Robotic ALPPS.

BACKGROUND: The associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) procedure is a useful strategy to treat patients with advanced liver tumors and small future liver remnants. This video presents a robotic ALPPS procedure to treat synchronous colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: A 71-year-old man with liver metastases from sigmoid cancer was referred. A multidisciplinary team decided on chemotherapy followed by liver resection (first), then colon resection. After four cycles, objective response was observed and the multidisciplinary team then chose the ALPPS procedure. The future liver remnant (segments 3 and 4 and the Spiegel lobe) was 24%. A robotic approach was proposed. Colon resection was performed after the ALPPS procedure, also using the robotic approach. RESULTS: The duration of the first stage was 293 min, and the technique used in the first stage was partial ALPPS (parenchymal transection deep to 2 cm above the inferior vena cava) with preservation of the right hepatic duct. The patient was discharged on the fourth day. The second stage of the procedure took 245 min. Recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the fourth day. Finally, the patient underwent robotic resection of the primary colorectal neoplasm. The surgery lasted 182 min, recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. Final pathology disclosed a T3N1bM1 adenocarcinoma. Liver pathology confirmed colorectal metastases with partial response. All surgical margins were free. Currently, the patient is well, with no signs of disease 5 months post-procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic ALPPS is feasible and safe. The robotic approach may have some advantages over the laparoscopic and open ALPPS approaches. This video may help oncological surgeons to perform this complex procedure.

Robotic Left Hepatectomy and Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy After Bile Duct Injury.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injuries after cholecystectomy remain a major concern because their incidence has not changed through the years despite technical advances. This video presents a robotic left hepatectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy as a treatment for a complex bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: A 52-year-old man underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at another institution 8 years previously, which resulted in a bile duct injury. His postoperative period was complicated by jaundice and cholangitis. He was treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and multiple endoprostheses for 3 years, after which the endoprostheses were removed, and he was sent to the authors' institution. Computed tomography showed that the left liver had signs of disturbed perfusion and dilation of the left intrahepatic bile duct. The patient was asymptomatic and refused any further attempt at surgical correction of the lesion. He was accompanied for 5 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed progressive atrophy of the left liver. Finally, 3 months before this writing, he presented with intermittent episodes of cholangitis. A multidisciplinary team decided to perform left hepatectomy with Roux-en-Y hepatojejunostomy via a robotic approach. The left liver was atrophied, and left hepatectomy was performed. Fluorescence imaging was used to identify the right bile duct. At opening of the right bile duct, small stones were found and removed. Antecolic Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy then was performed. RESULTS: The operative time was 335 min. Recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic repair of bile duct injuries is feasible and safe, even when liver resection is necessary. This video may help oncologic surgeons to perform this complex procedure.

Robotic Repeat Right Hepatectomy for Recurrent Colorectal Liver Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Repeat hepatectomy often is required for primary and metastatic tumors. The purpose of this video was to present a robotic repeat hepatectomy for recurrent colorectal metastasis after multiple previous open surgeries. PATIENT: A 64-year-old man underwent open left colectomy complicated by anastomotic leak. He was reoperated for colostomy, which was reverted. One year later, he underwent open metastasectomy. Recently, he presented a recurrence in the right liver, and a robotic right hepatectomy was indicated. TECHNIQUE: This approach used five trocars. The operation began with adhesiolysis. The next step was to dissect and divide the right hepatic artery and the right portal vein. A retrohepatic tunnel is created on the right side of the inferior vena cava for a modified liver hanging maneuver. The liver was pulled upwards and liver transection resumed towards the right hepatic vein. The liver was divided with bipolar forceps under continuous saline irrigation. The right hepatic duct was found inside the liver and was divided. Finally, the right hepatic vein was divided inside the liver parenchyma using a vascular stapler, and robotic right hepatectomy was completed. RESULTS: The operative time for docking was 10 min; adhesiolysis took 90 min while robotic right hepatectomy was completed in 240 min. The Pringle maneuver was not used. Estimated blood loss was 150 mL with no need for transfusion. Recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic repeat hepatectomy is feasible and safe in experienced hands and may have some advantages over laparoscopic and open repeat liver resections.

A Proposed Physiopathological Pathway to Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy in a Non-Cirrhotic Patient with Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma without Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) Mutation.

