Liver resection using bipolar InLine multichannel radiofrequency device: impact on intra- and peri-operative outcomes

A novel internal cold circulation radiofrequency-assisted device for liver transection

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new internal cold circulation bipolar radiofrequency compared with Habib-4X bipolar radiofrequency device in the resection of liver tumors.

METHODS

A total of 85 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who received radiofrequency-assisted liver resection from February 2017 to January 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in our study, in which 45 patients received the new internal cold circulation bipolar radiofrequency (New-RF) and 40 patients received Habib-4X bipolar radiofrequency (Habib-4X). Primary outcome measures were the speed of liver transection, the width of coagulation tissue, hemorrhage volume, blood transfusion rate, and operation time.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics of patients in the New-RF and Habib-4X groups had no significant difference (p > 0.05). Compared to Habib-4X, the New-RF had a faster average speed of liver transection (4.81 ± 1.20 cm²/min vs 3.64 ± 1.08 cm²/min, p < 0.001), a narrower width of coagulation tissue (1.42 ± 0.23 cm² vs 1.81 ± 0.20 cm², p < 0.001), a less operation time (55.04 ± 16.12 min vs 64.02 ± 15.09 min, p = 0.010), a lower rate of needle path bleeding (13.3% vs 35.0%, p = 0.019), and a lower carbonization rate of electrode needle (22.2% vs 77.8%, p < 0.001). Hemorrhage during the transection (85.0 ml vs 105.0 ml, p = 0.438) and hemorrhage per square centimeter (3.28 ± 0.86 ml/cm² vs 3.60 ± 1.12 ml/cm², p = 0.141) in the New-RF group were smaller than those in Habib-4X group with no significant difference.

CONCLUSION

The new internal cold circulation bipolar radiofrequency was a safe and efficacious auxiliary device for liver resection with a faster speed of resection, lower carbonization rate of electrode needle, and more precise range of coagulation.

Generation and validation of a formula to calculate hemoglobin loss on a cohort of healthy adults subjected to controlled blood loss

Background

The ability to approximate intra-operative hemoglobin loss with reasonable precision and linearity is prerequisite for determination of a relevant surgical outcome parameter: This information enables comparison of surgical procedures between different techniques, surgeons or hospitals, and supports anticipation of transfusion needs. Different formulas have been proposed, but none of them were validated for accuracy, precision and linearity against a cohort with precisely measured hemoglobin loss and, possibly for that reason, neither has established itself as gold standard. We sought to identify the minimal dataset needed to generate reasonably precise and accurate hemoglobin loss prediction tools and to derive and validate an estimation formula.

Methods

Routinely available clinical and laboratory data from a cohort of 401 healthy individuals with controlled hemoglobin loss between 29 and 233 g were extracted from medical charts. Supervised learning algorithms were applied to identify a minimal data set and to generate and validate a formula for calculation of hemoglobin loss.

Results

Of the classical supervised learning algorithms applied, the linear and Ridge regression models performed at least as well as the more complex models. Most straightforward to analyze and check for robustness, we proceeded with linear regression. Weight, height, sex and hemoglobin concentration before and on the morning after the intervention were sufficient to generate a formula for estimation of hemoglobin loss. The resulting model yields an outstanding R² of 53.2% with similar precision throughout the entire range of volumes or donor sizes, thereby meaningfully outperforming previously proposed medical models.

Conclusions

The resulting formula will allow objective benchmarking of surgical blood loss, enabling informed decision making as to the need for pre-operative type-and-cross only vs. reservation of packed red cell units, depending on a patient’s anemia tolerance, and thus contributing to resource management.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-02783-9.

Liver Transection with Precoagulation Therapy in Liver Cirrhosis: Effective Use of an Energy Device at Hepatectomy

Background

Hepatectomy for liver cirrhosis patients requires skillful surgical technique and careful attention because of the fibrotic parenchyma, elevated portal pressure, and impaired coagulation. This report evaluated short- and long-term outcomes for liver cirrhosis patients receiving precoagulation therapy on the parenchymal transection plane, compared with noncoagulation cases.

Methods

Seventy-three patients diagnosed with cirrhosis via postoperative pathological findings were selected after reviewing 887 hepatectomy patient files. They were divided into a precoagulation group (n = 20) and a noncoagulation group (n = 53). There were no significant differences in patient and tumor factors between 2 groups.

Results

The precoagulation group had significantly less blood loss compared with noncoagulation group [282 vs 563g (P &lt; 0.05)], shorter operative time [214 vs 276 min (P = 0.06)], and shorter postoperative hospital stays [14.5 vs 22.5 days (P = 0.12)]. The median recurrence free survival rates time in the pre-coagulation group (733 days) was significantly longer than that in the non-coagulation group (400 days) (P &lt; 0.05). Overall survival rates showed rates showed no difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.62).

