Radiofrequency assisted liver resection: analysis of 604 consecutive cases.
BACKGROUND
Intraoperative blood loss is an important factor contributing to morbidity and mortality in liver surgery. To address this we developed a bipolar radiofrequency (RF) device, the Habib 4X, used specifically for hepatic parenchymal transection. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the peri-operative data using this technique.


METHODS
Between 2001 and 2010, 604 consecutive patients underwent liver resections with the RF assisted technique. Clinico-pathological and outcome data were collected and analysed.


RESULTS
There were 206 major and 398 minor hepatectomies. Median intraoperative blood loss was 155 (range 0-4300)ml, with a 12.6% rate of transfusion. There were 142 patients (23.5%) with postoperative complications; none had bleeding from the resection margin. Only one patient developed liver failure and the mortality rate was 1.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
RF assisted liver resection allows major and minor hepatectomies to be performed with minimal blood loss, low blood transfusion requirements, and reduced mortality and morbidity rates.
HPB Surgical Unit, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK.
M
M
Pai
A E
AE
Frampton
S
S
Mikhail
V
V
Resende
O
O
Kornasiewicz
D R
DR
Spalding
L R
LR
Jiao
N A
NA
Habib
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome