Communicating Veins Between Adjacent Hepatic Veins: an Intra-operative Ultrasound Study

The search for communicating veins (CVs) between adjacent hepatic veins (HVs) has drawn its rationale from living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Parenchymal sparing procedures although HVs are resected suggest that probably their presence is underestimated.

Taking profit from new improvements in ultrasound technology the investigators aim to better estimate the rate of CVs in a consecutive series of patients in whom resection of one HV at caval confluence is needed.

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Key information

Conditions

Liver Tumors Adenocarcinoma Carcinoma Carcinoma, Hepatocellular Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Liver Diseases Liver Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Istituto Clinico Humanitas, IRCCS

Rozzano, Milano, 20089, Italy

About this study

The search for communicating veins (CVs) between adjacent hepatic veins (HVs) has drawn its rationale from the need of reducing the risk of incomplete blood outflow in the medial portion of the hemiliver without the middle hepatic vein (MHV) in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, only 24% of patients seems having CVs based on the findings of color-Doppler intraoperative ultrasound (CD-IOUS) exploration. On the other hand the safety of parenchymal sparing procedure despite HV resection let suppose that CVs are probably more frequent than expected.

Certainly, better in vivo knowledge of the rate of CVs and their direct detection would consolidate and probably further expand parenchymal sparing techniques. Taking profit from new advancements in ultrasound technology we have carried out the present study with the aim of better estimating the rate of CVs in a consecutive series of patients in whom resection of one HV at caval confluence was needed.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients suitable for being enrolled in the present study were those carriers of primary or metastatic tumour with direct contact or invasion of one HV at the caval confluence.

Exclusion criteria

Treatment and study plan

Ultrasound guided liver resection

Procedure

Primary outcomes

First outcome was the rate of CVs detectable with e-flow IOUS along clamping of the HV for which resection could be needed.

Secondary outcomes

Secondary outcome was safety (morbidity, mortality, blood loss, blood transfusions) of the procedure.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Milan

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Communicating Veins Between Adjacent Hepatic Veins: Rare, Exceptional or Frequent? An Intra-operative Ultrasound Study

Important dates

Study start: 2008
First posted: Aug 18, 2009
Registry last updated: Aug 18, 2009

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed