Easier hepatic resections with a straight needle

Background: A stainless-sheathed, straight needle with a hook near the top of the inner needle was designed to facilitate hepatic resections. Methods: First, using this needle, two rows of interlocking mattress suture s were made along the division line; then, hepatic transection was performe d between these rows by electrocautery or forceps. Results: Since 1997, we have performed this kind of hepatic resections in 4 3 cases, including 9 right lobectomies, 5 bisegmentectomies, 7 segmentectom ies, 4 subsegmentectomies, 2 partial hepatectomies, 15 left lateral segment ectomies, and 1 hepatorrhaphy. In most cases, intraoperative hemorrhage was minimal. Neither specified inflow nor backflow control procedures were nee ded. Conclusion: Use of this needle may reduce the difficulty of the technique a nd blood loss for right hepatic lobectomy, left lateral segmentectomy, and some segmental or partial hepatectomy procedures. (C) 2001 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.