Radiofrequency-assisted liver resections for metastatic colorectal cancer: Technique and feasibility

Radiofrequency (RF)-assisted resection techniques are associated with minimal blood loss providing safe hemostasis of the transected liver 1-3 parenchyma. Different RF-assisted liver resection techniques have been developed. The presented RF technique is the sequentional coagulate-cut liver resection technique (?The Belgrade technique?) and the difference from other techniques is the way the electrode is used. A coagulate-cut liver resection cycle can be described as a process of creating a 30-mm long and 6-8 mm wide cylinder of coagulated and desiccated liver tissue by applying RF energy through the non-insulated tip of the electrode inserted into the liver parenchyma and then dividing the coagulated tissue by surgical scalpel or scissors. From January 2001 to January 2014, 830 RF-assisted liver resections were performed for various indications at the HPB unit of the Clinic for Digestive Surgery, Clinical center of Serbia, Belgrade. Among 830 liver resections, 470 resections were performed in 383 patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Sixty-six patients experienced repeated liver resection ranging from a second to a fifth resection. The majority of patients had bi-lobar spread of the disease before the first liver resection was performed. No difference was found in the postoperative morbidity between the patients after the first, the second and the third liver resection (F=0.168; p=0.846). 90-days mortality was 5.7% after the repeated liver resections and 2.5% in patients with one liver resection (X2=2.278; 4,13 p=0.165). Single HPB unit experience has demonstrated that RF-assisted liver resection technique is feasible, safe and effective procedure in the management of patients with CRC liver metastasis.