Laparoscopic Resection of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Surgical resection is the only curative treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Laparoscopic hepatectomy has been used to treat several types of liver neoplasms. However, technical issues have limited the adoption of laparoscopy for the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. To date there is only one report of minimally invasive procedure for hilar cholangiocarcinoma in the literature. The present video-assisted procedure shows a laparoscopic resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Patient and Methods: A 43-year-old woman with progressive jaundice due to left-sided hilar cholangiocarcinoma was referred for treatment. The decision was to perform a laparoscopic left hepatectomy with lymphadenectomy and resection of extrahepatic bile ducts. Biliary reconstruction was performed using the hybrid method. Results: Operative time was 300 minutes with minimum blood loss and no need for blood transfusion. Recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative Day 7. Pathology revealed a well-differentiated cholangiocarcinoma with negative lymph nodes and clear surgical margins. The patient is well with no signs of the disease 18 months after the procedure. Conclusions: Laparoscopic left hepatectomy with lymphadenectomy is safe and feasible in selected patients and when performed by surgeons with expertise in liver surgery and minimally invasive techniques. The use of a hybrid method may be needed for biliary reconstruction, especially in cases where position and size of remnant bile ducts may jeopardize the anastomosis. Further studies are still needed to confirm the benefit of this approach over conventional surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Robotic Resection of Intraductal Neoplasm of the Pancreas

Abstract Background: Minimally invasive techniques have been revolutionary and provide clinical evidence of decreased morbidity and comparable efficacy to traditional open surgery. Computer-assisted surgical devices have recently been approved for general surgical use. Aim: The aim of this study was to report the first known case of pancreatic resection with the use of a computerassisted, or robotic, surgical device in Latin America. Patient and Methods: A 37-year-old female with a previous history of radical mastectomy for bilateral breast cancer due to a BRCA2 mutation presented with an acute pancreatitis episode. Radiologic investigation disclosed an intraductal pancreatic neoplasm located in the neck of the pancreas with atrophy of the body and tail. The main pancreatic duct was enlarged. The surgical decision was to perform a laparoscopic subtotal pancreatectomy, using the da Vinci Ò robotic system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). Five trocars were used. Pancreatic transection was achieved with vascular endoscopic stapler. The surgical specimen was removed without an additional incision. Results: Operative time was 240 minutes. Blood loss was minimal, and the patient did not receive a transfusion. The recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. Conclusions: The subtotal laparoscopic pancreatic resection can safely be performed. The da Vinci robotic system allowed for technical refinements of laparoscopic pancreatic resection. Robotic assistance improved the dissection and control of major blood vessels due to three-dimensional visualization of the operative field and instruments with wrist-type end-effectors

ALPPS Procedure with the Use of Pneumoperitoneum

ABSTRACT Background. A new method for liver hypertrophy was recently introduced, the so-called associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) procedure. We present a video of an ALPPS procedure with the use of pneumoperitoneum. Methods. A 29-year-old woman with colon cancer and synchronous liver metastasis underwent a two-stage liver resection by the ALPPS technique because of an extremely small future liver remnant. Results. The first operation began with 30 min pneumoperitoneum. Anatomical resection of segment 2 was performed, followed by multiple enucleations on the left liver. The right portal vein was ligated and the liver partitioned. The abdominal cavity was partially closed, and a 10 mm trocar was left to create a pneumoperitoneum for additional 30 min. The patient had an adequate future liver remnant volume after 7 days, but she was not clinically fit for the second stage of therapy, so it was postponed. She was discharged on day 7 after surgery. The second stage took place 3 weeks later and consisted of an en-bloc right trisectionectomy extended to segment 1. The patient recovered and was discharged 9 days after second-stage surgery. Postoperative CT scan revealed an enlarged remnant liver. Conclusions. The ALPPS procedure is a new revolutionary technique that permits R0 resection even in patients with massive liver metastasis. The use of pneumoperitoneum during the first stage is an easy tool that may prevent hard adhesions, allowing an easier second stage. This video may help oncological surgeons to perform and standardize this challenging procedure. Surgical resection is the only curative modality of treatment in patients with colorectal liver metastases. Although multiple and bilobar metastases are correlated with the worst prognosis, this condition should not be considered a contraindication to hepatic resection, because even in this situation, surgery is still the only curative treatment. 1-3 The most common strategy for these patients is to perform neoadjuvant therapy followed by two-stage hepatectomy with minor resections on the left lateral liver (future liver remnant, FLR) combined with right portal vein occlusion as the first stage, followed by right trisectionectomy. 2 However, insufficient FLR volume may preclude liver resection even after portal vein occlusion. To overcome this problem, a new method to increase liver hypertrophy before extended hepatectomy was recently described by a German multicenter study and validated by the group of de Santibañes and Clavien

