PORTAL-VEIN REPLACEMENT BY HEPATIC VEIN TRANSPOSITION

Successful reconstruction after portal vein resection in extended live r surgery has been performed by end-to-end anastomosis, patch, or graf t interposition. Previously described techniques to obtain venous graf ts for portal replacement necessarily have either an additional incisi on or an unsuitable diameter. We developed a new method of portal vein replacement using the excised hepatic vein. This technique can be app lied in major liver resections for tumors infiltrating the portal vein that have a safe distance from the hepatic vein. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.