血流阻断+肝缺血预处理(实验组)的临床资料,并与同期全肝入肝血流阻断(Pringle法)肝切除术61例(对照组)作对比研究。结果:实验组平均阻断时间(38.75±6.2)min,对照组(21.67±4.60)min,2组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2组术后3、7和15d血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、术后3d血清总胆红素及术中、术后出血量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:保留半肝动脉血供入肝血流阻断+肝缺血预处理技术对减少肝硬化患者复杂肝切除术后肝衰竭的发生有重要意义。     

腹腔镜肝切除术治疗肝血管瘤22例临床分析

目的 探讨腹腔镜肝切除术治疗肝血管瘤的技术要点和疗效.方法 回顾分析第三军医大学西南医院2007年3月1日至2008年2月29日22例肝血管瘤病人行腹腔镜肝切除术的临床资料.结果 22例中2例中转开腹,20例完成全腹腔镜肝切除术.规则性肝叶(段)切除14例,其中左半肝切除5例,左外叶切除5例(其中1例联合右肝血管瘤射频消融术),Ⅵ段切除4例;不规则肝切除8例.10例在区域性半肝血流阻断条件下手术,7例行间歇性第一肝门血流阻断,5例未行人肝血流阻断.平均手术时间209 min,平均术中出血量360 ml.全组无手术死亡及并发症发生.术后恢复顺利,平均术后住院时间6 d.随访2～14个月,无症状再发及肿瘤复发.结论 腹腔镜肝切除术治疗肝血管瘤具有手术安全、并发症少和术后恢复快等优点,其技术要点是选择恰当适应证和手术入路,有效控制入肝血流和妥善处理肝断面,肝实质离断沿瘤体周围0.5～1 cm正常肝实质内进行或直接行荷瘤肝叶(段)规则性切除.     

半肝全血流阻断联合肝固有动脉暂时阻断在半肝切除中应用的临床效果

目的半肝全血流阻断联合肝固有动脉暂时阻断半肝切除的临床效果。方法回顾性分析我院2001年6月-2007年12月行半肝全血流阻断联合肝固有动脉暂时阻断半肝切除35例与同期半肝全血流阻断半肝切除36例的术中平均出血量和术后肝功能等级恶化发生率。结果半肝全血流阻断联合肝固有动脉暂时阻断半肝切除组和半肝全血流阻断半肝切除组术中平均出血量分别为（320±50）ml和（390±80）ml,两组间有显著性差异（P〈0．05）;两组术后肝功能等级恶化发生率分别为17．1％和16．6％（P〉0．05）。结论半肝全血流阻断联合肝固有动脉暂时阻断半肝切除能显著减少术中的出血量,不增加术后肝功能恶化加级的发生率。     

腹腔镜下右半肝血流阻断的肝右后叶切除术(附16例报告)

目的:探讨腹腔镜下采用右半肝血流阻断行肝右后叶切除术的可行性。方法:2016年1月至2016年12月为16例肝右后叶肿瘤患者行完全腹腔镜肝右后叶切除术,术中采用血流阻断。结果:16例手术均获成功,无一例中转开腹,手术时间150~290 min,平均(196.2±12.5)min;右半肝阻断时间20~40 min,平均(26.5±1.2)min;术中出血量150~400 ml,平均(255.0±8.3)ml。术后无出血、肝功能衰竭、胆漏、感染、死亡等严重并发症发生。术后住院5~12 d,平均(6.6±0.5)d。结论:在熟练掌握腹腔镜肝切除操作要点的前提下,采用右半肝血流阻断技术行腹腔镜肝右后叶切除术治疗肝肿瘤是安全、可行的。     

选择性出入肝血流阻断用于肝脏巨大血管瘤的切除

目的 探讨右肝静脉阻断技术在累及第二肝门巨大肝血管瘤切除术中防止右肝静脉破裂大出血、空气栓塞的作用.方法 回顾分析2004年1月至2010年3月浙江省人民医院肝胆外科对12例累及第二肝门巨大肝血管瘤患者施行右肝静脉阻断技术行巨大肝血管瘤切除的临床资料.右肝静脉阻断方法采用血管带阻断或血管夹夹闭.无肝硬化患者同时采用第一肝门阻断(Pringle),或选择性入肝血流阻断;有肝硬化患者采用半肝入肝血流阻断.结果 12例患者中无1例分破肝静脉.右肝静脉血管阻断方法:血管夹夹闭法3例,血管带阻断法9例.11例无肝硬化患者行第一肝门阻断5例,6例行选择性入肝血流阻断,1例患者由于肝炎后肝硬化施行交替半肝血流阻断.12例患者血管瘤切除顺利,出血量200～5800 ml,平均出血量680 ml,其中3例患者未输血.出血量最大1例为肝动脉栓塞治疗2次的患者,血管瘤与隔肌粘连紧密,侧支循环丰富,解剖困难.无1例因肝静脉破裂而出血或发生空气栓塞.结论 切除累及第二肝门巨大肝血管瘤时施行右肝静脉阻断技术是安全,有效的.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate right hepatic veins exclusion in the prevention of massive bleeding and air embolism during the resection of huge hepatic cavernous hemangioma near the second hepatic portal. Method This is a retrospective study on the clinical data of 12 hepatic hemangioma patients at the Live Surgery Department of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from 2004. 1 to 2010.3. In all patients the huge hepatic cavernous hemangioma was adjoining the second hepatic portal. Block webbing or vascular clamp were used to exclude the right hepatic veins. Among the 11 patients without hepatic cirrhosis Pringle maneuvre was applied in 5 cases and selective hepatic inflow occlusion in 6 cases. Patients with hepatic cirrhosis used hemi-hepatic blood inflow occlusion. Results During the surgery no rupture of right hepatic vein happened. Nine patients used vascular block webbing and 3 patients used vascular clamp.Six patients without cirrhosis used the complete hepatic inflow occlusion and other patients without cirrhosis used hemi-hepatic blood inflow occlusion. Cirrhotic patients used hemi-hepatic blood inflow occlusion. All the operations were successful. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 200 - 5800 ml, averaging 680 ml. Three patients needed not blood transfusion. There was no right hepatic vein rupture or air embolism. Conclusion Right hepatic veins exclusion is a useful technique to prevent massive bleeding and air embolism caused by the rupture of right hepatic vein during the resection of huge hepatic cavernous hemangioma.     

Effects of hepatovenous back flow on ischemic- reperfusion injuries in liver resections with the pringle maneuver

BACKGROUND: Experimental findings have demonstrated a beneficial role of retrograde blood flow from hepatic veins that takes place during the Pringle maneuver in liver resections. The cytoprotective effect of hepatovenous back-perfusion has not been evaluated in humans. A randomized prospective study was designed to compare the response of liver cells to ischemic-reperfusion injury during the application of two different ischemic procedures: inflow versus inflow plus outflow vascular occlusion of the liver. STUDY DESIGN: Forty patients were randomly allocated to undergo liver resection using the continuous Pringle maneuver (n = 20) or inflow plus outflow vascular occlusion of the liver by selective hepatic vascular exclusion (n = 20). Liver function was assessed on postoperative days 1 to 6. Response of liver cells to I/R injury was evaluated by measuring interleukins IL-6 and IL-8 at 3, 12, 24, and 48 hours after reperfusion. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring malondialdehyde levels. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding ischemic time, operative time, and extent of liver resection. Patients in whom retrograde blood flow to the liver took place during the Pringle maneuver showed better liver function postoperatively and less severe hepatic I/R injuries compared with those undergoing liver resection using both inflow and outflow vascular occlusion. Oxidative stress was significantly lower in the Pringle maneuver group compared with the inflow plus outflow vascular occlusion group (mean [+/- SD] malondialdehyde 8 +/- 2.1 micromol/L in the Pringle group versus 14.7 +/- 1.8 micromol/L in the selective hepatic vascular exclusion group 30 min after reperfusion, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Back perfusion via hepatic veins contributes to attenuation of I/R damage during the Pringle maneuver and should be preferred if possible during liver resection.     

半肝血流完全阻断无血肝切除术的临床研究

目的探讨半肝血流完全阻断下无血肝切除术的临床意义。方法对两组各14例原发性肝癌患者分别施行半肝血流完全阻断无血肝切除术（A组）和全肝入肝血流阻断肝切除术（B组）,比较两组患者术中肝血流阻断时间、术中出血量、肝切除体积、术后肝功能恢复情况、并发症发生率等指标。结果两组在肝血流阻断时间和肝切除体积无显著差异的条件下,A组的术中出血量平均为（296±240）ml,B组平均为（582±497）ml,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。术后第1、3、7天血清前白蛋白水平A组为（164±39）mg／L、（111±17）mg／L和（104±23）mg／L,显著高于B组的（134±34）mg／L、（90±22）mg／L和（82±35）mg／L（P〈0．05）,两组其他观察指标差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论半肝血流完全阻断无血肝切除术能显著减少肝切除术中出血量及肝功能损害。     

Traumatic and postoperative ischemic liver necrosis: causes, risk factors and treatment

