Anterior approach for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (with video)

To evaluate the significance of the anterior approach without the Pringle maneuver during right hepatectomies with caudate lobectomies for perihilar cholangiocarcinomas (PHCs).

From January 2011 to 2015, 25 consecutive patients underwent right hepatectomies with caudate lobectomies using the anterior approach without the Pringle maneuver for PHC (group A). Between 2003 and 2011, 44 patients were operated on for PHC using the classic right approach (group B). We compared the groups with respect to the patients' characteristics and the short-term surgical outcomes.

Group A had significantly lower postoperative mean maximum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (294 U/L versus 453 U/L; P = 0.044), lower frequencies of maximum aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase levels that exceeded 500 U/L (8.0% versus 32%; P = 0.036), shorter total Pringle maneuver times (7.1 versus 46.3 min; P < 0.001), lower Pringle maneuver frequencies (0.76 maneuvers versus 5.1 maneuvers; P < 0.001), less bleeding (1237 mL versus 1646 mL; P = 0.025), and shorter postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome durations (2.3 h versus15.4 h; P < 0.001) compared with group B.

This approach can be performed safely, and it seems to limit the hemodynamic disturbance of the remnant left liver.