BACKGROUND Hyperammonemic encephalopathy is a potentially fatal condition that may progress to irreversible neuronal damage and is usually associated with liver failure or portosystemic shunting. However, other less common conditions can lead to hyperammonemia in adults, such as fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical awareness of hyperammonemic encephalopathy in patients with normal liver function is paramount to timely diagnosis, but understanding the underlying physiopathology is decisive to initiate adequate treatment for complete recovery. CASE REPORT A 31-year-old male with fibrolamellar carcinoma and peritoneal carcinomatosis presented with rapid onset hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Despite usual treatment for hepatic encephalopathy, his hyperammonemia was aggravated. A physiopathological pathway to encephalopathy resulting from hepatocellular dysfunction or portosystemic shunting was suspected and proper treatment was initiated, which resulted in complete remission of encephalopathy. Thus, we propose there is a physiopathology path to hyperammonemic encephalopathy in non-cirrhotic patients with fibrolamellar carcinoma independent of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) mutation. An ornithine metabolism imbalance resulting from overexpression of Aurora Kinase A as a result of a single, recurrent heterozygous deletion on chromosome 19, common to all fibrolamellar carcinomas, can lead to a c-Myc and ornithine decarboxylase overexpression that results in ornithine transcarboxylase dysfunction with urea cycle disorder and subsequent hyperammonemia. CONCLUSIONS The identification of a physiopathological pathway allowed adequate medical treatment and full patient recovery from severe hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Transition from open to laparoscopic ALPPS for patients with very small FLR: the initial experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy) has previously been reported but has been the authors' default option since 2015 in patients with small future liver remnant. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing ALPPS at a single referral center was performed using a prospective database from July 2011 to June 2016. Feasibility was studied by assessing conversions. The 90-day mortality and complications were analyzed using a Dindo-Clavien score and the comprehensive complication index. Operative time, blood loss, volumetric growth, and hospital stay were examined. The CUSUM analysis was performed. RESULTS: ALPPS was performed in 30 patients, 10 of whom underwent a laparoscopic approach. There was no mortality and no complication grade ≥3A observed in laparoscopic ALPPS. In open ALPPS, 10 of 20 patients experienced complications grade ≥3A (p = 0.006) and one patient died. Liver failure was not observed after laparoscopic ALPPS, but two patients in the open ALPPS group developed complications that precluded the second stage. The total hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic ALPPS group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ALPPS is feasible as the default procedure for patients with very small FLR, and it is not inferior to the open approach. Surgeons experienced with complex laparoscopy should be encouraged to use a laparoscopic approach to ALPPS.

First totally laparoscopic ALPPS procedure with selective hepatic artery clamping: Case report of a new technique.

BACKGROUND: ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy) is a new surgical approach for the treatment of liver tumors. It is indicated in cases where the future liver remnant is not sufficient to maintain postoperative liver function. We report a totally laparoscopic ALPPS with selective hepatic artery clamping. Pneumoperitoneum itself results in up to 53% of portal vein flow and selective hepatic artery clamping can reduce blood loss while maintaining hepatocellular function. Therefore, the combination of both techniques may result in effective control of bleeding with no damage in the liver function that may have direct impact in the result of ALPPS procedure. METHODS: A 65-year-old man with colorectal liver metastases in all liver segments, except liver segment 1 (S1), were evaluated as unresectable. He underwent chemotherapy with objective response and multidisciplinary board decided for ALPPS procedure. First stage was performed entirely by laparoscopy and consisted of enucleation of metastases from segments 2 and 3, ligation of the right portal vein and liver splitting under selective common hepatic artery clamping. The second stage was done 3 weeks later and consisted of laparoscopic right trisectionectomy by laparoscopy. RESULTS: Operative time was 250 and 200 minutes, respectively. Estimated blood loss was 150 and 100 mL. There was no need for transfusion or hospitalization in intensive care. He was discharged on the 3rd and 5th postoperative day, respectively. Recovery was uneventful after both stages and patient did not present any sign of liver failure. Elevation of liver enzymes was minimal. Computerized tomography (CT) scan before second stage showed a liver hypertrophy of 53%, sFLR was 0.37 before second stage, or 33% of the total liver volume. CT scan shows no residual liver disease and optimum liver regeneration. Patient is well with no evidence of the disease 11 months after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Totally laparoscopic ALPPS is a feasible and safe approach for selected patients with liver tumors. The hypertrophy of the remaining liver was adequate and sequential procedures were performed without morbidity and no mortality. Selective hepatic artery clamping seems to be an interesting solution to decrease intraoperative blood loss without the harsh effect of Pringle maneuver.

