A new technique of hepatic segmentectomy by selective portal venous occlusion using a balloon catheter through a branch of the superior mesenteric vein.

Abstract

We describe a new technique of segment-based liver resection by inserting a 6 French balloon catheter into the portal vein via a branch of the superior mesenteric vein. The catheter was guided into the relevant portal branch supplying the liver segment that contained the tumor. Injection of methylene blue through the catheter delineated the liver segment(s) to be resected. This operation was carried out on 48 patients with a 0% in-hospital mortality. The 5-year overall survival was 52.1% and the 5-year disease-free survival was 20.8%. Our experience showed this technique to be a viable alternative for anatomical liver segmentectomy.