[Selective use of vascular clamps in major hepatectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of a selective use of vascular occlusions in major hepatectomies according to the size and location of the hepatic lesion.


BACKGROUND
Total vascular exclusion (TVE) and portal triad clamping (PTC) ensure efficient hemostatic effect but lead to warm ischemia of the liver. Lobar vascular occlusion (LVO) avoids warm ischemia of the remnant liver but could result in increased blood loss.


METHODS
Sixty consecutive major hepatectomies were studied. TVE was applied in 22 patients with large lesions (= 10 cm) or lesions with connections to the major hepatic veins or inferior vena cava. PTC (n = 15) and LVO (n = 23) were applied in remaining cases.


RESULTS
Clamping method was efficient in 87%, 93% and 100% for LVO, PTC and TVE, respectively. Median blood transfusions were 0.3 and 2 units for LVO, PTC and TVE, respectively. Postoperative aminotransferase peak value was significantly lower after LVO than after PTC or TVE, while those peaks were not statistically different with these latter two methods. Postoperative prothrombin time fall value was identical in the three groups. Mortality was 3.3% (2/60) and was not influenced by the type of clamping, but both deaths and most complications occurred in patients with abnormal underlying liver parenchyma.


CONCLUSIONS
Provided that adequate techniques are used, the need for blood transfusions is more dependent on the characteristics of the resected tumor than on the type of clamping used. Total vascular exclusion does not create more ischemic injury to the liver than portal triad clamping and it should be recommended for the resection of large or strategically located tumors. Other tumors can be resected in more than 80% of the cases with LVO, thus avoiding ischemia to the remnant liver. With the control of hemorrhage, pathology of underlying liver parenchyma has emerged as the main prognostic factor in major liver resections.
Cherqui
D
D
Service de chirurgie digestive, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, France.
Goëré
D
D
Brunetti
F
F
Malassagne
B
B
Fagniez
P L
PL
D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003250:Constriction; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology