Major hepatic resection under total vascular exclusion

Objective: To eveluate major liver resections with vascular exclusion (TVE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Sixteen consecutive, major liver resections performed with TVE in HCC patients were analyzed retrospectively. The patients’ mean ages were 54 years. Ten patients had cirrhosis and eleven patients had chronic hepatitis B. Results: There was no perioperative death and the mean hospital stay was 20 days and the average amount of intraoperative blood transfusion was 400 mL (range 0–2000 mL). Forty-four percent of the patients did not receive intraoperative blood transfusion. The mean total bilirubin(T-BIL) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were 24 μ mol/L (range 8–56 μ mol/L) and 56 IU/L (range 10–204 IU/L) measured prior to discharge. Conclusion: In our experience, total vascular exclusion is invaluable in major or difficult liver resections, especially when lesions adjacent to the hepatic veins and vena cava. It is associated with a low blood transfusion requirement and a low incidence of complications. It further obviates the need for dissection of the porta hepatis thus reduces the associated risks. Total vascular exclusion time of 30min appears to be well tolerated, even in patients with cirrhosis. Biography: Ji Jia-fu (1959–), associate professor, doctor of medicine, School of Oncology, Peking University, majors in surgical oncology.