Evolution of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy: Simpler, safer and equally effective methods.

Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) has been recently demonstrated as a method to induce rapid and extensive hypertrophy within a short time and has been employed for a variety of primary and metastatic liver tumors. However, controversies remain due to its high morbidity and mortality. To enable safer surgery, liver surgeons have searched for better technical modifications, such as partial ALPPS, mini-ALPPS, minimally invasive ALPPS, and Terminal branches portal vein Embolization Liver Partition for Planned hepatectomy (TELPP). It seems that TELPP is very promising, because it has the main advantage of ALPPS - the rapid increase of future liver remnant volume, but the morbidity and mortality are much lower because only one surgical operation is required.

[Clinical study of percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce an innovative procedure for portal hypertension with preliminary results and assess the technical feasibility and efficacy of portosystemic shunt creation through percutaneous transhepatic approach with its potential clinical significance. METHODS: Between November 2009 and January 2011, 8 patients with complicated portal hypertension underwent percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PTIPS). The severity of liver disease was Child's A (n = 2), Child's B (n = 3) and Child's C (n = 3). Under fluoroscopic guidance, portal vein (PV) was punctured with a 22-gauge Chiba needle. A 0.018-inch guidewire was advanced through the needle into PV lumen. The needle was exchanged and a 7-French sheath inserted over the wire. Then retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RIVC) or hepatic vein (HV) was punctured with a 20-gauge, 20-cm Chiba needle through sheath. Another 0.018-inch guidewire was advanced through the needle into right internal jugular vein and then snared out of body. A 0.035-inch, 260-cm-long stiff shaft wire was then introduced through the transjugular sheath and manipulated into main portal vein (MPV) and then into superior mesenteric vein (SMV). Afterward the PTIPS procedure was completed in the standard transjugular fashion. RESULTS: The procedure was technically successful in all patients. And effective portal decompression and free antegrade shunt flow were achieved. The mean portal pressure gradient decreased from 31.0 ± 4.3 to 18.9 ± 2.7 mm Hg before and after PTIPS creation respectively and the difference was significant statistically (P < 0.01). Among 8 patients, 1 developed hepatic coma and died after 5 days while the other 7 patients survived. The median follow-up period was 9 months (range: 2 - 20). Among 5 patients with PTIPS created for bleeding varices, no recurrent bleeding occurred during the follow-up period. For the patient with diffuse portal vein thrombosis, the clinical symptoms disappeared after PTIPS and computed tomography (CT) showed the shunt was occluded after 4 months. One patient with refractory ascites had a recurrence of abdominal distention after 2 months. There was a stenotic shunt on CT. Cure was achieved by replanting a stent in MPV. CONCLUSION: PTIPS is both safe and effective for the treatment of portal hypertension with exceptionally challenging anatomy. It is an available supplement for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.