Autologous transfusion with modified total hepatic vascular exclusion for extracapsular resection of giant hepatic cavernous hemangioma

BACKGROUND: This paper was to review the effects of intraoperative autologous transfusion during modified, normal-temperature, total hepatic vascular exclusion (THVE) for extracapsular resection of giant hepatic cavernous hemangioma. METHODS: The clinical data from 28 patients, who underwent hepatic resection requiring intraoperative autologous transfusion with the cell-saver apparatus, were analyzed retrospectively. The tumors in the 28 patients involved the proximal hepatic veins and inferior vena cava. The diameters of these hemangiomas ranged from 12x15 cm to 18-40 cm. All patients had varying degrees of THVE. ' RESULTS: The 28 patients with hemangioma received integrated resection and recovered. One patient had rupture of tumors resulting in massive hemorrhage of 6000 ml during liver resection; 4 patients had blood transfusions of 400-800 ml; the other 23 patients had no blood transfusion. Only 6 patients underwent the Pringle maneuver with resection. The other 22 patients underwent THVE during the liver resection. The interval of THVE was 5-30 minutes (mean 16 minutes). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative autologous transfusion during modified, normal-temperature THVE for extracapsular resection of huge hepatic cavernous hemangioma is feasible.

Retrocaval liver lifting maneuver and modifications of total hepatic vascular exclusion for liver tumor resection

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of technical modifications of total hepatic vascular exclusion(THVE) for hepatectomy involving inferior vena cava(IVC).METHODS: Of 301 patients who underwent hepatectomy during the immediate previous 5-year period, 8(2.7%) required THVE or modified methods of IVC cross-clamping for resection of liver tumors with massive involvement of the IVC. Seven of the patients had diagnosis of colorectal liver metastases and 1 had diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. All tumors involved the IVC, and THVE was unavoidable for combined resection of the IVC in all 8 of the patients. Technical modifications of THVE were applied to minimize the extent and duration of vascular occlusion, thereby reducing the risk of damage.RESULTS: Broad dissection of the space behind the IVC coupled with lifting up of the liver from the retrocaval space was effective for controlling bleeding around the IVC before and during THVE. The procedures facilitate modification of the positioning of the cranial IVC cross-clamp. Switching the cranial IVC cross-clamp from supra- to retrohepatic IVC or to the confluence of hepatic vein decreased duration of the THVE while restoring hepatic blood flow or systemic circulation via the IVC. Oblique cranial IVC cross-clamping avoided ischemia of the remnant hemi-liver. With these technicalmodifications, the mean duration of THVE was 13.4 ± 8.4 min, which was extremely shorter than that previously reported in the literature. Recovery of liver function was smooth and uneventful for all 8 patients. There was no case of mortality, re-operation, or severe complication(i.e., Clavien-Dindo grade of Ⅲ or more).CONCLUSION: The retrocaval liver lifting maneuver and modifications of cranial cross-clamping were useful for minimizing duration of THVE.

Does clamping during liver surgery predispose to thrombosis of the hepatic veins? Analysis of 210 cases

AIM:To test whether clamping during liver surgery predisposes to hepatic vein thrombosis.METHODS:We performed a retrospective analysis of 210 patients who underwent liver resection with simultaneous inflow and outflow occlusion.Intraoperatively,flow in the hepatic veins was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography during the reperfusion phase.Postoperatively,patency of the hepatic veins was assessed by contrast-enhanced CT angiography,when necessary after 3-6 mo follow up.RESULTS:Twelve patients(5.7%) developed intraoperative liver remnant swelling.However,intraoperative ultrasonography did not reveal evidence of hepatic vein thrombosis.In three of these patients a kinking of the common trunk of the middle and left hepatic veins hindering outflow was recognized and was managed successfully bysuturing the liver remnant to the diaphragm.Twenty three patients(10.9%) who developed signs of mild outflow obstruction postoperatively,had no evidence of thrombi in the hepatic veins or flow disturbances on ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT angiography,while hospitalized.Long term assessment of the patency of the hepatic veins over a 3-6 mo follow-up period did not reveal thrombi formation or clinical manifestations of out flow obstruction.CONCLUSION:Extrahepatic dissection and clamping of the hepatic veins does not predispose to clinically important thrombosis.

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: a new classification for surgical guidance

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection is the main treatment modality for hepatic tumors. Advances in diagnostic technique, preoperative preparation, surgical technique, and postoperative management increased the success rate. The present study aimed to evaluate hepatectomy and resection of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and the relationship between IVCTT classification and selection of surgical technique. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who had undergone hepatectomy with IVCTT resection between May 1997 and August 2009. Age, gender, diagnosis, findings of physical examination, results of preoperative laboratory investigations, radiological examination, criteria for resection, postoperative pathological results, incisions, operative technique, intraoperative transfusion, drains, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated for all patients. RESULTS: Type Ⅰ IVCTT (10 patients) was posterior to the liver and below the diaphragm; type Ⅱ IVCTT (2 patients) was above the diaphragm but still outside the atrium; and type Ⅲ IVCTT (1 patient) was above the diaphragm and in the right atrium. Type Ⅰ was treated by radical hepatectomy and removal of IVCTT with total hepatic vascular exclusion. Type Ⅱ was treated by radical hepatectomy and removal of IVCTT by incision of the diaphragm. Type Ⅲ was treated by hepatectomy and resection of the thrombus from the right atrium under cardiopulmonary bypass. There were no surgical complications and one patient has been survived for 4 years with cancer-free status. The median survival time was 18.2 months, and the 1-and 2-year survival rates were 53.8% and 15.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment is safe and feasible for treatment of IVCTT in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and surgical resectability can be judged according to the classification of tumor thrombus.