Assessment of results of using three types of vascular access for isolated hepatic chemoperfusion

INTRODUCTION: Uveal melanoma (UM) is an oncological disease, which develops metastases mainly to the liver. One of treatments for this pathology is isolated hepatic chemoperfusion (IHCP). The implementation of this method requires surgical isolation of the liver from the systemic circulation and the use of a heart-lung machine. Due to a small number of observations of this treatment method in the world, the optimal vascular access for its implementation has not been determined so far.

AIM: To analyze the in-hospital results of IHCP in patients with UM metastases performed from three different vascular accesses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over three years, 38 IHCP procedures were performed of the Kostroma Clinical Oncological Dispensary. Depending on the vessels into which the cannula for perfusion with Melphalan was inserted, patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 with cava-porto-arterial access (perfusion into the inferior vena cava, portal vein, and common hepatic artery), n = 14; group 2 with cava-arterial access (perfusion into the inferior vena cava and common hepatic artery), n = 21; group 3 with a forced access, n = 3. The study took into account major complications: death, bleeding; and minor complications: tumor lysis syndrome, abscess of the left lobe of the liver, peritonitis, a systole, deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, hydrothorax, acute liver failure, anasarca, polyserositis, ischemic cholangiopathy, thrombosis of the common hepatic artery, detachment of the common hepatic artery intima. A combined endpoint was the achievement of at least one of the listed complications. In case of several complications in one patient, they were not summed up and were considered as ‘1’.

RESULTS: In the postoperative period, the highest number of bleedings including those requiring revision, was noted in groups 1 and 3. The combined endpoint in the total sample made 42.11% and was lowest in group 2. Fatal outcomes were recorded in 3 cases (2 in group 1 and 1 in group 2), and were caused by increasing liver failure.

CONCLUSION: The lowest number of complications IHCP was identified with cava-arterial access. Further continuation of the study is necessary to investigate the immediate and remote outcomes of IHCP.