ALPPS: a historical review

Abstract

Two-stage liver resections were described to increase the resectability of liver tumors in patients with insufficient future liver remnant. The ALPPS procedure, described in 2011, has represented a breakthrough in the field of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. This technique accelerates the hypertrophy of the future liver remnant and reduces the interval between the two surgeries compared with previous techniques. ALPPS has gained popularity rapidly, with more than 1200 patients included in the world registry. Recommendations about indications, patient selection and surgical standardization have been discussed twice in international expert meetings. Although ALPPS has proven to be superior in terms of resectability (80-100% versus 60-90% of twostage hepatectomy), its rapid implementation has been punished with high morbidity and mortality reaching up to 40% and 9%, respectively, in the published series. The current evidence on the possible benefits and disadvantages is mainly based on observational studies. We present a historical review, describing the different technical modifications that have been carried out since its description, with a rigorous review in terms of morbidity, mortality, and oncological outcomes.