Robotic liver surgery has gained more acceptance as a feasible, safe, and effective procedure for the treatment of both benign and malignant indications. However, robotic left hepatectomy is still technically demanding. We describe our surgical technique of a robotic left hepatectomy using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for a large biliary cyst.
Biliary cysts (BC) are rare congenital dilatations of intra- and extrahepatic parts of the biliary tract and bear a significant risk of carcinogenesis. Surgery is the cornerstone treatment for patients with BC. While total BC excision and Roux-Y hepaticojejunostomy is the treatment method of the choice in patients with extrahepatic BC (i.e., Todani I-IV), patients with intrahepatic BC (i.e., Todani V) benefit the most from a surgical liver resection. In recent years, minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS) including robotic MILS has gained more acceptance as a feasible, safe, and effective procedure for the treatment of both benign and malignant indications. Robotic major MILS is still considered technically demanding and a detailed description of the technical approach during robotic major MILS has only been limitedly discussed in the literature. The current article describes the main steps for a robotic left hepatectomy in a patient with a large BC Todani Type V. The patient is in French position with 5 trocars placed (4 robotic, 1 laparoscopic assistant). After mobilizing the left hemiliver, the left and right hepatic artery are dissected carefully followed by a cholecystectomy. Intraoperative ultrasound is performed to confirm localization and margins of the BC. The Left hepatic artery and left portal vein are isolated, clipped, and divided. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging is used regularly during the entire procedure to visualize and confirm biliary tract anatomy and the BC. Parenchymal transection is performed with robotic cautery hook for the superficial part and robotic cautery spatula, bipolar cautery, and vessel sealer for the deeper parenchyma. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. A robotic left hepatectomy is technically demanding, yet a feasible and safe procedure. ICG-fluorescence imaging aids in delineating the BC and bile duct anatomy. Further, comparative studies are needed to confirm clinical benefits of robotic MILS for benign and malignant indications.
Biliary cysts (BC) are rare congenital dilatations of intra- and extrahepatic parts of the biliary tract1. Approximately 1% of all benign biliary diseases are BC with an incidence of 1:1000 in Asian countries and 1:100,000 to 1:150,000 in western countries1,2. While the majority of cases are diagnosed during infancy or childhood, 20% of the cases are diagnosed in adults2. BC are divided into groups as per the Todani classification3. The early diagnosis and treatment are crucial since BC are associated with a risk of carcinogenesis, not only occurring more often in these patients but also 10-15 years before the disease is manifested4,5,6. The overall risk of malignancy has been reported to be 10%-15%, and depends on the Todani classification and age1,6. While patients aged 31-50 years with BC have a risk of 19% of carcinogenesis, 51-70-year-old patients with BC were reported to have a risk of at least 50% of carcinogenesis7. Surgery is the cornerstone treatment of BC8. While total BC excision and Roux-Y hepaticojejunostomy is the treatment method of the choice in patients with extrahepatic BC (i.e., Todani I-IV), patients with intrahepatic BC (i.e., Todani V) benefit the most from a surgical liver resection or liver transplantation in case of bilobar Todani V8.
In recent years, minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS), including laparoscopic and robotic MILS has gained more acceptance as a feasible, safe, and effective procedure for the treatment of both benign and malignant indications9,10,11,12. According to the most recent international Southampton guidelines on laparoscopic liver surgery, laparoscopy is now seen as the gold standard for minor liver resections and laparoscopic major liver resections are considered feasible and safe in selected patients if performed by surgeons who have completed the learning curve for minor laparoscopic liver surgery. However, laparoscopic liver surgery has some persistent limitations, including restriction of movements, presence of physiologic tremors and reduced visualization13,14. Robotic MILS is, therefore, a valuable alternative to laparoscopic MILS. It is suggested that robotic MILS provides a better magnified three-dimensional view, tremor filtration, improved dexterity with several degrees of freedom, ease of suturing, and better motion scaling, as compared to laparoscopic liver surgery15,16,17. Furthermore, robotic MILS allows the surgeon to remain in a seated posture, reducing fatigue during surgery18. While some studies reported on the potential advantages of robotic MILS as compared to open liver surgery, several high-volume expert centers showed similar outcomes of both minor and major robotic and laparoscopic MILS14,18,19,20. However, major robotic MILS, defined as the resection of three or more Couinaud's segments21, is still considered technically demanding and a detailed description of the technical approach during robotic major MILS had only been discussed limitedly in the literature. Studies describing the technique and use of robotic MILS for the treatment of BC Todani Type V are lacking.
Here, we describe our robotic technique of a left hepatectomy using Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging for a symptomatic complex BC. This case involves a 68-year-old woman who had elevated liver enzymes during a routine check-up without any clinical symptoms. An abdominal ultrasound of the liver revealed intrahepatic dilatation of the biliary ducts specifically in the left hemi liver without a clear lesion. Further diagnostic examinations, including an abdominal CT scan, MRI scan, (Figure 1) and MRCP, showed a large intrahepatic complex cystic lesion of 40 mm on the border of segment 4a and 4b in continuity with the biliary tree with intrahepatic dilatation of biliary ducts in the left lobe. The patient was diagnosed with a large BC Todani Type V of the left hepatic duct and was recommended for a robotic left hepatectomy. Since there were no signs of biliary obstruction, preoperative biliary drainage was not performed.
Written informed consent has been obtained from the patient to use medical data and the operative video for education and scientific purposes. This research was performed in compliance with all institutional, national, and international guidelines for human welfare.
1. Positioning and robot docking
2. Mobilization
3. Hilar dissection
4. Cholecystectomy
5. Vascular transection
6. Parenchymal transection
Representative results are shown in Table 1. Following the surgical technique in the protocol, the operative time was 189 min with an intraoperative blood loss of 10 mL. No conversion to laparotomy was needed and no intraoperative incidents occurred. The postoperative course was uncomplicated without any postoperative complications. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4.
The final histopathological examination revealed a large complex cyst of 3.1 cm in continuity with a biliary branch of the left hepatic duct without any suspicion for malignancy.
Comparable result from literature
Several studies investigated outcomes of major robotic liver surgery, including robotic left hepatectomy22,23,24. An operative time of 383 min (IQR 240-580 min)23 with an estimated intraoperative blood loss of 300 mL (IQR 100-1,000)23 has been described previously. With regards to postoperative outcomes, a length of hospital stay of 3 days (IQR 3-5 days)22,24, a favorable Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade III complication rate of 7.0%24 and a remarkable low mortality rate (0%)22,23,24 were reported.
Figure 1: The appearance of the biliary cyst and the relationship with the left biliary tree on MRI-scan Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: Trocar placement. R1: robotic trocar at right anterior axillary line; R2: robotic trocar at right mid-clavicular line; R3: robotic trocar on midline; R4: robotic trocar at left mid-clavicular line. L1: laparoscopic assistant trocar on the right side of the umbilicus. This figure is adapted from Kaçmaz, E. et al. 202025. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Variable | Outcome |
Intraoperative | |
Operative time (min) | 189 |
Conversion to laparotomy | No |
Estimated intraoperative blood loss (mL) | 10 |
Intraoperative incidents | No |
Postoperative | |
Clavien-Dindo complication | No |
Clavien-Dindo complication ≥ grade III | No |
90-day Reoperation | No |
Length of hospital stay, days | 4 |
90-day readmission | No |
90-day/in-hospital mortality | No |
Pathological diagnosis | Large complex biliary cyst without malignancy |
Table 1: Outcome of the surgery
The use of robotic major MILS has increased gradually over the years for both benign and malignant indications. However, robotic major left hepatectomy is still a technically demanding procedure and it is, therefore, suggested to follow a structured approach, including six main steps: positioning and docking of the robotic system, mobilization of the left lobe, hilar dissection, cholecystectomy, vascular transection, and parenchymal transection.