BACKGROUND: To study the cause and outcome of ischemic liver necrosis and suggest treatment of these patients. METHODS: Retrospective study of 13 patients with ischemic liver necrosis treated at our departments from 1990 until 1997. RESULTS: Ischemic liver necrosis was caused by general hypoxia (n = 1) or acute arterial occlusion (n = 12) of the celiac and superior mesenteric artery (SMA, n = 3), proper hepatic artery (PHA, n = 1), right hepatic artery (RHA, n = 2), left hepatic artery (LHA, n = 2) and intrahepatic vessels (n = 4). Six of the cases were related to surgical procedures, 5 of these (38%) were unintended arterial injuries after biliary surgery. Ten patients (77%) had risk factors contributing to the development of liver necrosis: septicemia (n = 4), jaundice and septicemia (n = 2), shock and hypoxia (n = 3) and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 1). Five patients (38%) needed resection of the liver necrosis due to infected necrosis. Three patients (23%) died; two of these had celiac/SMA occlusion. One died due to complete gastrointestinal ischemia and severe lactacidosis, two died of multiorgan failure after bile leakage and septicemia. CONCLUSION: Ischemic liver necrosis is mainly caused by arterial occlusion due to arteriosclerosis, arterial transection during biliary surgery or blunt liver trauma, and seldom occurs without additional risk factors. 50% of the patients develop infected necrosis and need liver resection. Patients with sterile necrosis may recover without surgical procedures of the liver. The mortality in patients with central (celiac/SMA) and peripheral (CHA, PHA, RHA, LHA, intrahepatic branches) occlusions was 67% (2/3) and 11% (1/9), respectively.     

Reduction of transfusion requirements during major hepatic resection for metastatic disease

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to determine whether the combination of total liver vascular inflow occlusion (Pringle maneuver) and rapid hepatic transection with a clamp-crush technique results in significant reduction of blood loss and transfusion requirements during major hepatic resections. METHODS: A series of 49 adult patients underwent major hepatic resections for metastatic disease between April 1, 1992, and March 31, 1998. Group 1 patients (n = 15) had standard hilar dissection and finger-fracture hepatic transection without total liver inflow occlusion. Group 2 patients (n = 34) had total liver inflow occlusion and clamp-crush parenchymal transection. RESULTS: Median blood loss was 1600 mL for group 1 and 500 mL for group 2 (P = .001). Eleven (73%) patients in group 1 required intraoperative blood transfusion (median 2 units) compared with 7 (21%) in group 2 with a median of 0 units (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). Of the 7 patients in group 2 who required transfusion, 3 had a preoperative hemoglobin below 10 g/dL, 1 required splenectomy for operative injury, and 1 underwent a concomitant complicated small bowel resection. CONCLUSIONS: Major hepatic resections can be performed without transfusion of blood products when preoperative hemoglobin is above 10 g/dL and concomitant major surgical procedures are not required.     

不同入肝血流阻断法行肝硬化大鼠肝切除的比较

目的：比较不同入肝血流阻断法行肝硬化大鼠肝切除的手术安全性及对肝脏、小肠损伤的影响。 方法：大鼠采用CCl4加乙醇复合法诱导肝硬化模型后行Higgins法70%肝切除。根据术中肝血流阻断法的不同分为A组（Pringle法）;B组（半肝血流阻断法）;C组（保留半肝动脉血流阻断法）;D组（门静脉转流保留半肝动脉血流阻断法）,阻断时间均为30 min。比较各组手术成功率,肝切除24 h后动物存活率及肝细胞及小肠病理改变。 结果：A、B、C、D组手术成功率各分别为90.9%（10/11）、76.9%（10/13）、80.3%（10/12）、76.9%（10/13）,组间差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;肝切除术后24 h存活率分别为3/10（30%）、10/10（100%）、9/10（90%）、10/10（100%）,B、C、D组大鼠存活率均明显高于A组（均P<0.05）。病理学结果显示,A组肝组织、小肠黏膜明显损伤,除C组小肠黏膜损伤与A组类似外,其他各组肝组织损伤均较A组轻微,且小肠黏膜基本无损伤。 结论：在肝硬化大鼠肝切除中,采用半肝血流阻断法、保留半肝动脉血流阻断法、门静脉转流保留半肝动脉血流阻断法的手术安全性及肝损伤程度均优于Pringle法。

     

Portal triad clamping (TC) or hepatic vascular exclusion (VE) for major liver resection after prolonged neoadjuvant chemotherapy? A case-matched study in 60 patients

