Portal vein ligation with alcohol injection - our first experiences

Surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases is a gold standard treatment. The indication criteria still continue expanding. The future liver remnant volume (FLRV) remains the only limiting factor of the resection. Many methods have been discussed to increase the FLRV. Injection of absolute alcohol into the portal vein seems to be one of the most effective.

In 2018 we perioperatively injected 25 ml of absolute alcohol into the ligated right portal branch in 3 patients with colorectal liver metastases at our department. All patients were indicated for second-stage right hemihepatectomy.

The mean FLRV increase was 206.6 cm3 46 weeks after absolute alcohol injection. A transient elevation of transaminases was observed with spontaneous regression within 10 days from alcohol injection. There was no complication clearly associated with alcohol application. No liver failure was observed. No patient died. All three patients underwent second-stage right hemihepatectomy.

Portal vein ligation with alcohol injection can be an uncomplicated and highly effective method to achieve FLRV hypertrophy.