A novel technique for hepatic vein reconstruction during hepatectomy.

Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for malignant liver tumours. Nevertheless, surgical approach to tumours located close to the confluence of the hepatic veins is a challenging issue. Trisectionectomies are considered the first curative option for treatment of these tumours. However, those procedures are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates primarily due to post-operative liver failure. Thus, maximal preservation of functional liver parenchyma should always be attempted. We describe the isolated resection of Segment 8 for the treatment of a tumour involving the right hepatic vein and in contact with the middle hepatic vein and retrohepatic vena cava with immediate reconstruction of the right hepatic vein with a vascular graft. This is the first time this type of reconstruction was performed, and it allowed to preserve all but one of the hepatic segments with normal venous outflow. This innovative technique is a fast and safe method to reconstruct hepatic veins.

Laparoscopic Pancreatoduodenectomy in 50 Consecutive Patients with No Mortality: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery has gradually expanded to include pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). This study presents data regarding the efficacy of laparoscopic PD in a single center. METHODS: This was a single-cohort, prospective observational study. From March 2012 to September 2015, 50 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic PD using a five-trocar technique. Reconstruction of the digestive tract was performed with double jejunal loop technique whenever feasible. Patients with radiological signs of portal vein invasion were operated by open approach. RESULTS: Twenty-seven women and 23 men with a median age of 63 years (range 23-76) underwent laparoscopic PD. Five patients underwent total pancreatectomy. All, but 1 patient (previous bariatric operation), underwent pylorus-preserving resection. Reconstruction was performed with double jejunal loop in all cases except in 5 cases of total pancreatectomy. Conversion was required in 3 patients (6%) as a result of difficult dissection (two cases) and unsuspected portal vein invasion (1 patient). Median operative time was 420 minutes (range 360-660), and the 90-day mortality was nil. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 13 patients (26%). There was one grade C (reoperated), one grade B (percutaneous drainage), and all remaining were grade A (conservative treatment). Other complications included port site bleeding (n = 1), biliary fistula (n = 2), and delayed gastric emptying (n = 2). Mean hospital stay was 8.4 days (range 5-31). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic PD is feasible and safe, but is technically demanding and may be reserved to highly skilled laparoscopic surgeons with proper training in high-volume centers. Isolated pancreatic anastomosis may be useful to decrease the severity of postoperative pancreatic fistulas. Therefore, it could be a good option in patients with a high risk for developing postoperative pancreatic, as well as by less-experienced surgeons.

The laparoscopic Glissonian approach is safe and efficient when compared with standard laparoscopic liver resection: Results of an observational study over 7 years.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the Glissonian approach with the standard approach to laparoscopic liver resection for safety and efficacy. BACKGROUND: The standard laparoscopic approach to anatomic liver resection is the dissection of the elements of the Glissonian pedicle below the hilar plate. In contrast, the Glissonian approach identifies the intrahepatic pedicles by tentative clamping. Concerns have been raised about the safety of the Glissonian approach in laparoscopic liver surgery. The study was performed to examine the initial 7 years of experience in a single center with regard to safety and efficacy. METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resections from April 2007 to April 2014 at a single referral center for liver tumors were included. An observational comparison was performed between Glissonian and standard laparoscopic liver resections performed by the same team but during different eras. The primary endpoint was safety of the procedures as assessed by the recently published comprehensive complication index. Secondary endpoints were parameters of surgical efficacy, such as operating time, blood loss, blood transfusion, conversion rate, duration of hospitalization, and pathologic margin of the specimen. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2014, 234 resections were performed laparoscopically at our institution, 120 using the conventional approach and 114 using the Glissonian approach. There was no difference in age, sex, tumor types, or comorbidities between the groups. The number of major liver resections was greater in the Glissonian group, yet there were fewer complications in the Glissonian group compared with the standard group (P < .05). Operative time was greater and more transfusions were given in the standard group; in addition, more patients had positive margins (P < .01). Overall hospital stay was less in the Glissonian group. CONCLUSIONS: In the 7-year experience of a single center, the Glissonian approach is not less safe and may seems to offer advantages when compared with the standard laparoscopic approach.

A simple technique for hemostasis control after enucleation of deep located liver tumors or after liver trauma.