ICG-fluorescence imaging is emerging as a promising and useful tool during robotic liver surgery as applied in the current procedure. While IOUS is routinely performed during robotic MILS and provides the most actual information on number and size of lesions, and its relation to anatomical structures26, it may be technically challenging due to limitations in free-range of motion and lack of information on precise biliary tract anatomy27. ICG-fluorescence imaging can, therefore, aid the surgeon in both visualizing liver lesions and the exact trajectory of intra- and extrahepatic biliary ducts to perform an uncomplicated robotic liver resection. Previously published retrospective studies on ICG-fluorescence imaging during liver surgery primarily focused on the sensitivity of ICG-fluorescence imaging and detection of additional liver lesions as compared to IOUS rather than focusing on the intra- and postoperative impact of enhanced intraoperative visualization of biliary tract anatomy28,29,30. These studies showed that significantly more additional lesions were identified in patients where ICG-imaging was performed compared to IOUS with comparable intra- and postoperative outcomes between both groups. Of note, these studies didn't include robotic MILS.
Parenchymal transection is one of the most critical steps during robotic MILS and accounts for the majority of blood loss, being a major determinant of morbidity and mortality. A careful and structured approach with the use of appropriate robotic instruments is therefore necessary. Transection techniques have evolved over time from the clamp-crush technique to the use of a variety of energy devices31,32. Ultrasonic dissection devices such as the Cavitron Ultrasonic Aspirator (CUSA) offer superior visualization of intrahepatic structures and are often used during parenchymal transection32. However, the laparoscopic CUSA is the only available ultrasonic dissection device successfully integrated into laparoscopic MILS, not available for robotic MILS33,34. During the current robotic procedure, a cautery hook was used for the superficial part of the liver and both the vessel sealer and the cautery spatula for the deeper parenchyma. Of note, a recent survey study highlighted that 70% of the surgeons performing robotic MILS were dissatisfied with the available robotic instruments for liver parenchymal transection34. The development of new instruments for robotic parenchymal transection might help to further improve outcomes after liver surgery and increase the adoption of robotic MILS.
Blood loss, operative time, and length of hospital stay of the current procedure were favorable and comparable with recent series on major robotic MILS22,23. Furthermore, the robotic procedure has similar intra- and postoperative outcomes as compared to laparoscopic MILS35,36. However, it is important to emphasize that robotic MILS is costly and more challenging as compared to the laparoscopic and open approach. Specific training in robotic MILS in combination with extensive experience in both open and laparoscopic liver surgery is needed to perform robotic MILS safely37. We therefore believe that robotic major MILS such as a robotic left hepatectomy should be limited to high-volume MILS centers and a careful selection of patients should be applied.
In summary, this manuscript provides the detailed steps of a robotic left hepatectomy, as performed at Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands. A robotic left hepatectomy is technically demanding, yet a feasible and safe procedure. ICG-fluorescence imaging may be helpful in delineating BC and bile duct anatomy. Further comparative studies are needed to confirm clinical benefits of robotic MILS for benign and malignant indications.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Systems | |||
Arietta V70 Ultrasound | Hitachi | – | The ultrasound system. |
da Vinci Surgeon Console | IS | SS999 | Used to control the surgical robot. |
da Vinci Vision Cart | IS | VS999 | The vision cart houses advanced vision and energy technologies and provides communications across da Vinci system components. |
da Vinci Xi | IS | K131861 | The surgical robot: ’patient side-cart’. |
Robotic ultrasonography transducer | Hitachi | L43K | Used for intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography. |
Instruments | |||
da Vinci Xi Endoscope with Camera, 8 mm, 30˚ | IS | 470027 | The camera of the da Vinci robot. |
EndoWrist Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps | IS | 470205 | Used for dissection and coagulation. |
EndoWrist HOT SHEARS | IS | 470179 | Used for cutting and coagulation. |
EndoWrist Maryland Bipolar Forceps | IS | 470172 | Used for dissection. |
EndoWrist Permanent Cautery Hook | IS | 470183 | Used for coagulation. |
EndoWrist Medium-Large Clip Applier | IS | 470327 | Used for clipping with Weck Hem-o-lok medium-large polymer clip |
EndoWrist Stapler 45 Instrument | IS | 470298 | Used for stappling |
Vessel sealer | IS | 480322 | Used for vessel sealing and dividing. |