BACKGROUND: Prolonged systemic preoperative chemotherapy induces pathologic changes in liver parenchyma. The consequences of vascular occlusion on liver submitted to prolonged preoperative systemic chemotherapy are not known. The aim of this case-matched study was to assess which method of vascular occlusion is most appropriate for major liver resection in patients who have undergone prolonged preoperative systemic chemotherapy. METHODS: Among 305 patients who had liver resection for colorectal metastases from 1998 to 2003, 28 underwent major liver resections under portal triad clamping after more than 6 cycles of preoperative chemotherapy (TC group). These 28 patients were compared with 32 patients matched for age, sex, ASA status, number of liver metastases, type of liver resection, and type of preoperative chemotherapy, but who had major liver resection under hepatic vascular exclusion after more than 6 cycles of preoperative chemotherapy (VE group). RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. The morbidity rate was 18% after TC and 43% after VE (P = 0.044). Pulmonary complication rate was greater after VE (31% vs 3%, P = 0.017). The transfusion rate was 50% in the TC group and 40% in the VE group (P = 0.482). Postoperative changes of liver function tests were comparable in the two groups except for the prothrombin time, which was more prolonged from day 1 (P = 0.003) to day 5 (P = 0.04) after VE. CONCLUSION: Vascular occlusion can be used with no mortality and acceptable morbidity for major liver resection after prolonged preoperative chemotherapy. TC should be preferred to VE, permitted by the location of the neoplasm.     

Ex vivo and in situ resection of inferior vena cava with hepatectomy for colorectal metastases

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical techniques and early results of inferior vena cava (IVC) resection in patients with advanced liver tumors. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Involvement of the IVC by hepatic tumors, although rare, is considered inoperable by standard resection techniques. Concomitant hepatic and IVC resection is required to achieve adequate tumor clearance. METHODS: Between February 1995 and February 1999, 158 patients underwent hepatic resection for colorectal metastases in the authors' unit. Eight patients, aged 42 to 80 years (mean 62 years), with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer underwent concomitant resection of the IVC and four to six hepatic segments. Resections were carried out under total hepatic vascular exclusion in four patients and ex vivo in four patients. Between 30 degrees and 360 degrees of the retrohepatic IVC was resected and replaced with an autogenous vein patch (n = 1), a ringed Gore-Tex tube graft (n = 2), a Dacron tube graft (n = 1), or a patch (n = 3) or was repaired by primary suturing (n = 1). RESULTS: There were two early deaths from multiple organ failure. One patient survived 30 months after ex vivo resection but died of renal cell carcinoma, and another died with recurrent disease at 9 months. The remaining four patients remained alive 5 to 12 months after surgery, with no hepatic failure or venous obstruction; tumor recurrence was present in two. Nonthrombotic occlusion of the neocava occurred in one patient and was stented successfully. CONCLUSIONS: Although concomitant hepatic and IVC resection is associated with a considerable surgical risk, this aggressive surgical approach offers hope for patients with hepatic tumors involving the IVC, who would otherwise have a dismal prognosis. This procedure can be performed under total hepatic vascular exclusion, with or without venovenous bypass, and by ex vivo bench resection.     

The role of the ultrasonically activated shears and vascular cutting stapler in hepatic resection

Hemorrhage and liver failure are the two greatest concerns for patients undergoing major liver resection. Inflow occlusion (Pringle maneuver) is often used to minimize blood loss, but hepatic ischemia results in an increased risk of postoperative hepatic dysfunction. We report our experience with the Harmonic Scalpel ultrasonically activated shears (UAS; Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) and a vascular stapler for hepatic resection as technological advances that aid in minimizing blood loss and thereby reduce the need for inflow occlusion. We retrospectively reviewed liver resections performed from September 1997 through July 1998, in which the UAS and articulating vascular endoscopic linear cutting stapler were used. The vascular stapler was used to divide the appropriate portal vein branch and hepatic vein(s) before parenchymal transection. Parenchymal dissection was performed with UAS to a depth of approximately 2 to 3 cm, and the remainder of the liver parenchyma was divided by a clamp crush and clip and suture ligate technique. Patients underwent segmental resection (n = 12), lobectomy (n = 13), or extended lobectomy (n = 11). Resection was performed for metastatic disease, primary liver tumors, or benign disease in 21, 8, and 7 patients, respectively. A Pringle maneuver was performed in 7 of 36 patients (mean clamp time, 8 minutes). The median required intraoperative blood transfusion was 0 units of packed red blood cells. Major and minor complications occurred in 12 and 3 patients, respectively. Two deaths were related to pneumonia and abdominal infection. The vascular stapler safely and securely divides portal vein branches and hepatic veins. The UAS initiates parenchymal transection with minimal blood loss. These two technologies facilitate the surgeon's aim of liver resection without blood transfusion or Pringle maneuver.