Comparing a virtual reality head-mounted display to on-screen three-dimensional visualization and two-dimensional computed tomography data for training in decision making in hepatic surgery: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the benefits of a virtual reality (VR) environment with a head-mounted display (HMD) for decision-making in liver surgery. BACKGROUND: Training in liver surgery involves appraising radiologic images and considering the patient's clinical information. Accurate assessment of 2D-tomography images is complex and requires considerable experience, and often the images are divorced from the clinical information. We present a comprehensive and interactive tool for visualizing operation planning data in a VR environment using a head-mounted-display and compare it to 3D visualization and 2D-tomography. METHODS: Ninety medical students were randomized into three groups (1:1:1 ratio). All participants analyzed three liver surgery patient cases with increasing difficulty. The cases were analyzed using 2D-tomography data (group "2D"), a 3D visualization on a 2D display (group "3D") or within a VR environment (group "VR"). The VR environment was displayed using the "Oculus Rift ™" HMD technology. Participants answered 11 questions on anatomy, tumor involvement and surgical decision-making and 18 evaluative questions (Likert scale). RESULTS: Sum of correct answers were significantly higher in the 3D (7.1 ± 1.4, p < 0.001) and VR (7.1 ± 1.4, p < 0.001) groups than the 2D group (5.4 ± 1.4) while there was no difference between 3D and VR (p = 0.987). Times to answer in the 3D (6:44 ± 02:22 min, p < 0.001) and VR (6:24 ± 02:43 min, p < 0.001) groups were significantly faster than the 2D group (09:13 ± 03:10 min) while there was no difference between 3D and VR (p = 0.419). The VR environment was evaluated as most useful for identification of anatomic anomalies, risk and target structures and for the transfer of anatomical and pathological information to the intraoperative situation in the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: A VR environment with 3D visualization using a HMD is useful as a surgical training tool to accurately and quickly determine liver anatomy and tumor involvement in surgery.

Efficacy of erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia after liver surgeries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Data on the effectiveness of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) for patients undergoing liver surgeries is limited and inconclusive. We hereby aimed to systematically review if ESPB can provide adequate analgesia after liver surgery. METHODS: PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Embase, and gray literature were examined up to 25th April 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ESPB with control or spinal analgesia. RESULTS: Nine RCTs were included of which three compared ESPB with spinal analgesia. 24-hour opioid consumption did not differ significantly between ESPB vs. control (MD: -35.25 95% CI: -77.01, 6.52 I2 = 99%) or ESPB vs. spinal analgesia (MD: 2.32 95% CI: -6.12, 10.77 I2 = 91%). Comparing pain scores between ESPB and control, a small but significant effect favoring ESPB was noted at 12 h and 48 h, but not at 6-8 h and 24 h. Pain scores did not differ between ESPB and spinal analgesia. The risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting was also not significantly different between ESPB vs. control or spinal analgesia. GRADE assessment shows moderate certainty of evidence. CONCLUSION: ESPB may not provide any significant postoperative analgesia in liver surgery patients. There was a tendency of reduced opioid consumption with ESPB. Limited data also showed that ESPB and spinal analgesia had no difference in pain scores and 24-hour analgesic consumption.

Interleukin-8 is superior to CRP for the prediction of severe complications in a prospective cohort of patients undergoing major liver resection.

