Major hepatic resections in infancy and childhood

Nineteen infants and children who had hepatic lobectomy or segmental resection of the liver for tumours are described. Fourteen had lobectomy for malignant tumours but only three survived for more than a year. Four of the five patients who had resections for hamartomas have survived for 18 months or more. The main problem encountered at operation was haemorrhage, which was responsible for the entire operative mortality of 31%. A transient disturbance of liver function occurred after operation in both patients who had preoperative radiotherapy.