[Intraoperative echography of hepatic metastases]

In order to evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative echography in the study of liver metastases, two groups of patients were submitted to study: A consecutive series of 25 patients operated on for digestive tumours. Before operation, echography was performed to all of them. Four patients operated on for liver metastases. In the patients who were operated for digestive tumors, the authors found 8.6% of metastasis which neither the preoperative echography nor liver palpation had detected. The usefulness of the examination in the patients to whom resective hepatic surgery was going to be performed was based on: The finding of a portal thrombosis which had not been detected in the preoperative study. The possibility of connecting the intrahepatic vascularity with the lesions, in order to decide which technique to choose. The demonstration of the non-existence of other metastases.