INTRODUCTION: Early detection of severe complications may reduce morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hepatic resection. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated a panel of inflammatory blood markers for their value in predicting postoperative complications in patients undergoing liver surgery. METHODS: A total of 139 patients undergoing liver resections (45 wedge resections, 49 minor resections, and 45 major resections) were prospectively enrolled between August 2017 and December 2018. Leukocytes, CRP, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), thrombocyte-lymphocyte ratio (TLR), bilirubin, INR, and interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8) were measured in blood drawn preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 4, and 7. IL-6 and IL-8 were measured using standardized immunoassays approved for in vitro diagnostic use in Germany. ROC curve analysis was used to determine predictive values for the occurrence of severe postoperative complications (CDC ≥ 3). RESULTS: For wedge and minor resections, leukocyte counts at day 7 (AUC 0.80 and 0.82, respectively), IL-6 at day 7 (AUC 0.74 and 0.73, respectively), and CRP change (∆CRP) at day 7 (AUC 0.72 and 0.71, respectively) were significant predictors of severe postoperative complications. IL-8 failed in patients undergoing wedge resections, but was a significant predictor of severe complications after minor resections on day 7 (AUC 0.79), had the best predictive value in all patients on days 1, 4, and 7 (AUC 0.72, 0.72, and 0.80, respectively), and was the only marker with a significant predictive value in patients undergoing major liver resections (AUC on day 1: 0.70, day 4: 0.86, and day 7: 0.92). No other marker, especially not CRP, was predictive of severe complications after major liver surgery. CONCLUSION: IL-8 is superior to CRP in predicting severe complications in patients undergoing major hepatic resection and should be evaluated as a biomarker for patients undergoing major liver surgery. This is the first paper demonstrating a feasible implementation of IL-8 analysis in a clinical setting.

Total portal vein replacement with peritoneal interposition graft during Whipple's procedure for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a technical report.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive surgical resection in locally advanced hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) malignancies is frequently advocated as the only potentially curative treatment. In recent years, advances in chemotherapy regimens and surgical techniques have led to improved oncologic outcomes and overall survival, by increasing the rates of radical (R0) resections. Vascular resections are increasingly reported to further increase disease clearance rates. Within this perspective, the issue of vascular reconstruction has raised growing interest, drawing particular attention to vascular substitutes and surgical techniques for reconstruction. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with high clinical suspicion of vascular infiltration of the portal trunk at preoperative assessment is reported. An autologous interposition graft, harvested from diaphragmatic peritoneum, was chosen as a vascular substitute leading to successful portal trunk reconstruction and overcoming all possible drawbacks associated with cadaveric and artificial grafts reconstructions. CONCLUSION: This solution was strategic to ensure complete oncologic clearance averting the risk of positive margins (R1) at final pathology.

Navigated liver surgery: State of the art and future perspectives.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the development of digital imaging technology has had a significant influence in liver surgery. The ability to obtain a 3-dimensional (3D) visualization of the liver anatomy has provided surgery with virtual reality of simulation 3D computer models, 3D printing models and more recently holograms and augmented reality (when virtual reality knowledge is superimposed onto reality). In addition, the utilization of real-time fluorescent imaging techniques based on indocyanine green (ICG) uptake allows clinicians to precisely delineate the liver anatomy and/or tumors within the parenchyma, applying the knowledge obtained preoperatively through digital imaging. The combination of both has transformed the abstract thinking until now based on 2D imaging into a 3D preoperative conception (virtual reality), enhanced with real-time visualization of the fluorescent liver structures, effectively facilitating intraoperative navigated liver surgery (augmented reality). DATA SOURCES: A literature search was performed from inception until January 2021 in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane library and database for systematic reviews (CDSR), Google Scholar, and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) databases. RESULTS: Fifty-one pertinent articles were retrieved and included. The different types of digital imaging technologies and the real-time navigated liver surgery were estimated and compared. CONCLUSIONS: ICG fluorescent imaging techniques can contribute essentially to the real-time definition of liver segments; as a result, precise hepatic resection can be guided by the presence of fluorescence. Furthermore, 3D models can help essentially to further advancing of precision in hepatic surgery by permitting estimation of liver volume and functional liver remnant, delineation of resection lines along the liver segments and evaluation of tumor margins. In liver transplantation and especially in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), 3D printed models of the donor's liver and models of the recipient's hilar anatomy can contribute further to improving the results. In particular, pediatric LDLT abdominal cavity models can help to manage the largest challenge of this procedure, namely large-for-size syndrome.

