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Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of a Novel Procedure: Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy

  • Hepatobiliary Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a novel strategy to resect liver tumors despite the small size of the liver remnant. It is an hepatectomy in two stages, with PVL and parenchymal transection during the first stage, which induces rapid growth of the remnant liver exceeding any other technique. Despite high postoperative morbidity and mortality in most reports, the technique was adopted by a number of surgeons.

Materials and Methods

This systematic review explores current data regarding the feasibility, safety, and oncologic efficacy of ALPPS; the search strategy has been published online. A meta-analysis of hypertrophy, feasibility (ALPPS stage 2 performed), mortality, complications, and R0 (complete) resection was performed.

Results

A literature search revealed a total of 13 publications that met the search criteria, reporting data from 295 patients. Evidence levels were low, with the highest Oxford evidence level being 2c. The most common indication was colorectal liver metastasis in 203 patients. Hypertrophy in the meta-analysis was 84 %, feasibility (ALPPS stage 2 performed) 97 % (CI 94–99 %), 90-day mortality 11 % (CI 8–16 %), and complications grade IIIa or higher occured in 44 % (CI 38–50 %) of patients. A standardized reporting format for complications is lacking despite the widespread use of the Clavien–Dindo classification. Oncological outcome is not well-documented. The most common topics in the selected studies published were technical feasibility and indications for the procedures. Publication bias due to case-series and single-center reports is common.

Conclusion

A systematic exploration of this novel operation with a rigid methodology, such as registry analyses and a randomized controlled trial, is highly advised.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Martina Gosteli, PhD, from the University of Zurich Library, for her help with the literature search strategies for this systematic review.

Financial Support

This study was supported in part by a grant to Erik Schadde for Protected Research Time from the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Switzerland. The literature search was supported by a grant to Pierre A. Clavien from the University of Zurich, Switzerland (Klinischer Forschungsschwerpunkt: “Non-Resectable Liver Tumors: From Palliation to Cure”).

DISCLOSURES

Erik Schadde, Andreas A. Schnitzbauer, Christoph Tschuor, Dimitri Raptis, Wolf O. Bechstein, and Pierre A. Clavien have no conflicts of interest to disclose, and further disclose any commercial interest that they may have in the subject of study and the source of any financial or material support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Erik Schadde MD, FACS, Christoph Tschuor MD, Dimitri A. Raptis MD, MSc & Pierre-Alain Clavien MD, PhD, FACS

  2. Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Frankfurt University Hospitals, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    Andreas A. Schnitzbauer MD & Wolf O. Bechstein MD

Authors
  1. Erik Schadde MD, FACS
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  2. Andreas A. Schnitzbauer MD
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  3. Christoph Tschuor MD
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  4. Dimitri A. Raptis MD, MSc
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  5. Wolf O. Bechstein MD
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  6. Pierre-Alain Clavien MD, PhD, FACS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre-Alain Clavien MD, PhD, FACS.

Additional information

Erik Schadde and Andreas Schnitzbauer contributed equally to this work.

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Schadde, E., Schnitzbauer, A.A., Tschuor, C. et al. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of a Novel Procedure: Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 22, 3109–3120 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-4213-5

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