[Liver resection using a suction knife in an experiment and in clinical practice]

The authors describe their experience with liver resection by means of an suction knife. In animal experiments, the optimal value of under-pressure for an effective and non-destructive function the knife was tested and the healing process in the vicinity of the cut surface was followed. This simple device was developed that allows evaluation of the results of liver resection (segmentectomy to hemihepatectomy) in clinical practice. The method was applied in ten out of twenty patients in which liver resection was performed in the last fourteen months. The inexpensive device functioned to the authors full satisfaction.