Laparoscopic Portal Vein Ligation Research Articles

Laparoscopic Portal Vein Ligation and Embolization During First-Stage Hepatectomy for Initially Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases.

Two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) is the only treatment for the patients with multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CRMs) who are not candidates for one-step hepatectomy because of insufficient future remnant liver volume and/or impaired liver function.1-5 Although laparoscopic approaches have been introduced for TSH,6-8 the postoperative morbidity and mortality remains high because of the technical difficulties during second-stage hepatectomy.9,10 The authors present a video of laparoscopic TSH with portal vein (PV) ligation and embolization, which minimizes adhesions and PV thrombosis risk in the remnant liver, thereby facilitating second-stage hepatectomy. Three patients with initially unresectable bilateral CRMs received a median of chemotherapy 12 cycles, followed by conversion TSH. After right PV ligation, laproscopic PV embolization was performed by injection of 100% ethanol into the hepatic side of the right PV using a 23-gauge winged needle. After PV embolization, a spray adhesion barrier (AdSpray, Terumo, Tokyo, Japan)11 was applied. During the first stage of hepatectomy, two patients underwent simultaneous laparoscopic colorectal resection (left hemicolectomy and high anterior resection). In the initial hepatectomy, two patients underwent two limited hepatectomies each, and one patient underwent six hepatectomies in the left lobe. After hepatectomy, all the patients underwent right PV embolization. During the second stage, two patients underwent open extended right hepatectomy (right adrenalectomy was performed because of adrenal invasion in one patient), and one patient underwent laparoscopic extended right hepatectomy. No postoperative complications occurred in the six surgeries. Laparoscopic TSH with PV embolization is recommended for safe completion of the second hepatectomy.

Laparoscopic first step approach in the two stage hepatectomy.

Resection is the gold standard therapeutic option for patients with colorectal liver metastases. However, only 20-30% of patients are resectable. In patients with a concomitant future liver remnant (FLR) less than 25-30%, a single stage resection is not feasible. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and the rates of morbidity and mortality of the laparoscopic approach in the first-step of two stage hepatectomy. From 2004 to March 2014, 73 patients underwent a two stage hepatectomy: of these, four underwent a totally laparoscopic first step [wedge left liver resection and right portal vein ligation (PVL)]. All the patients were male. Median age was 55 years. One patient underwent an atypical wedge resection of segment II-III and a laparoscopic PVL (LPVL), one patient had a first wedge resection of segment II and LPVL, and two patients underwent a wedge resection of segment III and LPVL. First step surgical mean time was 189 (range, 160-244) min, mean blood loss was 22 (range, 0-50) cc. No transfusion was required in this series. The results of our study demonstrate that the first step of hepatic resection and PVL is feasible with a laparoscopic approach in patients with bilobar liver metastases.