Michele Dezio

Background: The associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a surgical strategy for patients with advanced liver tumors and inadequate future liver remnants (FLR). This study compares post-operative outcomes between open (oALPPS) and robotic (rALPPS) ALPPS in our institution. Methods: This retrospective monocentric study includes eleven patients who underwent ALPPS procedure between January 2023 and February 2024. Demographics, tumor characteristics, and intra- and post-operative outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: In the first-stage ALPPS, the frequency of intermittent hilum clamp and the estimated blood loss were higher in the oALPPS group, while operative time and complications were similar, and total hospital stay was higher in the rALPPS group. In the second-stage ALPPS, the data regarding intraoperative and post-operative data were similar. In rALPPS, there were no post-discharge complications, readmissions, or deaths within 30 days. Conclusion: This single-center study has an exploratory setting given the small cohort, but if confirmed in larger studies, rALPPS could be a viable alternative to oALPPS.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most common primary liver cancer with a poor prognosis. Negative-margin resection is presently the only potentially curative treatment option. Emerging trends with direct applicability to surgical strategy include margin thickness, lymphadenectomy, optimization of future liver remnant (FLR), minimally invasive techniques, incorporation of systemic therapy, and reconsideration of liver transplantation. This review emphasizes areas of consensus and ongoing debate. Margins ≥5–10 mm are associated with improved results, but biology generally takes precedence over prognosis. Regional lymphadenectomy enhances staging accuracy, although its therapeutic benefit remains unsettled. PVE is standard for FLR enlargement, LVD provides faster hypertrophy, and ALPPS remains reserved for highly selective cases. Minimally invasive and robotic hepatectomy share oncologic results in skilled institutions. Systemic therapies, including immunotherapy and biomarker-directed targeted therapy, are increasingly being incorporated perioperatively. Liver transplant may be of potential value in early-stage disease or on strict indications after neoadjuvant treatment. The modern surgical management of iCCA encompasses a blend of oncologic considerations, FLR optimization, minimally invasive surgery, and systemic therapy according to tumor biology. Multidisciplinary planning and participation in clinical trials are necessary to align surgical innovation with advancements in molecular and systemic treatments, ultimately leading to improved long-term outcomes.