The Evaluation of the 1318 nm Diode Laser in Open Liver Surgery

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The surgical treatment of liver metastases but also of primary liver tumors is of particular clinical relevance in view of their high incidence. As a therapy option with a prospect of long-term survival in curative intent, liver resection plays a crucial role in modern multimodal treatment concepts. Advances in surgical and perioperative medicine have led to a reduction of procedural mortality to less than 5% and morbidity to around 35–45% and have rendered liver resections from high risk to routine procedures. Several comparisons of common parenchymal dissection techniques showed no specific advantages in favor of one of the methods in terms of morbidity, mortality and intraoperative blood loss. The aim of our retrospective study was to evaluate the 1318 nm diode pumped neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser in open liver surgery. It could be shown that liver resections using the 1318 nm surgical laser can be carried out with an acceptable risk and are equally safe compared to conventional resection methods with comparatively little blood loss and favorable oncological surrogate outcomes. ABSTRACT: (1) Background: Numerous dissection instruments are available for liver resection. So far, there has been no evidence in favor of a specific dissection device effecting a reduction in postoperative mortality and morbidity or a reduction in intraoperative blood loss. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of liver resection with the 1318 nm surgical laser. (2) Methods: 151 consecutive patients who underwent liver resection using the 1318 nm surgical laser (n = 119) or conventional dissection methods (n = 32) were evaluated retrospectively. As primary outcome, postoperative complications were assessed using the Clavien–Dindo classification. Secondary outcomes were postoperative mortality, reoperations and reinterventions, intraoperative blood loss, the need for vascular control using the Pringle maneuver and oncological safety assessed through histopathological evaluation of resection margins. (3) Results: For liver resections using the 1318 nm surgical laser, the postoperative morbidity (41.2% vs. 59.4%, p = 0.066), mortality (1.7% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.513) and the reoperation rate (2.5% vs. 3.1%, p = 1.000) were not significantly different from conventional liver resections. In the laser group, a lower reintervention rate (9.2% vs. 21.9%, p = 0.050) was observed. The oncological safety demonstrated by a tumor-free resection margin was similar after laser and conventional resection (93.2% vs. 89.3%, p = 0.256). The median intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the laser group (300 mL vs. 500 mL, p = 0.005) and there was a significantly lower need for a Pringle maneuver (3.4% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.021). (4) Conclusions: Liver resections using the 1318 nm surgical laser can be routinely performed with a favorable risk profile. Compared to alternative resection methods, they are associated with low blood loss, appear adequate from an oncological point of view, and are not associated with increased mortality and morbidity.