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Introduction

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide with varying geographic distribution. High incidence rates have been reported in developing countries, particularly in China (~26 per 100,000 people) when compared with developed countries (~10 per 100,000 people) (1). Early diagnosis of liver cancer remains a major obstacle and typically results in poor outcomes after clinical intervention (2). Resection of tumors is a common intervention to increase the survival of patients (3). However, large tumors within the liver and multiple metastases require complete resection in order to improve the long-term survival of patients, and numerous approaches have been attempted to achieve complete resection (3). Staged hepatectomy and approaches to induce hypertrophy, including percutaneous portal vein embolization and intraoperative portal vein ligation, are recent advances in liver surgery (4). Schnitzbauer et al (5) indicated that a two-staged hepatectomy was performed for the first time in a patient with hilar cholangiocarcinoma in 2007 and that associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), a surgical approach for liver cancer with excessive tissue resection, was first described in 2012. However, ALPPS surgery has several limitations, including a large wound surface, incomplete drainage and high mortality rates (5,6). Acute liver and renal failure and infectious complications have been identified as predominant causes for mortality (6). Numerous modifications to the originally described ALPPS approach have been reported (7). Previous studies have demonstrated that careful selection of specific patients for ALPPS resulted in reduced or no associated mortality (5,6). In February 2015, the first international consensus meeting concerning ALPPS was conducted in Germany, and the following recommendations were made via patient selection and inclusion criteria: ALPPS would only be considered for patients requiring right trisectionectomy, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma and patients with extensive bilobar colorectal liver metastases requiring an extended hepatectomy (7). Furthermore, in cases where portal vein embolization or portal vein ligation failed, ALPPS may be an alternative surgery. Hence, ALPPS is a novel surgical technique that has been indicated for use in specific patients with liver cancer.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT; also known as vacuum-assisted closure) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes a vacuum dressing to promote the healing of large wounds and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD; Wuhan VSD Medical Science & Technology Corp., Wuhan, China) is one of the novel NPWT techniques (8). In VSD, the commonly used polyurethane material is replaced by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (9). PVA has higher tissue compatibility and tensile strength that does not result in debris shedding or stick to surrounding tissues (9). Considering the aforementioned characteristics of PVA, the VSD technique may be used to improve wound healing in ALPPS surgery. Hence, the present case report describes a patient with liver cancer who underwent ALPPS surgery and co-application of NPWT to heal the large wound and improve the outcome of therapeutic intervention.

Case report

Ethical statement

The present case study was approved by the Ethics Committee of The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China). Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Presenting concerns

In November 2014, a 46-year-old male patient was hospitalized in the Department of General Surgery at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) due to right upper abdominal pain with no symptoms of jaundice. The patient had no disease history or treatment history related to the liver prior to this hospitalization.

Diagnostic focus and assessment

Routine blood test results revealed the following: White blood cell count, 6.1×109/l (reference range: 3.5–9.5×109/l); neutrophils, 69.9% (reference range: 40–75%); red blood cell count, 5.02×1012/l (3.8–5.1×1012/l); hemoglobin, 155 g/l (reference range: 115–150 g/l); and hematocrit, 46.3% (reference range: 35–50%). Liver function test results revealed the following: Total bilirubin, 264.6 µmol/l (reference range: 3.1–22.5 µmol/l); aspartate aminotransferase, 48 U/l (reference range: 13–35 U/l); alanine aminotransferase, 120 U/l (reference range: 7–40 U/l); and albumin, 38.6 g/l (reference range: 40–55 g/l). The patient's carbohydrate antigen-199 level was 1,000 U/ml (reference range: 0–27 U/ml) and the α-fetoprotein level was 2,048 ng/ml (reference range: 13–150 ng/ml). Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography scan results indicated gallbladder cancer accompanied by multiple liver metastases including segments V, VIII and IV of the liver. Right posterior lobe metastases were observed in the vicinity of the portal and hepatic veins (Fig. 1A-D).

Figure 1. Preoperative CT (and future liver remnant=18.1%) and intraoperative findings before VSD implanting. (A-C) Preoperative CT with metastasis sites indicated (arrows). (D) Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatograpy with the involved hepatic duct and dilated intrahepatic biliary duct indicated (arrow). (E) Calculation of the residual liver volume. (F) Resection of the common bile duct (arrow). (G) Isolation of the hepatoduodenal ligament. Red arrow, right hepatic artery; white arrow, right branch of portal vein. (H) Transection of the right branch of portal vein (arrow). (I) Resection of the left lateral lobe metastasis (arrows). (J) Transection of the left medial branch of portal vein (arrow). CT, computed tomography.

