Abstract

BACKGROUND: Associated Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation with Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) leads to rapid hepatic hypertrophy and decreases incidence of post-hepatectomy liver failure in patients with a marginal future liver remnant. Various procedural ALPPS modifications were previously described. Here, we present the first case of a new ALPPS modification, carrying out a left hepatic trisectionectomy with segment 1.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 36-year-old woman with locally advanced sigmoid adeno-carcinoma and extensive left liver metastases extending to segment V and VIII, who received state-of-the-art systemic conversion chemotherapy. Preoperative CT volumetric scan demonstrated a FLR/TLV (Future Liver Remnant/Total Liver Volume) of 22%. A left hepatic trisectionectomy procedure was conducted using our new ALPPS modification. Sufficient hepatic hypertrophy of FLR was reached with a volume increase of 100%. The period between the 2 stages was 7 days. The patient underwent left trisectionectomy and left colectomy with tumor-free margins. All dissected lymph nodes were tumor-negative. The surgical intra- and postoperative course was uneventful. Medically, the patient acquired an Acinetobacter infection, with severe sepsis and acute renal injury. After 3 dialysis sessions, the renal function recovered completely. Afterwards, the patient recovered slowly, and reintroduction ambulation and oral feeding was prolonged. Later on, the patient received Xeloda 1500 mg twice daily as adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: The new ALPPS modification leads to a sufficient hypertrophy of FRL within 1 week, allowing left hepatic trisectionectomy with tumor-free FRL. Despite the challenging complications, the new ALPPS modification might represent an alternative procedure for use when the classic ALPPS procedure is not applicable. Further studies are required.

Keywords: Colorectal Surgery, Liver Neoplasms, Portal Vein