Conclusions

Precoagulation therapy may be the a preferred treatment application for hepatectomy patients with severe liver fibrosis.

Short- and long-term outcomes of hepatectomy with or without radiofrequency-assist for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas: a retrospective comparative cohort study

The objective of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of radiofrequency-assisted liver resection (RFLR) and conventional clamp-crushing liver resection (CCLR) and to evaluate the safety and efficiency of RFLR. Between January 2008 and December 2012, a total of 597 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent curative hepatectomy were identified. A total of 272 patients underwent RFLR, and 325 patients received CCLR. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared. The patients in the RFLR and CCLR groups showed similar baseline characteristics. The RFLR group showed less intraoperative blood loss (485.5 vs. 763.2 mL, p = 0.003), a lower transfusion requirement rate (19.1 vs. 31.7%, p ≤ 0.01), shorter surgery duration (211 vs. 296 min, p ≤ 0.01) and a lower vascular inflow occlusion rate (25.7 vs. 33.8%, p = 0.032). No significant postoperative changes in bilirubin or liver enzymes were observed in the two groups. The degree of postoperative complications and morbidity did not significantly differ between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival rates (73.8%, 58.5%, and 55.7% vs. 80.8%, 65.8%, and 56.2%, respectively) or disease-free rates (51.9%, 47.2%, and 46.0% vs. 54.5%, 44.9%, and 38.5%, respectively) between the RFLR and CCLR groups. These results suggested RFLR was a safe and efficient method for patients with HCC. RFLR was associated with decreased blood loss, fewer blood transfusions, shorter surgery times and less vascular inflow occlusion application. The RFLR group did not show increased liver injury or postoperative morbidity or mortality.

Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma using a microwave tissue coagulator: Experience of 1118 cases

AIM: To present our extensive experience of hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma using a microwave tissue coagulator to demonstrate the effectiveness of this device.

METHODS: A total of 1118 cases (1990-2013) were reviewed, with an emphasis on intraoperative blood loss, postoperative bile leakage and fluid/abscess formation, and adaptability to anatomical resection and hepatectomy with hilar dissection.

RESULTS: The median intraoperative blood loss was 250 mL; postoperative bile leakage and fluid/abscess formation were seen in 3.0% and 3.3% of cases, respectively. Anatomical resection was performed in 275 cases, including 103 cases of hilar dissection that required application of microwave coagulation near the hepatic hilum. There was no clinically relevant biliary tract stricture or any vascular problems due to heat injury. Regarding the influence of cirrhosis on intraoperative blood loss, no significant difference was seen between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients (P = 0.38), although cirrhotic patients tended to have smaller tumors and underwent less invasive operations.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated outcomes of an extensive experience of hepatectomy using heat coagulative necrosis by microwave tissue coagulator.

Efficiency and safety of radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis: A single-center retrospective cohort study

AIM: To assess the efficiency and safety of radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis.

METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2013, 179 patients with HCC and cirrhosis were recruited for this retrospective study. Of these, 100 patients who received radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy (RF+ group) were compared to 79 patients who had hepatectomy without ablation (RF- group). The primary endpoint was intraoperative blood loss. The secondary endpoints included liver function, postoperative complications, mortality, and duration of hospital stay.

RESULTS: The characteristics of the two groups were closely matched. The Pringle maneuver was not used in the RF+ group. There was significantly less median intraoperative blood loss in the RF+ group (300 vs 400 mL, P = 0.01). On postoperative days (POD) 1 and 5, median alanine aminotransferase was significantly higher in the RF+ group than in the RF- group (POD 1: 348.5 vs 245.5, P = 0.01; POD 5: 112 vs 82.5, P = 0.00), but there was no significant difference between the two groups on POD 3 (260 vs 220, P = 0.24). The median AST was significantly higher in the RF+ group on POD 1 (446 vs 268, P = 0.00), but there was no significant difference between the two groups on POD 3 and 5 (POD 3: 129.5 vs 125, P = 0.65; POD 5: 52.5 vs 50, P = 0.10). Overall, the rate of postoperative complications was roughly the same in these two groups (28.0% vs 17.7%, P = 0.11) except that post hepatectomy liver failure was far more common in the RF+ group than in the RF- group (6% vs 0%, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy can reduce intraoperative blood loss during liver resection effectively. However, this method should be used with caution in patients with concomitant cirrhosis because it may cause severe liver damage and liver failure.