Hepatic parenchymal resection using an ultrasonic surgical aspirator with electrosurgical coagulation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We introduced an ultrasonic surgical aspirator with electrosurgical coagulation to increase safety of the liver resections performed for hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODOLOGY

This system was evaluated by analyzing the intraoperative blood loss, the duration of hepatectomy, the ischemia time, and the postoperative clinical course and comparing these same parameters with the traditional forceps' fracture method.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the duration of surgery and the mean liver resection time between the two methods. The mean blood loss by using this system was 2458 +/- 4742 mL and by forceps' fracture method 956 +/- 252 mL. The mean ischemia time was 44.4 +/- 35.9 min by using this system and 23.9 +/- 29.1 min in forceps' fracture method. There was a significant decrease in intraoperative blood loss and ischemia time using the new system. This may decrease postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This system may enable all surgeons to perform liver resection easily and safely.