Oncological hepatic surgery carries the possibility to perform vascular reconstructions for advanced tumours with vessel invasion since surgery often represents the only potentially curative approach for these tumours. An extended review was conducted in an attempt to understand and clarify the latest trends in hepatectomies with vascular resections. We searched bibliographic databases including PubMed, Scopus, references from bibliographies and Cochrane Library. Information and outcomes from worldwide clinical trials were collected from qualified institutions performing hepatectomies with vascular resection and reconstruction. Careful patient selection and thorough preoperative imaging remain crucial for correct and safe surgical planning. A literature analysis shows that vascular resections carry different indications in different diseases. Despite significant advances made in imaging techniques and technical skills, reports of hepatectomies with vascular resections are still associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality. The trend of complex liver resection with vascular resection is constantly on the increase, but more profound knowledge as well as further trials are required. Recent technological developments in multiple fields could surely provide novel approaches and enhance a new era of digital imaging and intelligent hepatic surgery.

Hepatectomies associated with vascular resections pose a technical challenge for surgeons, involving multiple reconstruction techniques. Moreover, adding clinical and surgical risks in the postoperative setting of these complex procedures are mainly due to prolonged surgical periods and potential complications inherent to vascular manipulation. Leveraging the expertise of a Cancer Center, we propose an institutional assessment utilizing the case series from A. C. Camargo Cancer Center in hepatectomies associated with vascular resection, evaluating postoperative complications and outcomes while highlighting clinical, laboratory, pathological, and surgical factors that may influence results.

To assess mortality and morbidity associated with hepatectomies involving vascular resection.

From a prospective database, a study was performed evaluating postoperative survival and morbidity using scoring systems such as Clavien-Dindo through a cohort analysis.

From a total of 1021 liver resections for a period of 10 years, 31 cases were evaluated from a unique cancer center in Brazil! Factors such as the performance of major hepatectomies, the need for blood transfusion, and the administration of neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapy did not appear to influence the outcome of morbidity or mortality. However, the resection of the associated bile duct and the type of vascular resection seemed to influence morbidity outcomes with statistical significance (p = 0.006+ …).

Hepatectomies associated with vascular resections are safe in selected cases and when performed in referral centers. Factors such as associated bile duct resection and type of vascular resection should be considered for procedure indication.

A new hemostatic sealant based on a N-hydroxy-succinimide polyoxazoline (NHS-POx) polymer was evaluated to determine hemostatic efficacy and long-term wound healing and adverse effects in a large animal model of parenchymal organ surgical bleeds.

Experiment 1 included 20 pigs that were treated with two NHS-POx patch prototypes [a gelatin fibrous carrier (GFC) with NHS-POx and an oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-NHS-POx:NU-POx (nucleophilically activated polyoxazoline)], a blank gelatin patch (GFC Blank), TachoSil^® and Veriset™ to stop moderate liver and spleen punch bleedings. After various survival periods (1-6 weeks), pigs were re-operated to evaluate patch degradation and parenchymal healing. During the re-operation, experiment 2 was performed: partial liver and spleen resections with severe bleeding, and hemostatic efficacy was evaluated under normal and heparinized conditions of the two previous prototypes and one additional NHS-POx patch. In the third experiment an improved NHS-POx patch (GATT-Patch; GFC-NHS-POx and added 20% as nucleophilically activated polyoxazoline; NU-POx) was compared with TachoSil^®, Veriset™ and GFC Blank on punch bleedings and partial liver and spleen resections for rapid (10s) hemostatic efficacy.

NHS-POx-based patches showed better (GFC-NHS-POx 83.1%, ORC-PLGA-NHS-POx: NU-POx 98.3%) hemostatic efficacy compared to TachoSil^® (25.0%) and GFC Blank (43.3%), and comparable efficacy with Veriset™ (96.7%) on moderate standardized punch bleedings on liver and spleen. All patches demonstrated gradual degradation over 6 weeks with a reduced local inflammation rate and an improved wound healing. For severe bleedings under non-heparinized conditions, hemostasis was achieved in 100% for Veriset™, 40% for TachoSil and 80-100% for the three NHS-POx prototypes; similar differences between patches remained for heparinized conditions. In experiment 3, GATT-Patch, Veriset™, TachoSil and GFC Blank reached hemostasis after 10s in 100%, 42.8%, 7.1% and 14.3%, respectively, and at 3 min in 100%, 100%, 14.3% and 35.7%, respectively, on all liver and spleen punctures and resections.

