Impact of radiofrequency assisted hepatectomy for reduction of transfusion requirements

Ayav, Ahmet; Bachellier, Philippe; Habib, Nagy A.; Pellicci, Riccardo; Tierris, John; Milicevic, Miroslav; Jiao, Long R.

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.04.008

« Previous Next »The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 193, Issue 2 , Pages 143-148, February 2007

Impact of radiofrequency assisted hepatectomy for reduction of transfusion requirements

Ahmet Ayav, M.D., Ph.D.
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK
Philippe Bachellier, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK
Nagy A. Habib, Ch.M., F.R.C.S.
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK
Riccardo Pellicci, M.D.
- Department of General Surgery, Santa Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure, Italy
John Tierris, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK
Miroslav Milicevic, M.D.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, University Clinical Centre, Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia
Long R. Jiao, M.D., F.R.C.S.
- Department of Surgery, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd., London W12 0NN, UK
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 20 8383 3937; fax: +44 20 8383 3212.

Received 16 November 2005; received in revised form 23 April 2006 published online 10 August 2006.

Abstract

Background

Liver parenchyma transection technique using heat coagulative necrosis induced by radiofrequency (RF) energy is evaluated in this series.

Methods

Between January 2000 and October 2004, 156 consecutive patients underwent liver resection with the RF-assisted technique. Data were collected prospectively to assess the outcome, including intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion requirement, and morbidity and mortality rates.

Results

There were 30 major hepatectomies and 126 minor resections. While total operative time was 241 ± 89 minutes, the actual resection time was 75 ± 51 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss was 139 ± 222 mL. Nine patients (5%) received blood transfusion, predominantly those receiving major hepatectomy (P = .006). Thirty-six patients (23%) developed postoperative complications, and the mortality rate was 3.2%. Mean hospital stay was 12 ± 12 days.

Conclusion

The RF-assisted technique is associated with minimal blood loss, a low blood transfusion requirement, and reduced mortality and morbidity rates and can be used for both minor and major liver resections.

Keywords: Liver resection, Radiofrequency, Blood loss, Blood transfusion