Reconstruction of the inferior vena cava using a hepatic venous patch obtained from resected liver

A 59-year-old woman with a 3 cm liver metastasis from rectal cancer underwent an extended right hepatic lobectomy with partial resection of the wall of the inferior vena cava. The metastasis was located behind the roots of the right and middle hepatic veins and involved the inferior vena cava. For reconstruction of the inferior vena cava, the intrahepatic middle hepatic vein, 2.5 cm in length, which was distant from the metastatic lesion, was removed from the resected liver. Then divided longitudinally to prepare a venous patch of 2.5 by 2.0 cm in size and applied to the defect. This technique facilitates reconstruction of the inferior vena cava without sacrificing other veins.