Modern liver techniques allowed the development of segment-based anatomical liver resections. Nevertheless, there is still a place for nonanatomical liver resections. However, in some cases, there is a need for enucleation of deep located liver tumors. The main problem with enucleation of a liver tumor deeply located in the middle of the liver is the control of bleeding resulting from the rupture of small or medium vessels. The authors describe a simple way to control the bleeding without the use of any special instrument or material. This technique can also be used to control bleeding from penetrating liver injury.

Innovative technique for gastric retraction during laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: the marionette.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomies became more common in the past few years as a safe and effective treatment option for benign and low-grade malignant tumors of the body and tail of the pancreas. Adequate exposure and wide operative field are crucial to perform this procedure, and this is achieved by retraction of the stomach with an angled liver retractor or a grasper through a subxiphoid trocar, that is usually used only to this purpose. We developed an innovative technique to retract the stomach during laparoscopic distal pancreatectomies that provides excellent operative field and frees the subxiphoid trocar to be used in other tasks during the surgery.

Enucleation of liver tumors: you do not have to feel blue about it.

Enucleation of hepatic tumors is a low-morbidity technique with adequate oncological results that is useful in many clinical settings. Compared with anatomical liver resections, it offers the advantage of maximal hepatic parenchymal preservation. However, some technical adversities may occur during the enucleation of liver tumors, such as difficulty in finding the lesions by intraoperative ultrasonography after hepatic transection or further visually spotting the tumor within the parenchyma if a first specimen is retracted not containing the lesion. We describe an innovative technique that overcomes these possible adversities and makes the enucleation of liver tumors easier and more precise.

Totally Laparoscopic Hepatic Bisegmentectomy (s4b+s5) and Hilar Lymphadenectomy for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer is suspected preoperatively in only 30 % of all patients, while the remaining 70 % of cases are discovered incidentally by the pathologist. The increasing rate of cholecystectomies via laparoscopy has led to the detection of more gallbladder cancers in an early stage, and extended resection with regional lymph node dissection has been suggested. We present a video of a totally laparoscopic liver resection (segments 5 and 4b) with regional lymphadenectomy in a patient with an incidental gallbladder cancer. METHODS: A 50-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and pathology revealed a T1b gallbladder carcinoma. The patient was referred for further treatment. Contact with the primary surgeon revealed that no intraoperative cholangiogram was performed, and the gallbladder was removed intact, with no perforation, and inside a plastic retrieval bag. Pathology revision confirmed T1b, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography was negative. The multidisciplinary tumor board recommended radical re-resection, and a decision was made to perform a laparoscopic extended hilar lymphadenectomy, along the resection of segments 5 and 4b. RESULTS: Operative time was 5 h, with an estimated blood loss of 240 mL. Recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. Final pathology showed no residual disease and no lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic resection of liver segments 5 and 4b combined with a locoregional lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament is an oncologically appropriate technique, provided it is performed in a specialized center with experience in hepatobiliary surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery. This video may help oncological surgeons to perform this complex procedure.

Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy Using Single-Port Platform: Technique, Safety, and Feasibility in a Clinical Case Series.

BACKGROUND: A novel technique using a single-incision laparoscopic approach has been described for several laparoscopic procedures. The aim of this article is to describe our experience with an alternative technique for laparoscopic distal pancreatectomies using a single-port platform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have performed this procedure on 20 patients with pancreatic tumors in the pancreatic body or tail. A transumbilical incision is performed, and a single-incision platform is introduced. The stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall to expose the pancreas. This technique uses an additional 5-mm trocar in the left quadrant, ultimately used for drainage after the end of the procedure. RESULTS: The median operative time was 176 minutes, and the hospital stay was 2 days. Mortality was 0%, and morbidity was 20%; 4 patients developed grade A pancreatic fistula. During follow-up (median, 11 months), no patient developed an incisional hernia. The cosmetic appearance of the incision was excellent in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy using a single-port platform is feasible and can be successfully performed by surgeons with experience in pancreatic and advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Single-port for laparoscopic gastric resection with a novel platform / Ressecção gástrica laparoscópica com single-port utilizando uma nova plataforma

