One-stage resection of primary colorectal cancer and hepatic metastases using the Habib Device: analysis of 40 consecutive cases treated in a Unit of general surgery

BACKGROUND: More than 50% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present or develop hepatic metastases (HM). The intraoperative use of the Habib 4X((R)) radio frequency probe device is safe in resetting HM and allows a one-stage resection of both CRC and HM with a similar mortality rate than a two-stage surgical treatment. METHODS: After an exhaustive residential training at the reference center for hepatobiliary surgery of the Imperial College of London, we treated at our unit of general surgery 40 consecutive patients with CRC and HM with the one-stage resection, using the Habib 4X((R)) intraoperative radiofrequency probe device to reset HM. RESULTS: None of the 40 patients died during the intra-operatory and post-operatory periods, none presented liver failures during the postoperative course nor complication related to the Habib's resection procedure (e.g. bleeding, abscess, bile leak). The amount of intra-operative liver bleeding was minimal. New HM arose in 10 (25%) cases, with a mean disease-free interval of 13 months, but the hepatic tissue close to previous resections remained cancer-free. The 69.7% of patients were disease-free at month 24 of the post-operative follow-up and 5-year rate was about 70%. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that surgeons well trained at a reference center for hepatobiliary surgery may perform with excellent results the one-stage CRC and HM resection with the Habib 4X((R)) device even in a Unit of general surgery.

Automated summary

The one-stage resection of colorectal cancer and hepatic metastases using the Habib 4X(R) device has shown excellent results, with minimal complications and a low rate of recurrence.