Myocardial, renal and intestinal injury in liver resection surgery-A prospective observational pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative organ complications in liver resection surgery are not uncommon. This prospective observational pilot study was performed to evaluate the incidence, degree and timing of myocardial, renal and intestinal injury in patients undergoing liver resection surgery using the low central venous pressure (LCVP) technique and the Pringle manoeuvre. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained before, during and after elective liver resection until post-operative day (POD) 5. High-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT), serum creatinine, urea, intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), D-lactate, arterial lactate, portal lactate, amylase, as well as urine N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were analysed. Systemic haemodynamics were measured intraoperatively. RESULTS: Eighteen patients fulfilled the protocol. The Pringle manoeuvre was used in all but 1 patient. hs-TnT increased significantly over time (P < .001) and 5 patients (28%) developed myocardial injury. Five patients had a pre-operative elevation of hs-TnT, four of those developed myocardial injury. Serum creatinine increased significantly over time (P = .015). Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred in 5 patients (28%), while NAG, as a marker of tubular injury, was not affected. I-FABP increased over time (P < .001) with a maximal 75% increase at 3 hours after resection. D-lactate was below detection level at all measuring points. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing liver resection surgery, using LCVP technique and Pringle manoeuvre, myocardial injury was seen in approximately 30% of the patients post-operatively and almost 30% developed transient AKI in the early post-operative period with no tubular injury. Furthermore, a transient increase of the enterocyte damage marker I-FABP was demonstrated with no signs of gut barrier dysfunction.

Hemodynamically adjusted infrahepatic inferior venous cava clamping can reduce postoperative deterioration in renal function: a retrospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IIVC) clamping is beneficial for reducing the amount of bleeding during hepatic surgery, although the associated systemic circulatory deterioration is noticeable. The relationship between changes in the degree of IIVC clamping and postoperative renal function was retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: A total of 59 patients who underwent elective hepatic surgery with surgical IIVC clamping in the two years were analyzed. In 2016, constant 80% clamping of the IIVC was performed (29 cases), and in 2017, hemodynamically adjusted IIVC clamping was performed (30 cases). Intraoperative parameters, including total blood loss and number of blood transfusions, were examined. The use of each vasoactive agents was analyzed. Renal function in the acute postoperative phase was evaluated using serum creatinine (Cr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values. RESULTS: Comparison of the two groups showed that bolus doses of both ephedrine and phenylephrine were significantly higher in the 2016 group (P = 0.0221, 0.0017). Continuous doses of dopamine were significantly higher in the 2016 group, while those of noradrenaline were not. Postoperative serum Cr levels relative to baseline (%) were significantly higher in the 2016 group immediately after surgery and on postoperative day (POD) 1 (P = 0.0143, 0.0012). Postoperative eGFR relative to baseline (%) was significantly higher in the 2016 group immediately postoperatively and on PODs 1 and 2 (P = 0.0042, 0.0003, 0.0382). CONCLUSION: Hemodynamically adjustable IIVC clamping might be superior to uniformly fixed clamping in preserving renal function without compromising the desired effect on hemostasis.

Resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastasis from metastatic esophageal and gastric cancer: a nationwide study.

The standard of care for gastroesophageal cancer patients with hepatic or pulmonary metastases is best supportive care or palliative chemotherapy. Occasionally, patients can be selected for curative treatment instead. This study aimed to evaluate patients who underwent a resection of hepatic or pulmonary metastasis with curative intent. The Dutch national registry for histo- and cytopathology was used to identify these patients. Data were retrieved from the individual patient files. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. Between 1991 and 2016, 32,057 patients received a gastrectomy or esophagectomy for gastroesophageal cancer in the Netherlands. Of these patients, 34 selected patients received a resection of hepatic metastasis (n = 19) or pulmonary metastasis (n = 15) in 21 different hospitals. Only 4 patients received neoadjuvant therapy before metastasectomy. The majority of patients had solitary, metachronous metastases. After metastasectomy, grade 3 (Clavien-Dindo) complications occurred in 7 patients and mortality in 1 patient. After resection of hepatic metastases, the median potential follow-up time was 54 months. Median overall survival (OS) was 28 months and the 1-, 3-, and 5- year OS was 84%, 41%, and 31%, respectively. After pulmonary metastases resection, the median potential follow-up time was 80 months. The median OS was not reached and the 1-, 3-, and 5- year OS was 67%, 53%, and 53%, respectively. In selected patients with gastroesophageal cancer with hepatic or pulmonary metastases, metastasectomy was performed with limited morbidity and mortality and offered a 5-year OS of 31-53%. Further prospective studies are required.

