Assessment of Preoperative Liver Function for Surgical Decision Making in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have underlying liver disease and a preoperative liver function evaluation is important to avoid postoperative liver failure and death. In Western guidelines, portal hypertension (PH) is listed as a contraindication for liver resection. On the other hand, the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICG R15) has been widely used in Asian countries for surgical decision making. However, these criteria are based on reports published in the 20th century that included only a small number of patients and were developed empirically. SUMMARY: The number of published case series concerning liver resection in HCC patients with PH has been rapidly increasing since 2011, indicating that liver resection in HCC patients with PH is now routinely performed in specialized centers worldwide. Although PH certainly has an impact and should be considered as a contraindication for major liver resection, it is no longer considered to be a contraindication for minor liver resection, especially laparoscopic liver resection. In addition, new biomarkers and imaging tools to assess preoperative liver function have been extensively reported. The combination of these new factors to well-known risk factors, such as PH and ICG R15, might strengthen the ability to stratify the risk of postoperative liver failure. KEY MESSAGES: The present review covers recent topics regarding the assessment of preoperative liver function for surgical decision making in patients with HCC.

Laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy combined with a novel self-assessment system and feedback discussion: a phase 1 surgical trial following the IDEAL guidelines.

PURPOSE: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is the standard yet complicated procedure for periampullary tumors. To introduce a laparoscopic approach for PD (Lap-PD), a robust and objective assessment system to evaluate the quality of this approach is needed. We describe a phase 1 surgical trial of Lap-PD (Registration ID: UMIN000015328) as a triad of surgery, novel self-assessment system, and feedback discussion implementing the Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study (IDEAL) guidelines. METHODS: This was a surgical phase I trial (corresponding to IDEAL stage 1) approved by the Ethics Committee of our hospital. The resection sequence was divided into 10 parts that were assessed and classified into one of four grades of achievement. Evaluation of each part was then integrated, and the whole Lap-PD was categorized into three grades of achievement. We set discontinuance criteria based on historical surgical outcome of open PD. The previous case was discussed before each new case, and measures to overcome problems were implemented. Five patients underwent Lap-PD. RESULTS: All Lap-PDs were completed laparoscopically and reconstructed via mini-laparotomy. One patient suffered recurrent ileus requiring re-laparotomy to resolve a severe adhesion. After 1 year, no patient suffered disease recurrence or complication. Based on the self-assessment system, four Lap-PDs were successful, whereas one was rated as feasible owing to bleeding requiring conversion of resection sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Our triad system for evaluating Lap-PD could be a useful tool for the safe introduction and maintenance of Lap-PD.

Advances in Assessment and Planning for Surgical Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

This chapter covers recent important topics relevant to ensuring safe liver resection. In particular, preoperative and intraoperative techniques, such as 3-dimensional CT, intraoperative ultrasonography with contrast agent and fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green are reportedly useful and have been applied to liver resection and liver transplantation. We, herein, describe the performance of liver resection under the guidance of these techniques and present tips for more accurate intraoperative tumor detection and safer surgical procedures.

Using a 'no drain' policy in 342 laparoscopic hepatectomies: which factors predict failure?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify factors that predict the failure of a 'no drain' policy in laparoscopic hepatectomy. METHODS: Surgical outcomes in 342 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy were reviewed. Drains were placed only for the following predefined criteria: (i) intraoperative bile leak; (ii) bilioenteric anastomosis, and (iii) increased risk for postoperative bleeding ('no drain' policy). Factors leading to need for postoperative drainage or reoperation were evaluated. RESULTS: Drains were placed in 44 patients (drainage group). Postoperatively, additional procedures were required in five (11.4%) patients in the drainage group and in 18 (6.0%) patients in the no-drainage group. Multivariate analysis suggested that blood loss of >400 ml [odds ratio (OR) 4.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41-14.2; P = 0.010] and preoperative chemotherapy (OR = 2.24, 95% CI 0.82-6.48; P = 0.120) may increase the risk for need for postoperative procedures when intraoperative prophylactic drainage is not used. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic drainage during liver resection should be considered not only in the presence of uncontrollable bile leak or concern for postoperative bleeding risk, but also in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those in whom intraoperative blood loss is >400 ml. Otherwise, a 'no drain' policy is safe and would enhance the advantages of minimally invasive liver surgery.