Complete versus selective portal triad clamping for minor liver resections: a prospective randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility, safety, efficacy, amount of hemorrhage, postoperative complications, and ischemic injury of selective clamping in patients undergoing minor liver resections.


BACKGROUND
Inflow occlusion can reduce blood loss during hepatectomy. However, Pringle maneuver produces ischemic injury to the remaining liver. Selective hemihepatic vascular occlusion technique can reduce the severity of visceral congestion and total liver ischemia.


METHODS
Eighty patients undergoing minor hepatic resection were randomly assigned to complete clamping (CC) or selective clamping (SC). Hemodynamic parameters, including portal pressure and the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), were evaluated. The amount of blood loss, measurements of liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and postoperative evolution were also recorded.


RESULTS
No differences were observed in the amount of hemorrhage (671 +/- 533 mL versus 735 +/- 397 mL; P = 0.54) or the patients that required transfusion (10% versus 15%; P = 0.55). There were no differences on postoperative morbidity between groups (38% versus 29%; P = 0.38). Cirrhotic patients with CC had significantly higher ALT (7.7 +/- 4.6 versus 4.5 +/- 2.7 mukat/L, P = 0.01) and AST (10.2 +/- 8.7 versus 4.9 +/- 2.1 mukat/L; P = 0.03) values on the first postoperative day than SC. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that high central venous pressure, HVPG >10 mm Hg, and intraoperative blood loss were independent factors related to morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Both techniques of clamping are equally effective and feasible for patients with normal liver and undergoing minor hepatectomies. However, in cirrhotic patients selective clamping induces less ischemic injury and should be recommended. Finally, even for minor hepatic resections, central venous pressure, HVPG, and intraoperative blood loss are factors related to morbidity and should be considered.
Figueras
Juan
J
Department of Surgery, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, Spain. cgd.jfigueras@htrueta.scs.es
Llado
Laura
L
Ruiz
David
D
Ramos
Emilio
E
Busquets
Juli
J
Rafecas
Antonio
A
Torras
Jaume
J
Fabregat
Juan
J
D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003250:Constriction; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D011168:Portal System / Q000601:surgery*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome