Objectives: The main goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency-assisted liver resection.
Background: Liver resection is the "gold standard" for patients with resectable liver tumors. In the past years, the role of radiofrequency in liver surgery has been expanded from simple tumor ablation to its use in the technique of radiofrequency-assisted liver resection.
Methods: Patients with primary or secondary liver tumors, who underwent radiofrequency-assisted liver resection have been included into the prospective study. The acquired data underwent statistical analysis and were compared with the published results of liver resections.
Results: Between January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2009, 53 patients underwent radiofrequency-assisted liver resection. Seventy-six tumours were resected with the mean diameter of 38±19 mm. Mean peroperative blood loss was 170.8±285.4 mL and transfusions were needed postoperatively in 9.4 % cases. The mean hospital stay was 10.6±7.2 days. Postoperative complications were noted in 16.9 % patients; postoperative mortality was 1.9 %.
Conclusion: The radiofrequency-assisted liver resection represents a safe and effective way of hepatic parenchyma transaction and to hepatobiliary surgeon it offers a new way of effective transection of liver parenchyma (Tab. 2, Ref. 23).