A systematic review and meta-analysis of feasibility, safety and efficacy of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) versus two-stage hepatectomy (TSH)

Zhipeng Sun, Wei Tang, Yoshihiro Sakamoto, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Norihiro Kokudo

This meta-analysis aimed to review the regeneration rate of future liver remnant (FLR) and perioperative outcomes after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) and two-stage hepatectomy (TSH). A web search was performed in "MEDLINE", "EMBASE", and "SCIENCE DIRECT" databases using both subject headings (MeSH) and truncated word to identify all the articles published that related to this topic. Pooled risk ratios were calculated for categorical variables and mean differences for continuous variables using the fixed-effects and random-effects models for meta-analysis. Three studies involved 282 patients, of whom 234 were in the TSH group and 48 in the ALPPS group. Morbidity was experienced in 56.3% patients in the ALPPS group and 36.1% in the TSH group. There was a statistical difference (RR = 1.08; Z = 3.24; 95% CI, p = 0.001). Second surgeries were performed successfully in 79.1% patients in the portal vein embolization (PVE) group and 100% in the ALPPS group. There was a statistical difference (Z = 2.48; 95% CI, p = 0.01). The mean regeneration rate of FLR in the ALPPS group was 56.4% compared with 52.8% in the TSH group. There was no statistical difference (95% CI, p = 0.34). So from the outcome of this meta-analysis, TSH had a similar remnant liver regeneration ability compared to ALPPS while the morbidity and mortality rates were relatively low. Cancer progression while waiting for the staged liver resection after portal vein embolization was a drawback for TSH.