Radiofrequency‐Assisted liver resection in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background Radio‐frequency‐assisted liver resection has been shown to allow virtually bloodless procedures without the need for vascular exclusion manoeuvres. Our primary end‐point was to evaluate safety and feasibility of RF‐assisted liver resection in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Our second end‐point was to assess whether the RF‐assisted procedure influence the outcome in terms of morbidity and mortality. Methods A retrospective study was done of 55 cirrhotic patients who underwent RF‐assisted liver resection for HCC at our Departments between September 2001 and October 2007. Results In the period of study 29 monosegmentectomies, 20 bisegmentectomies, 4 trisegmentectomies and 2 right hepatectomies were carried out. Vascular exclusion manoeuvres were never performed. One patient died post‐operatively because of untreatable hepatorenal syndrome. Twelve patients out of 55 experienced 21 complications including complicated pleural effusion, intra‐abdominal collection, hepatorenal syndrome, ascites, hematoma and biliary fistula. Post‐operative liver failure occurred in one case (1.8%). In patients without post‐operative morbidity (n = 43) the 4‐year survival rate was 62% versus 24% in patients who experienced post‐operative morbidity (n = 12) ( P = 0.02). Conclusions RF‐assisted liver resection is a safe and feasible procedure associated with lower morbidity and hospital mortality rates even in case of liver cirrhosis. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.