Adaptive growth changes in the liver remnant are affected by the size of hepatectomy in rats.

In this study we investigated the dynamics of hepatocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy in rats subjected to increasing sizes of partial hepatectomy (PH). A total of 104 rats were randomized according to the size of PH. On postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3 and 5, blood was drawn and the remnant liver removed for stereological analysis. Liver parameters and regeneration rate were significantly affected by size of PH. On POD 1, hepatocyte volumes had increased significantly in all PH groups. On POD 3, all groups showed hepatocyte volumes approximating baseline. On POD 5, hepatocyte volumes were significantly lower in PH (90) than in baseline, sham and PH (30) rats. Increasing hepatocyte proliferation was not observed following PH (30). Following PH (70), cell proliferation was significantly elevated on PODs 1 and 3, and following PH (90) on PODs 3 and 5. In conclusion, general hypertrophy of hepatocytes after different size of PH was followed by hepatocyte proliferation only in the liver remnant of PH (70) and PH (90).

HEPATOFLUO: A prospective monocentric study assessing the benefits of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence for hepatic surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) is undergoing extensive development. This study aimed to assess the merits of ICG in regard to hepatic surgery. METHODS: Patients with liver lesions that required a resection were eligible. They received an injection of ICG the day before the surgery. Step 1 allowed assessment of use of the medical device under surgical conditions. Steps 2 and 3 assessed the capacity of the MD to detect known tumorous lesions and to spot a predefined area of the liver following injection of ICG into the portal vein (ICGp). RESULTS: The 1st step allowed for validation of the MD use with three patients. Between 04-2013 and 04-2015, 45 pts were included (40 eligible) in steps 2 and 3. All of the tumorous lesions (95/119) exhibited fluorescence. Four new metastasis were detected in 3 pts, and two missing metastases in 1 pt. False positive were 22%. The maximal depth for detection by fluorescence was 13 mm. Injection of ICGp allowed the corresponding anatomical area to be identified in 16/20 patients. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that intraoperative fluorescence is a helpful and relevant tool for the liver surgeon (NCT 01738217).

Safety and Efficacy of Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatic Hemangiomas: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective and minimally invasive technique for the management of hepatic hemangiomas (HHs). This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic RFA for HHs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with 50 hepatic hemangiomas (5-10 cm in diameter) undergoing laparoscopic RFA from January 2012 to May 2015 at three tertiary hospitals in China were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with subcapsular hemangiomas were treated with a laparoscopic approach, and 11 patients with lesions in the liver parenchyma were treated with a combined laparoscopy and an ultrasound-guided percutaneous approach. No conversion to open surgery or two-step surgery occurred during the study period. Patients with small hemangiomas (< 7 cm) required a significantly shorter operating time (71.1 ± 20.18 min vs. 106 ± 23.55 min, p = 0.000) and fewer punctures compared with patients with large hemangiomas (> 7 cm) (4.61 ± 1.09 vs. 6.73 ±1.01, P < 0.05). According to the Dindo-Clavien classification, 15 patients experienced 34 Grade 1 complications, and two had complications of Grade 3a. All complications were resolved by conservative treatment. Forty-three (86.0%) HHs in 38 patients were completely ablated after RFA, and 7 (14.0%) HHs in 6 patients were incompletely ablated. All patients were followed up for 6-24 months (mean 15 ± 6 months). CONCLUSION: The data showed that laparoscopic RFA is an effective treatment for small (< 10 cm) HHs. While the incidence of postoperative complications remains high, the majority of complications are minor. Patients undergoing laparoscopic RFA for HHs, even for the small ones, should be carefully selected.

