The combination of liver resection and chemotherapy is the most effective way to treat primary and secondary malignant liver tumors. One of the methods for increasing resectability is the use of two-stage liver resection (associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy — ALPPS)

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the feasibility of laparoscopic ALPPS with good short-term and long-term results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From 2020 to 2021, in the oncology department No. 4 of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution “GKOB 1 DZM” 6 laparoscopic ALPPS were performed for metastases of colorectal cancer in the liver in 4 patients and cholangiocellular cancer in two in the presence of an insufficient volume of remaining liver parenchyma (13—32.1%).

RESULTS

All patients underwent the first stage of ALPPS laparoscopically without conversions or intraoperative complications. The duration of the operation ranged from 300 to 470 minutes (average 347.5±74 minutes), blood loss — from 100 to 300 ml (average 175±88 ml). The duration of the second stage is from 165 to 470 minutes (average 281.5±132.9 minutes) with blood loss from 100 to 850 ml (average 484.5±392.3 ml). The increase in the volume of residual liver parenchyma was 36—68%. The period between the ALPPS stages ranged from 13 to 22 days. Final resection to the extent of R0 was performed in 4 of 6 patients. The second stage of ALPPS was complicated in two patients by the formation of an external biliary fistula and in another two by right-sided hydrothorax.

The median follow-up was 25 months, during which time 3 patients died: two patients with incomplete second stage ALPPS due to cancer progression and one patient from coronavirus infection.

CONCLUSION

ALPPS can be performed entirely laparoscopically with good short-term and long-term results, but should be performed in high-volume liver surgery centers by an experienced surgical team.