Intraoperative Cholangio-Ultrasound in Resective Liver Surgery (IOCUS)

• the technical feasibility [ Time Frame: 90- days for postoperative morbidity and mortality ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  

• Efficacy [ Time Frame: 90-days for postoperative morbidity and mortality ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Efficacy in providing the proper information validated by postoperative outcome and in particular by the absence of an undrained portion of the liver after resection, biliary reconstruction or bilio-enteric anastomoses, and the absence of consistent bile leaks
  
  

Intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in liver surgery is widely accepted as a fundamental tool for radical and safe hepatectomy [1]. New technical improvements of IOUS have been reported in recent years both for tumor characterization and staging [2] and for resection guidance [3-5]. However, intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) still represents the gold standard for studying the biliary tract anatomy as well as for guiding reconstruction in case of bile duct resection and, moreover, with the advent of living donation it is the standard reference for validating preoperative imaging [6]. Conversely, it could be affirmed that IOUS in this sense has no role, if not for guiding intraoperative dilated bile duct drainage [7]. Nevertheless, IOC has not negligible costs, it implies the use of x-ray, iodated contrast agents and is time consuming.

Herein is proposed a technique for bile duct exploration by means of intraoperative cholangio-ultrasound (IOCUS) validated on a consecutive series of patients undergoing liver resection.

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