The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Associating portal embolization and artery ligation to induce rapid liver regeneration in staged hepatectomy. BJS 2015; 102: 1541-1550.

Published: 16th September 2015

Authors: A. Dupré, M. Hitier, P. Peyrat, Y. Chen, P. Meeus, M. Rivoire et al.

Background

Insufficient volume of the future liver remnant (FLR) is a major cause of unresectability in patients with bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CLM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel associating portal embolization and artery ligation (APEAL) technique before extended right hepatectomy during a two‐stage procedure for CLM.

Method

All patients who had undergone extended right hepatectomy during two‐stage surgery for CLM between 2012 and 2014 were identified retrospectively from a prospectively maintained database. In the first stage, right portal vein embolization, partial right hepatic artery ligation and devascularization of segment IVb along the round ligament without parenchymal transection were associated with clearance of the FLR and/or primary tumour resection. Liver volumetry was performed using OsiriX software on postoperative day (POD) 7 and 30.

Results

Ten patients underwent the APEAL procedure. During the first stage, APEAL was combined with colorectal resection in seven patients. The median (range) interval between the two stages was 45 (31–71) days. The FLR volume increased from 327 (214–537) cm3 before surgery to 590 (508–1072) cm3 on POD 7 and 701 (512–1018) cm3 on POD 30. This corresponded to a FLR regeneration rate of 104 (42–185) and 134 (53–171) per cent respectively. There were no deaths. The overall morbidity rate was 60 per cent (6 of 10) after each procedure, with severe morbidity occurring in two and three of ten patients after the first and second procedures respectively.

Conclusion

APEAL induces fast, safe, reproducible and effective FLR growth when an extended right hepatectomy is scheduled in patients with multiple bilobar CLM.

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