NHS-POx-based patches, and particularly the GATT-Patch, are fast in achieving effective hemostatic sealing on standardized moderate and severe bleedings without apparent long-term adverse events.

Risk of mortality and major comorbidity remains high following hepatic resection. Given recent advancements in nonsurgical techniques to control hepatic malignancy, accurate assessment of surgical candidates, especially those considered frail, has become imperative. The present study aimed to characterize the impact of frailty on clinical and financial outcomes following hepatic resection in older individuals.

Retrospective cohort study.

All older adults (≥65 years) undergoing elective hepatic resection were identified from the 2012 to 2019 National Inpatient Sample.

Frailty was defined by using the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty-defining diagnosis indicator. Multivariable regression models were developed to assess the independent association of frailty with mortality, perioperative complications, and resource utilization. Marginal effects were tabulated to assess the impact of hospital volume on frailty-associated mortality.

Of an estimated 40,735 patients undergoing major hepatic resection, 9.0% were considered frail. After multivariable adjustment, frailty was associated with increased odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-4.3; P < .001) and perioperative complication (AOR 2.9; 95% CI 2.4-3.4; P < .001). Furthermore, frail patients incurred longer risk-adjusted length of stay (14.2 vs 6.7 days, P < .001) and greater hospitalization costs ($55,100 vs $29,300, P < .001). In assessing the impact of institutional expertise on perioperative outcomes, the marginal effect of frailty on mortality became less pronounced with increasing operative volume.

As the population of the United States continues to age, surgeons are increasingly likely to encounter candidates for major hepatic resection who are frail. The present study associated frailty with inferior clinical and financial outcomes; however, frailty-associated mortality became less pronounced at centers with high hepatic resection operative volume. Coding-based instruments, such as the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups, may identify patients from electronic medical records who may benefit from further geriatric assessment and targeted treatments.

Vascular surgery in liver resection is a standard part of liver transplantation, but is also used in oncological liver surgery. Malignant liver tumors with vascular involvement have a poor prognosis without resection. Surgery is currently the only treatment to provide long-term survival in advanced hepatic malignancy. Even though extended liver resections are increasingly performed, vascular involvement with need of vascular reconstruction is still considered a contraindication for surgery in many institutions. However, vascular resection and reconstruction in liver surgery-despite being complex procedures-are safely performed in specialized centers. The improvements of the postoperative results with reduced postoperative morbidity and mortality are a result of rising surgical and anesthesiological experience and advancements in multimodal treatment concepts with preconditioning measures regarding liver function and systemic treatment options. This review focuses on vascular surgery in oncological liver resections. Even though many surgical techniques were developed and are also used during liver transplantation, this special procedure is not particularly covered within this review article. We provide a summary of vascular reconstruction techniques in oncological liver surgery according to the literature and present also our own experience. We aim to outline the current advances and standards in extended surgical procedures for liver tumors with vascular involvement established in specialized centers, since curative resection improves long-term survival and shifts palliative concepts to curative therapy.

The purpose of this research was to assess the feasibility of reconstructing the middle hepatic vein (MHV) with resected left portal vein during left hemihepatectomy.

From January 2014 to January 2018, six patients received left hemihepatectomy combined with MHV reconstruction using the resected left portal vein in West China Hospital. We reviewed the clinical data including patient details, surgical technique, graft patency, and operative results.

All six patients underwent left hemihepatectomy for liver tumors located at left hepatocaval confluence. In these patients, MHV was resected due to tumor invading and reconstructed using the resected left portal vein as graft. The mean operating time was 316 min. Two patients developed complications: one experienced bile leakage and one experienced pleural effusion. No patient developed vascular graft complications. All the grafts remained unobstructed, and no local tumor recurrence occurred during the observation period of 13-41 months.

Our results indicated that the left portal vein was a safe graft for hepatic vein reconstruction. In addition, left hemihepatectomy combined with middle hepatic vein resection and reconstruction using the left portal vein can be performed safely to treat liver tumors located at hepatocaval confluence.

With surgery for hepatic malignancy, there are poor options for chemotherapy; many patients are deemed unresectable because of vascular involvement or location of tumors. Over the past few decades, advances in surgical technique have allowed resection of these tumors with vascular reconstruction to achieve negative margins and improve chances for survival. This article reviews those reconstruction techniques and outcomes in detail, including in situ perfusion and ex vivo liver surgery, and provides a discussion of implications and operative planning for patients with hepatic malignancy in order to provide surgeons with better understanding of these complicated operations.