Can Tho: Saving the life of a liver cancer patient with CUSA ultrasonic scalpel technology

Can Tho Central General Hospital applied the CUSA ultrasonic scalpel for the first time to cut the liver for cancer patients, opening up the potential for developing liver transplant techniques in the Mekong Delta region.

Doctors at Can Tho Central General Hospital have just performed liver surgery on a cancer patient using CUSA (Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator) technology, marking the first time this technology has been applied in the Mekong Delta region.

A 57-year-old male patient residing in Phong Dien commune (Can Tho city) was admitted to the hospital on July 21 with a diagnosis of right hepatocellular carcinoma, measuring 64x67mm.

After multidisciplinary consultation, the patient was indicated for radical right hepatectomy, using a CUSA ultrasonic scalpel to assist in separating the liver parenchyma.

On August 5, the surgery was performed successfully, with little blood loss and no significant complications. After the intervention, the patient's health recovered well and he is expected to be discharged in the next few days.

Specialist II Doctor Nguyen Khac Nam, Deputy Head of the Department of General Surgery, Can Tho Central General Hospital informed that currently, liver resection is still considered a radical treatment for liver cancer, the 5-year survival rate after surgery is about 60.8-74%.

However, liver resection is a complex surgery because of difficulties in defining anatomical boundaries and bleeding.

Thanks to the effective support of the CUSA ultrasonic scalpel, it helps to expose and preserve the biliary pedicles, especially the small blood vessels and bile ducts in the liver.

Maximum preservation of biliary pedicles helps preserve liver parenchyma well, limits complications of liver failure after surgery, controls the liver resection area well to ensure safe liver resection margins, and limits recurrence.

This technology helps shorten surgical time by simultaneously integrating the functions of tissue disruption, fluid aspiration and hemostasis, and also shows remarkable effectiveness in improving surgical efficiency.

This device has a wide range of applications and is used effectively in many specialized surgeries such as resection of central liver cancer, intrahepatic or hilar bile duct cancer, liver transplantation from living donors, etc. In particular, this device is very suitable for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.

After the intervention, the patient's health recovered well and he is expected to be discharged in the next few days. (Photo: VNA)

Specialist Doctor II Pham Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of Can Tho Central General Hospital, said that the successful liver resection surgery for a cancer patient using CUSA ultrasonic scalpel technology is an important milestone in fulfilling the hospital's commitment in preparing to perform liver transplants by 2026.

Currently, the whole country only has about 40 CUSA ultrasonic scalpel systems equipped at central hospitals such as: Viet Duc Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, 108 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy...

Putting this system into operation at Can Tho Central General Hospital not only helps improve the professional capacity of hepatobiliary surgery in the Mekong Delta region but also contributes to reducing the load on upper-level hospitals./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/can-tho-cuu-song-benh-nhan-ung-thu-gan-bang-cong-nghe-dao-mo-sieu-am-cusa-post1054048.vnp