An initial experience with a posterior intrahepatic approach for liver resections.

Abstract

This is a report of an initial experience using a recently devised posterior approach to the intrahepatic Glissonian sheaths of the liver, for the purpose of hepatic resections. Between February 1991 and October 1993, 22 patients, median age 58 years (range 36-77) underwent either a right or a left hepatectomy or a segmentectomy procedure of the liver using this technique. Seventeen of these patients underwent this operation for malignant disease of the liver. Median operating time was 230 min (range 100-285) with nine of the 22 patients requiring an intra-operative blood transfusion. There was one postoperative death, from liver failure, and 17 of the patients were alive at the early time of reporting. It is concluded that this technique is a useful addition to the surgeon's armamentarium for operating on the liver.