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic gastrointestinal resections using single-port are possible, but triangulation problems and the need of articulated instruments difficult the procedures. AIM: To present a surgical alternative using single-port laparoscopic device on gastric resection. TECHNIQUE: The patient is placed in a supine and reverse Trendelenburg position with surgeon between patient's legs. First assistant was on the right side of the patient with the monitor placed on the patient's cranial side. With the patient under general anesthesia, a transumbilical 3 cm skin incision is performed. A single-incision advanced access platform with gelatin cap, self-retaining sleeve and wound protector is introduced through this incision. Three 5-12 mm operating ports were introduced through the single-port device. Due to the gel cap and sleeves, no articulated instruments are necessary. CO2 pneumoperitoneum is established at 12 mmHg. A rigid 30 degree 10 mm laparoscope is introduced. Operation begins with access to the lesser sac by opening the omentum along the greater curvature of the stomach using harmonic scalpel. Once the stomach is fully exposed and a stay suture is place around the tumor. Gastric wall is divided with cautery 1 cm away from the tumor. Tumor is excised. Gastric wall is sutured with two-layer running suture. No drain was used. Umbilical incision was closed. RESULTS: This procedure was used in one patient with gastric duplication. Operative time was 200 minutes. Blood loss was minimal. Recovery was uneventful and patient discharged on postoperative day 2. Final aspect of the umbilical incision was good. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric resection with single-port laparoscopic platform is feasible and may be safely performed in selected patients. .

INTRODUÇÃO: Ressecções gastrointestinais laparoscópicas com portal único são possíveis, mas os problemas de triangulação e a necessidade de instrumentos articulados dificultam a realização destes procedimentos. OBJETIVO: Apresentar uma alternativa cirúrgica utilizando dispositivo laparoscópico de portal único na ressecção gástrica. TÉCNICA: O paciente é colocado em posição supina e em Trendelenburg reverso com o cirurgião entre as pernas. Auxiliar é posicionado ao lado direito do paciente com o monitor cranialmente situado. Sob anestesia geral, incisão transumbilical de 3 cm é realizada. Através dela, uma plataforma de portal único, com cobertura gelatinosa é introduzida. Três portais de trabalho de 5-12 mm são introduzidos através do dispositivo de portal único. Devido à cobertura gelatinosa, instrumentos articulados não são necessários. O pneumoperitônio é estabelecido em 12 mmHg. É utilizada ótica rígida de 30 graus com introdução de laparoscópio de 10 mm. A operação começa com abertura do omento maior ao longo da grande curvatura do estômago usando bisturi harmônico. Após exposição do estômago, pontos de reparos são colocados e gastrectomia parcial é realizada a cerca de 1 cm do tumor. O procedimento é completado pela sutura contínua da parede gástrica em dois planos. Não é necessária drenagem da cavidade e a incisão umbilical é suturada. RESULTADOS: Este procedimento foi usado em um paciente com a duplicação gástrica. O tempo operatório foi de 200 min. A perda de sangue foi mínima. A recuperação transcorreu sem intercorrências e o paciente recebeu alta no 2º ...

Single-port for laparoscopic gastric resection with a novel platform.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic gastrointestinal resections using single-port are possible, but triangulation problems and the need of articulated instruments difficult the procedures. AIM: To present a surgical alternative using single-port laparoscopic device on gastric resection. TECHNIQUE: The patient is placed in a supine and reverse Trendelenburg position with surgeon between patient's legs. First assistant was on the right side of the patient with the monitor placed on the patient's cranial side. With the patient under general anesthesia, a transumbilical 3 cm skin incision is performed. A single-incision advanced access platform with gelatin cap, self-retaining sleeve and wound protector is introduced through this incision. Three 5-12 mm operating ports were introduced through the single-port device. Due to the gel cap and sleeves, no articulated instruments are necessary. CO2 pneumoperitoneum is established at 12 mmHg. A rigid 30 degree 10 mm laparoscope is introduced. Operation begins with access to the lesser sac by opening the omentum along the greater curvature of the stomach using harmonic scalpel. Once the stomach is fully exposed and a stay suture is place around the tumor. Gastric wall is divided with cautery 1 cm away from the tumor. Tumor is excised. Gastric wall is sutured with two-layer running suture. No drain was used. Umbilical incision was closed. RESULTS: This procedure was used in one patient with gastric duplication. Operative time was 200 minutes. Blood loss was minimal. Recovery was uneventful and patient discharged on postoperative day 2. Final aspect of the umbilical incision was good. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric resection with single-port laparoscopic platform is feasible and may be safely performed in selected patients.