Anatomical variations and surgical strategies in right lobe living donor liver transplantation : Lessons from 120 cases

Background Most liver resections require clamping of the hepatic pedicle (Pringle maneuver) to avoid excessive blood loss. But Pringle maneuver can not control backflow bleeding of hepatic vein. Resection of liver tumors involving hepatic veins may cause massive hemorrhage or air embolism from the injuries of the hepatic veins. Although total hepatic vascular exclusion can prevent bleeding of the hepatic veins effectively, it also may result in systemic hemodynamic disturbance because of the inferior vena cava being clamped. Hepatic venous occlusion, a new technique, can control the inflow and outflow of the liver without clamping the vena cava. Methods A total of 71 cases of liver tumors underwent resection with occlusion of more than one of the main hepatic veins. All tumors involved the second porta hepatis and at least one main hepatic vein. Ligation or occlusion with serrefines, tourniquets and auricular clamps were used in hepatic venous occlusion. Results Of the 71 patients, ligation of the hepatic veins was used in 28 cases, occlusion with a tourniquet in 26, and occlusion with a serrefine in 17. Right hepatic veins were occluded in 38 cases, both right and middle hepatic veins in 2, the common trunk of the left and middle hepatic veins in 24, branches of the left and middle hepatic veins in 2, and all three hepatic veins in 5. Thirty-five cases underwent hemihepatic vascular occlusion, 4 alternate hemihepatic vascular occlusion, 23 portal triad clamping plus selective hepatic vein occlusion, and 9 portal triad clamping plus total hepatic vein occlusion. The third porta hepatis was isolated in 26 cases. The amount of intraoperative blood loss averaged (540 +/- 283) (range 100 to 1000) ml in the group of total hemihepatic vascular occlusion and in the group of alternate hemihepatic vascular occlusion, (620 +/- 317) (range 200 - 6000) ml in the group of portal triad clamping plus selective or total hepatic vein occlusion. All tumors were completely removed. Conclusions Hepatic venous occlusion applied in hepatectomy can prevent bleeding and air embolism, and is safe and effective with stable hemodynamics.

Clinical application of hepatic venous occlusion for hepatectomy.

The minimization of blood loss is the main objective during hepatic resection to minimize perioperative mortality and morbidity. Selective clamping of the hepatic veins, combined with pedicle clamping, may make it possible to spare the non-resected territories from ischemia. These clamping procedures are particularly useful in the treatment of hepatic metastases of colorectal cancers, because preoperative chemotherapy may temporarily alter the hepatic parenchyma, increasing its susceptibility to ischemia. During left lobectomy or left hepatectomy, extraparenchymatous control of the left and median hepatic veins (the LHV and MHV, respectively) and of the common trunk (CT) requires exact knowledge of this anatomical region. Biometric analyses were carried out on extraparenchymatous portions of the LHV, MHV and CT of 20 fresh cadavers and 10 living subjects, to assess the feasibility of selective clamping without liver mobilization. Fourteen of the 20 cadaveric subjects (70%) had a common trunk between the LHV and the MHV. The extraparenchymatous portion of the LHV was between 4 and 13 mm long, depending on the presence or absence of a CT. The angle between the sagittal plane of the inferior vena cava and the LHV was about 18.3° on average, in the absence of liver mobilization. Selective clamping of the left hepatic vein was possible only when the extraparenchymatous portion of this vein was at least 6 mm long. The selective clamping of this vein is, therefore, less straightforward than that of the right hepatic vein, given the high frequency of a common trunk shared with the median hepatic vein and of a short extraparenchymatous segment.

/pdf/can-the-left-hepatic-vein-always-be-safely-selectively-jadn70avcf.pdf

Can the left hepatic vein always be safely selectively clamped during hepatectomy? The contribution of anatomy

Purpose of review Sarcopenia is prevalent in cancer patients and can occur as a result of cancer as well as cancer-related therapies. It is related to high postoperative complications, long hospitalization, slow recovery as well as low tolerance to chemotherapy. Patients with sarcopenia also have poor oncological outcomes. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and physical activity have shown great potentials in managing this debilitating condition. We summarized the recent developments in the assessment of sarcopenia and its management with ONS and physical activity. Recent findings Many methods were developed to evaluate sarcopenia including muscle quality/quantity measurement and functional tests. Recent studies have shown that ONS and physical training can be used in managing sarcopenia, especially when used together as part of a multimodal intervention. However, barriers such as low awareness and lack of training and support for both patients and healthcare workers still exist and need attention. Summary Recent findings highlighted the benefits of identifying sarcopenia and managing those at risk. The details of a multimodal protocol, such as components of nutritional substrates, the intensity of physical exercise, and the use of medication need to be further looked into for an optimum approach. Education and training programs need to be developed to overcome the barriers in managing sarcopenia.

Oral nutritional supplements, physical activity, and sarcopenia in cancer.

Surgical approach to the juxtahepatic veins.

Objectives Sarcopenia, present in more than 50% of digestive oncology patients, has a negative impact on clinical outcomes. Nutrition and adapted physical activity are two major interventions for the management of sarcopenia. However, young hepato-gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons in France have limited awareness on these topics. We aimed to evaluate the need for training programmes of physicians (residents and senior doctors) involved in digestive oncology on nutrition and adapted physical activity. Methods A 42-question survey was developed, by a working group of clinicians, dieticians and adapted physical activity teachers, to assess five areas related to demographics of respondents, nutrition practices, nutrition training, adapted physical activity practices and adapted physical activity training. The national survey was undertaken between April and July of 2019. Results 230 physicians participated in the survey; 34% were hepato-gastroenterologists, 31% were oncologists, 23% were surgeons and 40% were residents. Sixty-one per cent of participants had received training in nutrition and only 21% in adapted physical activity. Ninety per cent of the physicians expressed their desire for more effective training on these two topics. Disparities in clinical practices were observed between hepato-gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons. Conclusions More initial and continuing training on nutrition and adapted physical activity is needed for French physicians in the current digestive oncology clinical practice.

https://spcare.bmj.com/content/bmjspcare/10/3/324.full.pdf

Nutrition and physical activity professional education in gastrointestinal oncology: a national multidisciplinary survey

The possibility and value of clamping the right hepatic vein (HV) outside the liver during right hepatectomy remain a matter of debate. We carried out an anatomical study on ten fresh cadaveric subjects with no abdominal scarring or hepatic lesions, to determine the biometry of the extraparenchymatous segment of the right HV. One or several accessory right HVs were found in 90% of cases on release of the right edge of the inferior vena cava (IVC). These accessory right HVs had a diameter greater than that of the superior right HV in 10% of cases. In 70% of cases, the extraparenchymatous segment of the vein was free of collateral branches, and in 30% of cases, it was joined by a branch close to its point of exit from the hepatic parenchyma. The length of the vein that can be clamped (length between the point of exit from the hepatic parenchyma and the point of entry of the right HV into the IVC) was 8.6 ± 1.8 mm (6–12). The right HV entered the vena cava, at an acute angle, in 100% of cases. Clamping of the right HV was possible in all cases. Knowledge of these anatomical points makes it possible to isolate an extraparenchymatous segment of the right HV more safely. The right HV can be isolated and clamped outside the liver in more than 80% of cases, making it possible to carry out right hepatectomy on an exsanguinous liver.

Frederique Peschaud

Papers

Nutrition and physical activity professional education in gastrointestinal oncology: a national multidisciplinary survey

Anatomical basis for clamping of the right hepatic vein outside the liver during right hepatectomy