Hepatic vein ligation and preservation of liver segments in major resections

To preserve as much normal liver tissue as possible in patients having segmental and major anatomical liver resections for primary and metastatic cancer, one of us (Q.-J.O.) performed segmental hepatic vein ligation with preservation of the involved liver segments in eight patients undergoing hepatic resections. No early complications were found related to necrosis of the involved segments. Needle biopsy of the segments in five patients revealed normal survival of the hepatic tissue. The results in these patients indicate that hepatic vein ligation is a safe procedure that permits preservation of segments of the liver in patients having hepatic resection and can be used as an alternative to routine hepatic lobectomy for the treatment of liver tumors in selected patients.