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Liver NeoplasmsNCT01785212

The Influence of Two Different Hepatectomy Methods on Transection Speed and Chemokine Release From the Liver

A study testing Stapler and CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO) in people with Liver Neoplasms and Liver Metastasis, run by Medical University of Vienna at 1 site in Austria.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The CUSA (cavitron ultrasound surgical aspirator) is the method of choice for hepatic resection in our center. Recently a stapler-hepatectomy methods has been developed and approved for liver surgery using Covidien Endo-Gia stapler. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
What is being tested?
Stapler and CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteAustria
Study dates
Mar 2013to Apr 2015
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients scheduled for elective major hepatic resection at the Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna
  • Stapler hepatectomy and CUSA resection feasible based on preoperative imaging
  • Age equal or greater than 18 years
  • Informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Minor hepatectomy
  • Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV infection, autoimmune disease
  • Inflammatory conditions of the bowel such as Crohn's Disease
  • Pregnancy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Austria1 site
  • Dept. of Surgery/Div. of General Surgery Medical University of Vienna

    Vienna, State of Vienna, 1090

Other trials in Austria

About this study

The CUSA (cavitron ultrasound surgical aspirator) is the method of choice for hepatic resection in our center. Recently a stapler-hepatectomy methods has been developed and approved for liver surgery using Covidien Endo-Gia stapler. The potential benefit of this method is a potential shorter transection time compared to the CUSA technique. Thus the investigators will perform a randomized controlled trial including 20 patients in the stapler-group and 20 patients in the CUSA control group. Primary endpoint will be transection speed. Secondary endpoints will be peri-operative (d-1, d0, d1, d3) cytokines concentration, T cell subsets, blood loss, morbidity, and a cost analysis.

Read the detailed description

Many different techniques of parenchymal transection are used in hepatic surgery. In a systematic review, there were no significant differences in morbidity (including bile leak), mortality, routine markers of liver parenchymal injury or dysfunction and length of hospital stay irrespective of the method used for parenchymal transection. This Cochrane review analyzed studies comparing the following transection devices: CUSA (cavitron ultrasound surgical aspirator) versus clamp-crush (two trials); radiofrequency dissecting sealer versus clamp-crush (two trials); sharp dissection versus clamp-crush technique (one trial); and hydrojet versus CUSA (one trial). The clamp-crush technique appeared to have the lowest blood loss and lowest transfusion requirements compared to the other techniques.

However, even in specialized centers morbidity and mortality rates of hepatic resections are still in the range of 45% and 3% respectively and uncertainty persists regarding the optimal technique of transection. Local experience seems to be the most important factor for the choice of the transection method. An innovative technique is stapler hepatectomy using Covidien Endo-Gia™ Ultra Handle Short Staplers and Endo Gia™ TRI staple 60mm or 45 mm AVM/AMT loading units (Covidien). A randomized controlled trial (CRUNSH trial) to evaluate the intraoperative blood loss of stapler hepatectomy compared to the clamp-crushing technique is currently under way.

The CUSA technique is well established in many centers including ours with excellent morbidity and mortality rates. However, it has been shown that CUSA has a longer transection speed than the clamp-crush technique (with vascular occlusion). The investigators of the CRUNSH trial hypothesize that stapler hepatectomy technique might also be comparable or more favorable to clamp-crushing regarding transection time with the advantage of avoiding vascular occlusion. Therefore stapler hepatectomy should also be faster than CUSA.

It has been shown that the release of cytokines, chemokines, and stress hormones correlates with postoperative infection and organ dysfunction. Chemokines are critically involved in the process of leukocyte recruitment and activation in the liver. Major surgery causes inflammation reflected in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In various studies IL-6, for instance, was a valid predictor for post-operative sepsis, complications or mortality. Besides, the levels of these cytokines are expected to correlate with the degree of surgical trauma. Therefore differences in cytokine levels between the two study groups will be assessed, including pro- (INF-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL12p70, TNFα) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13) cytokines.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) production is elevated in Kupffer cells following ischemia / reperfusion in response to free radicals and neutrophil elastase, as well as in animal oxidative liver injury models (e.g. carbon tetrachloride) Macrophage inflammatory protein-3-alpha (MIP3-alpha) is constitutively expressed in the liver. It is strongly chemotactic for cytokine-stimulated neutrophils, immature dendritic cells and memory/effector T and B lymphocytes by utilizing chemokine receptor (CCR) 6.

sCD163 (soluble haemoglobin scavenger receptor) is a novel marker of activated macrophages, like neopterin it can be determined in serum or plasma.

The effect of the transection speed in respect to chemokine release has never been investigated. The investigators hypothesize that a shorter transection time leads to a reduced release of these molecules potentially resulting in improved postoperative outcome.

Additionally the interaction between adaptive and innate immunity plays a significant role in liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Notably, activation of T cells in the absence of TCR ligation seems to be a predominant factor in the initial phase of I/R injury. Therefore as a pilot study, peripheral T cell subsets (including naïve T cells, effector and central memory T cells, regulatory T cells, early activated T cells) will be determined by flow cytometry in a subgroup of study patients (i.e. patients undergoing hepatic resection for other than oncological reasons).

The supposedly slower technique of CUSA resection shall therefore be compared with the novel technique of stapler hepatectomy.

Being tested
Stapler, CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO)
Medical subject headings
Liver Neoplasms, Echinococcosis, Hepatic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • StaplerDevice

    Also called Covidien Endo-Gia™ Ultra Handle Short Staplers(Covidien)

    stapler hepatectomy

  • CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO)Device

    CUSA is a well established device used for hepatic resection using ultrasound

Study groups in NCT01785212
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Stapler-hepatectomyOtherThe liver parenchyma is crushed with a Pean clamp and subsequently divided using Covidien Endo-Gia™ Ultra Handle Short Staplers and Endo Gia™ TRI staple 60 mm or 45 mm AVM/AMT loading units (Covidien). Hepatic veins and portal pedicles clamped and suture ligated.
Receives: Device: Stapler
CUSA-hepatectomyOtherThe liver parenchyma is divided along the transection line by CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO) and bipolar forceps in a two surgeon technique. Vessels of less than 2 mm in diameter are coagulated with bipolar forceps. The remaining vessels are clipped or ligated. Hepatic veins and portal pedicles clamped and suture ligated.
Receives: Device: CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. transection speed

    The transection time will be recorded by the anesthesiological team during surgery. The transection phase starts with opening the liver parenchyma after the transection line has been marked by electrocautery. It ends after complete division of the liver parenchyma. The cut surface of the resected liver will be photographed together with a 4 cm² reference scale in an exact 90° angle. The area of the liver transection surface will be calculated in cm² by setting the measured pixels of the cut surface in relation to the reference scale using Adobe Photoshop. The transection speed will expressed in cm²/min

    Measured: during surgery

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Perioperative cytokine concentrations

    Measured: day -1, d0, d1, d3

  2. Intraoperative blood loss in ml

    Measured: during surgery

  3. Postoperative laboratory markers of liver damage

    Postoperative routine laboratory markers of liver damage (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)), and markers of liver function (bilirubin, prothrombin time) measured on first and third postoperative day

    Measured: first week after surgery

  4. Morbidity and Mortality

    Measured: participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 2 weeks

  5. Perioperative T-cell subsets

    Measured: Day -1, 0, 1, 3

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Feb 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2013
  3. Primary completionDec 2014
  4. Study completionApr 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
40 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01785212
Sponsor's protocol ID
Version 1.0
Status last verified
Apr 2015
First submitted
23 Jan 2013
Last updated
7 Apr 2015
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Gurusamy KS, Pamecha V, Sharma D, Davidson BR. Techniques for liver parenchymal transection in liver resection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;2009(1):CD006880. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006880.pub2.

    PubMed 19160307
  • Jarnagin WR, Gonen M, Fong Y, DeMatteo RP, Ben-Porat L, Little S, Corvera C, Weber S, Blumgart LH. Improvement in perioperative outcome after hepatic resection: analysis of 1,803 consecutive cases over the past decade. Ann Surg. 2002 Oct;236(4):397-406; discussion 406-7. doi: 10.1097/01.SLA.0000029003.66466.B3.