Therapeutic focus and assessment

Liver volume was calculated using liver resection simulation in the 3D+Medical Imaging Visualization system (Yorktal Digital Medical Imaging Technology, Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China). The total liver volume, residual liver volume (RLV), and tumor volume were calculated. The RLV was calculated as the total liver volume minus the tumor volume. The RLV was 460.95 ml (18.1% of the total liver volume; Fig. 1E). Subsequently, resection of the right trisegment was performed. Prior to surgery, intense glucose therapy (50% glucose solution containing 100 g of glucose daily for 2 days; CR Double-Crane Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Beijing, China) was administered to the patient to increase the liver glycogen stores and vitamin K (vitamin K1, 10 mg, and vitamin K3, 8 mg daily via intramuscular injection for 3 days; Cisen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jining, China) was administered to improve blood coagulation. Furthermore, reduced glutathione (1,800 mg/day intravenously for 5 days; YaoPharma Co., Ltd., Chongqing, China) and magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (200 mg intravenous daily for 5 days; Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Lianyungang, China) were also administered to protect liver function.

The first surgery was performed in November 2014. The common bile duct along the lateral part of duodenum was disarticulated and the hepatoduodenal ligament was skeletonized. Three metastatic nodules in segments II and III of the left outer lobe of the liver were partially resected. A liver portion between segment IV and segments II–III was disarticulated. Following this, the portal vein and hepatic artery branches connected to segment IV were ligated, the right portal vein was ligated, and the bile duct at left hepatic duct confluence was disarticulated. Subsequently, a Y-tube was inserted to drain the bile out of the body. Developer agent (fat emulsions; B. Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany) was injected into the Y-tube to examine the bile leakage at the liver cross-section (Fig. 1F-J). A VSD dressing was placed on the resected surface of the liver, with inferior and anterior margins 1 cm beyond the resection surface. It had two drainage tubes 3 cm apart. When a secondary surgery was not feasible, the VSD dressing could be removed through the 3-cm incision between the two tubes (Fig. 2). Moreover, two normal drainage tubes were also placed at the liver cross-section. One tube was placed at the hepatorenal recess (the lowest point of the supine position) and the other was placed behind the liver duodenum ligament to drain the residual effusion at the cross section and small omentum, respectively. Post-surgery, continuous negative pressure suction was applied via VSD at 50 kPa and an intermittent saline flush (50 ml every hour) was performed through a flush pipe. No negative pressure suction was performed for the normal drainage tubes. The patient received prophylactic antibiotic therapy in the form of Ulinastatin (200,000 U/day intravenously for 5 days; Techpool Bio-Pharma Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China) and Omegaven (100 ml/day intravenously for 5 days postoperative; Fresenius Kabi Asia-Pacific, Ltd., Wanchai, Hong Kong) as anti-inflammatory medications, and proteins (albumin, 20 g/day intravenously for 3 days; Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China) as treatment to protect liver function. A total of 7 days after the first surgery, remnant liver volume was increased to 117% of the original volume, accounting for 39.3% (Fig. 3A and B) of the standard liver volume.

Figure 2. Vacuum sealing drainage implanting and distance between two drainage tubes.

Figure 3. Preoperative computed tomography (remnant liver volume, 39.3%) and intraoperative findings of the second operation. (A) Left lateral lobe volume of the first liver segment was markedly increased at postoperative day 6. (B) Calculation of the residual liver volume. (C) Transection of the right hepatic artery (arrow). (D) Transection of the perihepatic ligament and hepatic segment vein (arrow). (E) Transection of the right hepatic vein (arrow). (F) Transection of the middle hepatic vein (arrow). (G) Choledochojejunostomy. Arrow, bilioenteric anastomosis. (H) Resection of the specimens.

The second surgery was performed 8 days after the first surgery and the abdomen was accessed along the original incision. On investigation, the volume of the left outer lobe was notably increased and the VSD duct was appropriately fixed on the liver cross section (adhered to both sides of the liver cross section). The adhesion was slight and easy to separate. No effusion was observed surrounding the VSD duct and no bleeding occurred at the liver cross section when VSD was removed. Furthermore, the perihepatic ligament was liberated and the right hepatic artery and right hepatic vein were ligated and excised. The hepatic vein was disarticulated below the confluence point of the middle hepatic and left hepatic veins and the broken ends were sutured. The left outer lobe bile duct was disarticulated, the right liver trisegment was resected and Roux-Y anastomosis was achieved on the left outer lobe bile duct and jejunum. One drainage tube was retained at the lower cross section (Fig. 3C-H).

Outcome

The patient exhibited improved wound healing after the application of VSD compared with conventional ALPPS surgery. There was positive improvement in wound adhesion and effusion drainage. The VSD dressing reduced intraoperative abdominal adhesion and effusion and protected the residual liver from tumor invasion of the diseased liver. Previous studies support that the conventional ALPSS method is disadvantageous when used with or without a plastic bag (6,7). Indeed, it is difficult to completely drain the fluid from the plastic bag. Both non-treatment and fibrin glue application present the problem of incomplete drainage and the tumors proximal to the resection surface may invade the residual liver.

This patient was followed up until December 2016, and no evidence of recurrence or metastasis was observed.

