Dorsal Approach Combined with In Situ Split for Laparoscopic Segment 7 Resection

Laparoscopic segment 7 resection has been a technically challenging procedure (Li et al. in J Gastrointest Surg 23:1084-1085, 2019). We introduce a dorsal approach with in situ split for laparoscopic segment 7 resection.

The patient was a 26-year-old male diagnosed with hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia located in segment 7. The lesion, measuring approximately 6.7 cm × 5.7 cm, was close to the right caudate lobe. Firstly, the segment 7 pedicle was exposed through the Rouviere's groove combined with caudate lobe-first approach, followed by clipping to confirm demarcation. Peripheral parenchymal transection at the dorsal side started and the intersegmental vein between segments 6 and 7 was found. Dissection of this vein towards its root proceeded preferentially at the dorsal side. Then the segment 7 pedicle was cut off, followed by parenchymal transection toward the cranial side to find the trunk of the compressed right hepatic vein (RHV). It was further dissociated from the trunk to periphery, exposing and cutting off its branches draining segment 7. The remaining parenchyma at the cranioventral side was subsequently separated along the exposed RHV. Finally, the resection of segment 7 was accomplished by dividing the right perihepatic ligaments.

The operative time was 395 min with the estimated blood loss of 500 ml. The patient did not receive perioperative blood transfusion. The patient was discharged on tenth postoperative day following suture removal without experiencing any postoperative bleeding, hepatic failure, or other complications.

Dorsal approach combined with in situ split for laparoscopic segment 7 resection is feasible and has certain advantages (Cao et al. in Surg Endosc 35:174-181, 2021; Liu et al. in Surg Oncol 38:101575, 2021; Yang et al. in Surg Endosc 37:1334-1341, 2023). Further investigations are required due to some limitations.