    PubMed 12368667
  • Rahbari NN, Elbers H, Koch M, Bruckner T, Vogler P, Striebel F, Schemmer P, Mehrabi A, Buchler MW, Weitz J. Clamp-crushing versus stapler hepatectomy for transection of the parenchyma in elective hepatic resection (CRUNSH)--a randomized controlled trial (NCT01049607). BMC Surg. 2011 Sep 4;11:22. doi: 10.1186/1471-2482-11-22.

    PubMed 21888669
  • Tamandl D, Gruenberger B, Herberger B, Kaczirek K, Gruenberger T. Surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases is safe and feasible in elderly patients. J Surg Oncol. 2009 Oct 1;100(5):364-71. doi: 10.1002/jso.21259.

    PubMed 19235181
  • Tamandl D, Gruenberger B, Klinger M, Herberger B, Kaczirek K, Fleischmann E, Gruenberger T. Liver resection remains a safe procedure after neoadjuvant chemotherapy including bevacizumab: a case-controlled study. Ann Surg. 2010 Jul;252(1):124-30. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181deb67f.

    PubMed 20562613
  • Kimura F, Shimizu H, Yoshidome H, Ohtsuka M, Kato A, Yoshitomi H, Nozawa S, Furukawa K, Mitsuhashi N, Sawada S, Takeuchi D, Ambiru S, Miyazaki M. Circulating cytokines, chemokines, and stress hormones are increased in patients with organ dysfunction following liver resection. J Surg Res. 2006 Jun 15;133(2):102-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2005.10.025. Epub 2006 Jan 4.

    PubMed 16386757
  • Yamauchi H, Kobayashi E, Yoshida T, Kiyozaki H, Hozumi Y, Kohiyama R, Suminaga Y, Sakurabayashi I, Fujimura A, Miyata M. Changes in immune-endocrine response after surgery. Cytokine. 1998 Jul;10(7):549-54. doi: 10.1006/cyto.1997.0322.

    PubMed 9702420
  • Cruickshank AM, Fraser WD, Burns HJ, Van Damme J, Shenkin A. Response of serum interleukin-6 in patients undergoing elective surgery of varying severity. Clin Sci (Lond). 1990 Aug;79(2):161-5. doi: 10.1042/cs0790161.

    PubMed 2167805
  • Baigrie RJ, Lamont PM, Kwiatkowski D, Dallman MJ, Morris PJ. Systemic cytokine response after major surgery. Br J Surg. 1992 Aug;79(8):757-60. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800790813.

    PubMed 1393463
  • Mokart D, Merlin M, Sannini A, Brun JP, Delpero JR, Houvenaeghel G, Moutardier V, Blache JL. Procalcitonin, interleukin 6 and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS): early markers of postoperative sepsis after major surgery. Br J Anaesth. 2005 Jun;94(6):767-73. doi: 10.1093/bja/aei143. Epub 2005 Apr 22.

    PubMed 15849208
  • Jawa RS, Anillo S, Huntoon K, Baumann H, Kulaylat M. Interleukin-6 in surgery, trauma, and critical care part II: clinical implications. J Intensive Care Med. 2011 Mar-Apr;26(2):73-87. doi: 10.1177/0885066610384188.

    PubMed 21464062
  • Zhai Y, Busuttil RW, Kupiec-Weglinski JW. Liver ischemia and reperfusion injury: new insights into mechanisms of innate-adaptive immune-mediated tissue inflammation. Am J Transplant. 2011 Aug;11(8):1563-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03579.x. Epub 2011 Jun 10.

    PubMed 21668640
  • Caldwell CC, Tschoep J, Lentsch AB. Lymphocyte function during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Sep;82(3):457-64. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0107062. Epub 2007 Apr 30.

    PubMed 17470532
  • Schwarz C, Klaus DA, Tudor B, Fleischmann E, Wekerle T, Roth G, Bodingbauer M, Kaczirek K. Transection Speed and Impact on Perioperative Inflammatory Response - A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Stapler Hepatectomy and CUSA Resection. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 9;10(10):e0140314. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140314. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 26452162

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Stapler and CUSA (Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator; Valleylab, Boulder, CO) in people with Liver Neoplasms and Liver Metastasis, run by Medical University of Vienna at 1 site in Austria.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Apr 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Austria. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

transection speed (time frame: during surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01785212, which also lists 14 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Apr 2015.

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