Use of a saline-coupled bipolar sealer (Aquamantys(R)) in liver resection for primary hepatic malignancy: a retrospective cohort study / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes with the use of a saline-coupled bipolar sealer during liver resection.Methods 101 patients underwent liver resection for primary hepatic carcinoma at the People's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from August 2015 to December 2016.The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the Aquamantys(R) system was used or not.In group A (n =62) the clamp crushing technique was used for liver parenchymal transection.In group B (n =39) the Aquamantys(R) system was used.The intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were compared.Results The operation time in group B was significantly longer than group A (216.4 min vs.253.5 min,P ＜ 0.05).The intraoperaitve blood loss in group B was significantly less than group A (381.1 ml vs.257.2 ml,P ＜ 0.05),and less blood transfusion was required (211.3 ml vs.90.9 ml,P ＜ 0.05).The volume of abdominal drainage fluid in group B in the first and the 5th day was significantly less than group A (242.6 ml vs.199.2 ml,P＜0.05;84.3 ml vs.70.4 ml,P＜0.05,respectively).The drainage tube in group B was taken off earlier than in group A (8.1 d vs.7.0 d,P ＜ 0.05).The average hospitalization stay after surgery in group B was also significantly shorter (13.4 d vs.11.6 d,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the overall postoperative complication rate (P ＞ 0.05) between the 2 groups,and no death was observed.Conclusion The use of a saline-coupled bipolar sealer (Aquamantys(R)) in liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with less intraoperative blood loss and was better for the patients' postoperative recovery.