Hepatite fulminante: estudo dos fatores associados à mortalidade hospitalar de 100 pacientes priorizados para transplante de fígado

Introdução. A despeito dos avanços nos cuidados de terapia intensiva e no transplante de fígado (TF), a hepatite fulminante (HF) ainda hoje apresenta alta taxa de mortalidade. A identificação de fatores prognósticos de maior acurácia deve ajudar a otimizar a priorização dos pacientes em lista de espera para o TF. Objetivo. Avaliar fatores prognósticos de mortalidade hospitalar dos pacientes com HF priorizados para TF. Métodos. Foram estudados retrospectivamente 100 pacientes adultos (78 mulheres, idade média 35,5 ± 14,7 anos) com HF priorizados para TF, em um único centro, de fevereiro de 2002 a junho de 2011. O diagnóstico etiológico foi hepatite viral em 17% dos casos, medicamentosa em 29%, autoimune em 13%, criptogênica em 34% e outras causas em 7%. A indicação do TF foi determinada de acordo com os critérios de O’Grady. Foram avaliados: idade, sexo, etiologia, intervalo icterícia/encefalopatia, intervalo entre a priorização e o TF, grau de encefalopatia, tempo de internação, RNI, fator V, bilirrubina, creatinina, AST, ALT, lactato e Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD). Todos os dados foram coletados do dia da priorização. Resultados. O intervalo entre a priorização e o TF foi de 1,5 dias (0 a 9) e o tempo de internação foi de 18 ± 27 dias. A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 69%. Os pacientes não sobreviventes apresentaram na priorização maior grau de encefalopatia [3 (1 a 4) vs. 2 (1 a 4)], MELD (41 ± 9 vs. 38 ± 7) e lactato (62,2 ± 45,2 vs. 33,9 ± 16,0 mg/dL) quando comparados com os sobreviventes (p<0,05). Dos 100 pacientes, 69% foram submetidos ao TF, os outros 31% morreram antes do TF. Os pacientes não transplantados apresentaram maior grau de encefalopatia [4 (1 a 4) vs. 3 (1 a 4)], MELD (44 ± 8 vs. 38 ± 8), lactato (78,4 ± 48,3 vs. 41,8 ± 30,6 mg/dL) e creatinina (2,60 ± 2,34 vs. 1,55 ± 1,54 mg/dL) quando comparados aos pacientes submetidos ao TF (p<0.05). Conclusão. No momento da priorização para o TF, os pacientes com HF que apresentam condição clínica mais grave, com encefalopatia graus 3 ou 4, insuficiência renal, escores mais elevados de MELD e lactato elevado, têm maior taxa de mortalidade hospitalar mesmo quando submetidos ao TF, indicando pior prognóstico

Intrahepatic Glissonian Approach for Pure Laparoscopic Left Hemihepatectomy

Background: Recent advances in laparoscopic devices and experience with advanced techniques have increased the indications for laparoscopic liver. Aim: The aim of this work was to present a video with technical aspects of a pure laparoscopic left hemi-hepatectomy (segments 2, 3, and 4) by using the intrahepatic Glissonian approach and control of venous outflow without hilar dissection or the Pringle maneuver. Patient and Method: A 63-year-old woman with a 5-cm solitary liver metastasis was referred for treatment. Four trocars were used. The left lobe was pulled upward and the lesser omentum was divided, exposing Arantius' ligament. This ligament is a useful landmark for the identification of the main left Glissonian pedicle. A small anterior incision was made in front of the hilum, and a large clamp was introduced behind the Arantius' ligament toward the anterior incision, allowing control of the left main sheath. Ischemic discoloration of the left liver was achieved and marked with cautery. The vascular clamp was replaced by a stapler. If ischemic delineation was coincident with a previously marked area, the stapler was fired. The left hepatic vein was dissected and encircled. Parenchymal transection and vascular control of the hepatic veins were accomplished with a Harmonic scalpel and an endoscopic stapling device, as appropriate. All these steps were performed without the Pringle maneuver and without hand assistance. Results: Operative time was 220 minutes with minimum blood loss. Hospital stay was 4 days. Pathology showed free surgical margins. The patient is alive with no signs of recurrence 18 months after the operation. Conclusion: Totally laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy is safe and feasible in selected patients and should be considered for patients with benign or malignant liver neoplasms. The described technique, with the use of the intrahepatic Glissonian approach and control of venous outflow, may facilitate laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy by reducing the technical difficulties in pedicle control and may decrease bleeding during liver transection