Discussion

With the improvements in technology and surgical techniques, major hepatectomies may be performed with low morbidity and mortality. In the present case report, a two-staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) was performed in a patient with liver cancer and VSD was implanted to improve surgical wound healing. Results indicated that wound healing in the patient was improved after the application of VSD compared with conventional ALPPS surgery.

Application of VSD in ALPPS surgeries

To the best of our knowledge, the application of VSD to treat abdominal surgical wounds has not yet been reported. VSD dressing has been rarely used for abdominal surgeries because it is non-absorbable. Since it is also large and not smooth, it cannot be pulled out as with a drainage tube; a secondary surgery is required to remove a VSD dressing. In ALPPS surgery, the dressing may be removed during the second surgery. Furthermore, the application of a VSD dressing in this surgery alleviates abdominal inflammation, reduces tissue adhesion and improves the difficulty of secondary surgery. Notably, the placement of a VSD dressing between the diseased and residual parts of the liver prevents tumor invasion. The authors of the present study suggest that the two drainage tubes of the VSD dressing are placed beneath the skin, 3 cm apart. Therefore, when a secondary surgery is not feasible, it is possible to incise the skin and remove the VSD dressing under local anesthesia. It overcomes the disadvantage of the plastic bag, which is difficult to remove. In the present case report these challenges were overcome effectively. First, VSD was removed without difficulty as the second surgery was performed ~1 week after ALPPS. Therefore, as the interval between the two surgeries was short, the obtained adhesion was relatively limited and VSD limited the extent of the adhesions. In conclusion, the present case study indicated that the use VSD combined with ALPPS surgery for a patient with liver cancer resulted in improved recovery and wound healing.

Use of VSD in ALPPS surgery

In the present study, VSD was pre-implanted appropriately and fixed on both sides of the liver cross section. To enable complete suction, the front of the upper bound of VSD was outplaced 1 cm above the liver cross section. Two VSD drainage tubes were placed 3 cm apart in order to enable easy accessibility during the second surgery and easy removal, if required.

Negative pressure applied at 50 kPa

Excessive negative pressure may increase the bleeding risk and may result in the attraction of intestine and omentum tissues, leading to wrapping and adhesions (10). Thus, a low negative pressure of 50 kPa was chosen in the present case. However, specific factors should be considered when choosing an appropriate negative pressure. Firstly, pressure should be high enough to resist the resistance of VSD sponge material to ensure that the negative pressure may suck the liquid surrounding VSD; continuous negative pressure suction and syphonage effect of sponges allow for more complete drainage (8–10). Secondly, if the pressure is too low, the sponge becomes too wet, which affects the adhesion properties of the sponge. Hence, choosing an optimal negative pressure is important to improve the functionality of VSD.

Surgeons performed ALPPS along with VSD on another patient who was diagnosed with Bismush type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma. In September 2015, a 59-year-old male patient was hospitalized at the Department of General Surgery at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) due to symptoms of jaundice. White blood cell count was 3.7×109/l; neutrophils, 63.1%; red blood cell count, 4.5×1012/l (3.8–5.1×1012/l); hemoglobin, 120 g/l; and hematocrit, 41.1%. Liver function test results revealed the following: Total bilirubin, 383.6 µmol/l; aspartate aminotransferase, 72 U/l; alanine aminotransferase, 100 U/l; and albumin, 41.8 g/l The patient's carbohydrate antigen-199 level was 1,000 U/ml. A percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage tube was placed preoperatively at the right hepatic lobe to drain the bile. It was found that tumors had invaded the right hepatic duct and adjacent tissues, which indicated the necessity of right hemi-liver resection. However, as treatment for jaundice had not been performed on the left hemi-liver, the risk of postoperative liver function failure was relatively high. Thus, ALPPS was performed on the right hemi-liver. As biliary-enteric anastomosis was performed at the same time, conventional plastic bags, VSD joint wound protection and suction approaches were adopted to prevent bile leakage and adhesion.

The present case report has certain limitations. VSD material must be improved in order to obtain satisfactory adhesion to tissues and improve the suction of bile wastes. Certain factors, including the selection of optimal negative pressure, VSD material and interval time between staged hepatectomies require further investigation. Moreover, large-scale randomized trials are required to demonstrate the safety, efficacy and long-term outcomes of this approach.

In conclusion, in cases where patients that require conventional two-staged hepatectomies do not fulfill the criteria to undergo resection due to insufficient hypertrophy or tumor progression, ALPPS may be used as a salvage procedure, despite the risk of increased morbidity and possible mortality. As a wound protection and drainage technique, VSD may be employed in ALPPS surgeries in order to decrease effusion and adhesion complications. In the meantime, its application in alternative abdominal surgeries remains to be established.

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported in part by the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (grant 81401975), Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (grant no. D201250), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant no. 2016M591564), Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund (grant no. LBH-Z14219 and LBH-Z16191), Scientific Research Project of Heilongjiang Medical Science Institute (grant no. 201502 and 201710), and Heilongjiang Province Health Bureau (grant no. 2014-399).

References