Continuous or interrupted suture technique for hepaticojejunostomy? A national survey.

BACKGROUND: Hepaticojejunostomy is commonly used in hepato-bilio-pancreatic surgery and a crucial step in many surgical procedures, including pancreaticoduodenectomy. The most frequently used techniques are the interrupted suture and the continuous suture technique. Currently, there is no data available in regard to the utilization of these techniques. METHODS: In total, 102 hospitals in Germany were invited between September and November 2017 to participate in this survey. Using a paper-based questionnaire, data were collected on surgical technique and complication rates of hepaticojejunostomies. RESULTS: A total of 77 of the 102 addressed hospitals (76%) participated in the survey. On average, each hospital performed 71 hepaticojejunostomies per year - most often in the context of pancreaticoduodenectomy (71%). 24 (31%) hospitals exclusively use an interrupted suture technique, 7 (9%) hospitals solely a continuous suture technique, 3 (4%) hospitals perform a combination of continuous and interrupted suture technique and 43 (56%) hospitals decide on one of both techniques depending on intraoperative findings. According to the participants in this survey, the continuous suture technique is significantly faster than the interrupted suture technique in hepaticojejunostomy (p = 0,015). There were no significant differences in the overall complication rate (p = 0,902) and insufficiency rate (p = 1,000). CONCLUSIONS: In Germany, there is a heterogeneity in the technique used to create a hepaticojejunostomy. As our survey suggests that the use of continuous suture technique may offer an advantage in time without jeopardizing patient outcomes, the different techniques should be compared in a randomized controlled study.

[Multidisciplinary management of a giant hepatic hydatidosis]. / Prise en charge multidisciplinaire d'une volumineuse hydatidose hépatique.

Cystic echinococcosis or hydatidosis, is a zoonosis caused by larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus that can be encountered in Belgium in patients originating from endemic countries. The liver is the most commonly affected organ. In this paper, the authors describe the multidisciplinary management of this pathology based on the clinical case of a patient suffering from a 28 cm cystic echinococcosis treated by combination of albendazole and liver resection. Several treatment options are described in the literature although there is currently no clear consensus on the management of this condition.

L'échinococcose cystique, appelée aussi hydatidose, est une zoonose causée par le développement chez l'homme de la larve d'un ténia échinocoque de type Echinococcus granulosus. Il s'agit d'une pathologie cosmopolite qui peut être rencontrée en Belgique chez des patients originaires de pays endémiques et qui atteint, le plus souvent, le foie. Dans cet article, les auteurs discutent la prise en charge multidisciplinaire de cette pathologie en partant du cas d'un patient souffrant d'un kyste échinococcique hépatique de 28 cm traité par albendazole et résection hépatique. Plusieurs options de traitement de l'échinococcose cystique sont décrites dans la littérature bien qu'il n'existe pas, à l'heure actuelle, de consensus clair concernant la prise en charge de cette pathologie.

[Milestones in liver surgery]. / Mérföldkövek a máj sebészetében.

Numerous outstanding summarizing publications on the milestones of the rapid development of liver surgery in the twentieth century came to light around the year 2000, therefore in this summary only the newest principles and novelties of liver surgery after the second millennium are presented. Among the new principles, the newest indications, the bloodless surgery and the vascular exclusion of the liver, the "associating liver partition and portal vein occlusion for staged hepatectomy" (ALPPS) - as presently the fastest and most successful method for liver regeneration, and the "downsizing of tumors" treatment for the interest of resection of unresectable tumours are analyzed and evaluated. Open, laparoscopic, and robotic liver surgery are discussed by comparing blood loss, operating time, cost, and long-term results. Laparoscopic liver surgery on the basis of evidences has become "the method of choice" in our days. Robotic liver surgery needs further evidence-based data for determination of its place in the clinical practice. An intention is also composed in terms of place-determination of liver surgery between gastrointestinal, hepatopancreatobiliary, liver transplantation, and oncologic surgery. The mortality rate has decreased to 1% recently; the data regarding morbidity are variable; the modified Clavien-Dindo, the modified Accordion complication system and the comprehensive complication index are intended to move the different evaluations to a common ground. The up-to-date idea of hepatic surgeon, liver center and liver surgery are defined in close cooperation with international theoretical and practical outcome, in the limelight of multidisciplinarity and multimodality. The internationally observed inequalities in liver surgery are also discussed from the point of view of tackling with the inequalities existing in the universal healthcare systems on a local, national and global level by collecting and controlling the results systematically, and developing and implying international guidelines on the basis of evidences. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(10): 375-383.

