[Hemihepatectomy]

Controlled right hemi-hepatectomy is a major operation reserved for primary or secondary malignant tumours, a few very large benign tumour and, more rarely, rupture of the right lobe of the liver. The surgical technique of hemi-hepatectomy respects several general rules concerning positioning of the patient, the surgical incision, haemostasis of the various pedicles, biliary stasis and drainage. Six technical variants are discussed together with their advantages and disadvantages and respective indications according to the size, nature and situation of the lesion in relation to the glissonian and hepato-caval pedicles. On the basis of this very detailed basic technique, tactical modalities according to the features of the lesion are proposed: extra or intra-hepatic control of the pedicles, initial or terminal opening of the median fissure, initial or terminal mobilisation of the right hemi-liver, total vascular exclusion. Controlled left hemi-hepatectomy is a less complicated technique which can be performed according to tactical variant identical to those described for right hemi-hepatectomy, but total vascular exclusion is rarely essential.