A prospective study of in-line radiofrequency ablation in hepatic parenchymal transection - its efficacy and complications

Background. Bleeding during liver transection remains a potential hazard. This study aims to report the efficacy and complications of in-line radiofrequency ablation (ILRFA)-assisted liver resection. Patients and methods. The blood loss of 25 consecutive patients who underwent ILRFA-assisted liver resection was obtained by weighing swabs and measuring suction jar contents during liver resection and calculated in ml per cm2 of the transection surface area. Postoperative complications were recorded. Five clinical variables, which might affect blood loss, were analyzed. Results. The mean blood loss during parenchymal dissection for the ILRFA group was 3.4±3.2 ml/cm2. Three patients had intra-abdominal collections, including one patient with bile leakage after ILRFA-assisted liver resection. Age, gender, extent of liver resection, liver quality and Pringle maneuver did not demonstrate significant impact on blood loss. Conclusions. This study showed that ILRFA-assisted liver resection was associated with very low blood loss. This is likely to improve the operative safety of liver resection for hepatic tumors. There were no significant postoperative sequelae.