Treatment and outcomes of recurrent hepatocellular carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Surgery is one of the best options for curative treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Recurrences are nevertheless common (45-75%). This study aimed to compare overall survival (OS) of patients with recurrent HCC after primary resection to OS of patients without recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective review of all HCC patients operated between 1993 and 2015 was performed. Median and 5-year OS were calculated. RESULTS: This study included 147 HCC patients. Sixty-seven patients presented a recurrence (46%). Patients with recurrence had a worse prognosis than those without recurrence (median OS 63 vs. 82 months, 5-year OS 47 vs. 54%, p = 0.036). First-line performed treatments were radiofrequency ablation (18, RFA), chemo-embolization (16, TACE), repeat hepatectomy (10), systemic chemotherapy (4), radio-embolization (1), and alcoholization (1). Palliative care was performed in 17 patients. Median OS of patients treated by RFA, TACE, or repeat hepatectomy were similar (77, 71, and 84 months, p = 0.735). Patients treated with chemotherapy/palliative care had lower median OS compared to interventional treatments (20 vs. 77 months, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence after surgical HCC resection is frequent and negatively impacts OS. Interventional treatments of recurrences offered improved outcomes compared to medical care. In selected patients, RFA, TACE, and repeat hepatectomy allowed similar OS as non-recurrent cases.

Surgery for hepatic hidatidosis. Risk factors and variables associated with postoperative morbidity. Overview of the existing evidence. / Cirugía de la hidatidosis hepática. Factores de riesgo y variables asociadas al desarrollo de morbilidad postoperatoria. Revisión global de la evidencia existente.

There are few publications related to postoperative morbidity in hepatic hydatidosis and these have mixed results. The aim of this study was to determine risk and protective factors of postoperative morbidity in patients operated on for hepatic hydatidosis. A comprehensive review was made of the evidence, based on systematic reviews, clinical analyses and observational studies, obtained from the Trip Database, BVS, SciELO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WoS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, EBSCOhost, IBECS, ePORTUGUESe, LILACS and WHOLIS. 1,087 related articles were identified; 69 fulfilled the selection criteria (2 systematic reviews, 3 clinical trials and 64 observational studies). Age, history of previous surgery for hepatic hydatidosis, location in the hepatic center, existence of biliary communications and evolutionary complications of the cyst were identified as risk factors, and radical surgical techniques as protective factors. Risk and protective factors were identified; however, the studies are few and the quality moderate to low.

Fibrocaps for surgical hemostasis: two randomized, controlled phase II trials.

