ALPPS technique for two-stage liver resections: immediate and long-term results

Abstract

Aim . To evaluate the immediate and long-term results of two-stage liver resection performed by means of ALPPS technique. Materials and methods . The retrospective analysis involved 7 patients (mean age 62 years) with intact liver parenchyma volume (Future Liver Remnant, FLR) <25%. All patients underwent ALPPS from 2014 to 2021. Both stages of ALPPS were performed in the traditional way. The increment of intact parenchyma on days 6–8 after stage I was evaluated by CT volumetry. The main operative characteristics, incidence of postoperative complications according to Clavien-Dindo and ISGLS, time without progression and life expectancy were analyzed. Results . The median duration of ALPPS stage I was 250 min, median blood loss was 600 ml, and stage II – 210 min and 300 ml, correspondingly. The median FLR before and after ALPPS stage I was 15.3% and 31.6%. The median FLR hypertrophy after ALPPS stage I accounted for 123%. The median interval between stage I and II of ALPPS was 10 days. All patients underwent R0 resection. The incidence of postoperative complications after ALPPS stage I was 14.3% (Clavien–Dindo I), after stage II – 57.1% (Clavien–Dindo III–V). The mortality rate within 90 days after ALPPS stage II accounted for 14.3%. Median follow-up was 25 months. The median time without progression in 6 patients operated for colorectal cancer metastases was 6 months, the median life expectancy was 31 months. The patient who underwent ALPPS for hepatocellular carcinoma is alive, no signs of disease progression have been detected. Conclusion . ALPPS provides a rapid and more than two-fold growth in FLR and increases the likelihood of R0 resection in patients with initially unresectable primary and secondary liver tumors. However, the immediate results of ALPPS are unsatisfactory. The indications for surgery are extremely controversial due to the development of drug therapies, ablation techniques and radiotherapy.