A meta-analysis of the three-dimensional reconstruction visualization technology for hepatectomy

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Hepatectomy, a major liver surgery, carries risks including prolonged operation times, significant blood loss, and postoperative complications.
• Accurate pre-operative planning is crucial for successful hepatectomy, particularly for complex anatomical resections.
• Three-dimensional reconstruction visualization technology (3D-RVT) offers enhanced spatial understanding of liver anatomy.

Approach:

• A systematic meta-analysis was performed on 12 retrospective and comparative studies involving 2053 patients undergoing hepatectomy.
• Literature search included English publications and conference papers up to March 2022, with manual reference tracing.
• Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.1 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3D-RVT.

Key Points:

• 3D-RVT significantly reduced operation times (WMD = -29.36, P=0.03) and intraoperative bleeding (WMD = -93.53, P=0.002).
• The technique led to decreased blood transfusion volumes (WMD = -66.06, P=0.003) and shorter hospital stays (WMD = -1.90, P=0.001).
• 3D-RVT use was associated with reduced hepatic inflow occlusion and fewer postoperative complications (OR = 0.60, P<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Three-dimensional reconstruction visualization technology (3D-RVT) is a safe and effective tool for hepatectomy.
• The technology enhances pre-operative safety assessments for anatomical liver resections.
• 3D-RVT contributes to improved surgical efficiency and patient outcomes in liver surgery.