Laparoscopic Hepatectomy for Giant Hepatic Hemangioma Using the Involved Intrahepatic Anatomic Markers Approach.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic hemangioma has been one of the absolute indications of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH).1  However, the risk of catastrophic intraoperative bleeding and the difficulty to control it make the laparoscopic treatment of giant hepatic hemangioma (GHH) a technical challenge for hepatobiliary surgeons.2  Herein, we presented a video of LH for GHH using the involved intrahepatic anatomic markers approach.

METHODS: A 22-year-old female was referred for treatment of an intractable GHH (18 cm), which involved the left hepatic pedicle, left hepatic vein (LHV), and middle hepatic vein (MHV), resulting in the invisibility of the above intrahepatic anatomic markers on CT. The procedure was performed according to the following steps: (1) dissecting and ligating the left hepatic artery (LHA) and left portal vein (LPV) via intrafascial approach, respectively; (2) cutting the accessory LHA; (3) transecting parenchymal along the demarcation line in a caudal-to-cranial direction and exposing the involved caudal middle hepatic vein (MHV); (4) isolating and transecting the involved left hepatic duct; (5) preserving the integrity of involved MHV; (6) isolating and transecting the left hepatic vein (LHV) and splenic vein (SV); (7) mincing and extracting the specimen. This study was approved by the West China Hospital Ethics Committee and was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. All treatments were performed after obtaining written informed consent from the patients.

RESULTS: The operative time was 286 min, and blood loss during operation was 160 ml. This procedure ensured the integrity of MHV and maximized the residual functional hepatic volume. The histopathologic examination confirmed the hepatic cavernous hemangioma. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged on the fifth day after operation.

CONCLUSION: LH using the involved intrahepatic anatomic markers approach is feasible and effective for intractable GHH. Its advantages lie in decreasing the risk of disastrous hemorrhage or open conversion rate while maximizing the postoperative functional hepatic reserve.3 .