The hilar plane compared with the Rouviere's sulcus plane during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Rouviere's sulcus (RS) has been widely used as an important landmark during laparoscopic cholecystectomy; however, some shortcomings remain unaddressed.

To evaluate the safety and application values of the hilar plane in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by comparing it with the plane of Rouviere's sulcus (RS plane).

A retrospective study of 155 consecutive patients undergoing LC used the hilar plane as a guide for surgical procedures was performed. Intraoperative images were used to evaluate and analyze the value of using the hilar plane vs. the RS plane in preventing bile duct and vascular injuries. Meanwhile, anatomical data, including the types and orientations of Rouviere's sulci, were also recorded for further analysis.

Rouviere's sulci failed to be identified clearly in 9 cases due to severe adhesions. The prevalence of RS was 83.6% (122/146). The hilar plane was a constant landmark. The hilar plane can also form a "security dissection triangle" in the posterior triangle of the gallbladder. The hilar plane and the RS plane formed a similar triangle in 59.8% (73/122) of cases, while in other cases, the hilar plane formed a smaller dissection triangle than the RS plane due to a higher spatial position. The hilar plane had a better protective effect for avoiding ectopic hepatic ducts or ectopic right hepatic arteries injury.

The hilar plane has the features of constant location, large coverage area, and higher location, hence being further away from the critical structures. The hilar plane on its own can provide a safe anatomic plane in some case when RS was difficult to observe or identify.