BACKGROUND: Fibrocaps, a ready-to-use, dry-powder fibrin sealant containing human plasma-derived thrombin and fibrinogen, is being developed as an adjunct for surgical hemostasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Safety and efficacy of Fibrocaps applied directly or by spray device, in combination with gelatin sponge, was compared with that of gelatin sponge-alone in two randomized, single-blind controlled trials: FC-002 US (United States) and FC-002 NL (the Netherlands). A total of 126 adult patients were randomized (Fibrocaps: n = 47 [FC-002 US], n = 39 [FC-002 NL]; gelatin sponge alone: n = 23 [FC-002 US], n = 17 [FC-002 NL). One bleeding site was treated during a surgical procedure (n = 125). Time to hemostasis (primary end point) was measured, with a 28-d safety follow-up. Four surgical indications included hepatic resection (n = 58), spinal procedures (n = 37), peripheral vascular procedures (n = 30), and soft tissue dissection (n = 1). RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) time to hemostasis was significantly shorter after Fibrocaps treatment than after gelatin sponge alone (FC-002 US: 1.9 [1.3] versus 4.8 min [3.1], P < 0.001; FC-002 NL: 2.2 [1.3] versus 4.4 min [3.1], P = 0.004). The incidence of hemostasis was greater after Fibrocaps compared with that of gelatin sponge alone within 3 min (FC-002 US: 83% versus 35%, P < 0.001; FC-002 NL: 77% versus 53%, P = 0.11), 5 min (94% versus 61%, P = 0.001; 95% versus 71%, P = 0.022), and 10 min (100% versus 78%, P = 0.003; 100% versus 82%, P = 0.025). Adverse events were consistent with surgical procedures performed and patients' underlying diseases and generally similar between treatment arms; most were mild or moderate in severity. Non-neutralizing antithrombin antibodies were detected in 5% of Fibrocaps-treated patients on day 29. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrocaps had good safety and efficacy profiles, supporting continuing clinical development as a novel fibrin sealant.

First experience on laparoscopic near-infrared fluorescence imaging of hepatic uveal melanoma metastases using indocyanine green.

BACKGROUND: Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults, and up to 50% of patients will develop liver metastases. Complete surgical resection of these metastases can improve 5-year survival, but only a few patients are eligible for radical surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to introduce a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence laparoscope during minimally invasive surgery for intraoperative identification of uveal melanoma hepatic metastases and to use it to provide guidance during resection. METHODS: Three patients diagnosed with one solitary liver metastasis from uveal melanoma are presented. Patients received 10 mg indocyanine green (ICG) intravenously 24 hours before surgery. A NIR fluorescence laparoscope was used to detect malignant liver lesions. RESULTS: In all 3 patients, laparoscopic NIR fluorescence imaging using ICG successfully identified uveal melanoma metastases. In 2 patients, multiple additional lesions were identified by inspection and NIR fluorescence imaging, which were not identified by preoperative conventional imaging. In one patient, one additional lesion, not identified by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, laparoscopic ultrasonography, and inspection, was observed with NIR fluorescence imaging only. Importantly, NIR fluorescence imaging provided guidance during resection of these metastases. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the successful use of laparoscopic identification and resection of uveal melanoma liver metastases using NIR fluorescence imaging and ICG. This procedure is minimally invasive and should be used as complementary to conventional techniques for the detection and resection of liver metastases.

Consensus and controversy in hepatic surgery: a survey of Canadian surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity in practice provides an opportunity for further study, as it may [IRT Rev 1] reflect deficiencies in knowledge translation or knowledge gaps. This survey aimed to assess practice patterns for the surgical treatment of malignancies of the liverwith the goal of identifying areas of variability. METHODS: We created a web-based survey focusing on scope of surgical practice, pre-and post-operative measures and practice patterns for liver and biliary surgery. We piloted the survey for clarity and made changes as needed. All members of the Canadian Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Association (CHPBA) were invited to participate. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. RESULTS: The survey was sent to sixty-nine surgeons and thirty-six (52%) completed the survey in its entirety. Areas of agreement include defining the resectability of a tumourand in imaging modalities used to determine resectability. Variability surrounded utlilization of blood conservation strategies, withlow CVP anesthesia frequently used and all other strategies (autologous blood donation, acute normovolemic hemodilution, cell-saver, and tranexamic acid) rarely used. Post-operative analgesic technique was variable with epidural analgesia (50%) and IV-PCA (35.3%) nearly equally preferred. CONCLUSIONS: There is variability in some techniques and approaches used by hepatobiliary surgeons. Future research focusing on areas of uncertainty including techniques of blood conservation and post-operative analgesia are needed.