Novel Hemostatic Technique During Laparoscopic Liver Parenchymal Transection: Saline-Linked Electrocautery Combined With Wet Oxidized Cellulose (SLiC-WOC) Method

Yusuke Uemoto; Takahisa Fujikawa; Yusuke Kawamoto; Masatoshi Kajiwara

doi:10.7759/cureus.27431

Novel Hemostatic Technique During Laparoscopic Liver Parenchymal Transection: Saline-Linked Electrocautery Combined With Wet Oxidized Cellulose (SLiC-WOC) Method

Cureus. 2022 Jul 29;14(7):e27431. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27431. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Yusuke Uemoto¹, Takahisa Fujikawa¹, Yusuke Kawamoto², Masatoshi Kajiwara³

Affiliations

¹ Surgery, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, JPN.
² Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, JPN.
³ Gastroenterological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, JPN.

Abstract

Introduction: Although laparoscopic hepatectomy has the potential advantage of reducing intraoperative blood loss, it is more difficult to control bleeding laparoscopically compared to an open approach. We introduced a novel hemostatic technique, the saline-linked electrocautery combined with wet oxidized cellulose (SLiC-WOC) method, during laparoscopic hepatectomy where a combination of saline-linked electrocautery (SLiC) and wet oxidized cellulose (WOC) is used. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of employing the SLiC-WOC method for laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Methods: Thirteen patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection with the SLiC-WOC method between 2019 and 2020 were included in this study. The number of bleeding episodes in which the SLiC-WOC method was applied was counted, and the time required to achieve complete hemostasis was measured.

Results: Among the bleeding events that were difficult to achieve hemostasis by SLiC alone, 94% were safely and efficiently controlled. Additionally, 69% of hemostasis was achieved within 60 seconds and 91% within 120 seconds. Postoperatively, most patients experienced no complications and no operative mortality was observed.

Conclusions: The SLiC-WOC method can provide safe and time-efficient hemostasis during laparoscopic hepatectomy. This is especially crucial for bleeding, which is difficult to control using electrocautery alone.

Keywords: laparoscopic liver resection; liver parenchymal transection; low-temperature heat coagulation; oxidized cellulose; saline-linked electrocautery.