Objective: To summarize the experience in caudate lobectomy for 26 cases.
Methods: Caudate lobectomy was performed in 26 cases by Peng's multifunctional operative dissector (PMOD) to transect the liver parenchyma (Curettage and Aspiration technique). Primary liver cancer was noted in 18 cases, hilar cholangiocarcinoma in 4, gallbladder carcinoma in 1, right adrenocortical adenocarcinoma in 1, hepatoangioma in 1 and hepatoangiosarcoma in 1. Five cases underwent isolated caudate lobectomy, 1 combined caudate lobectomy with right trisegmentectomy, 6 combined caudate lobectomy with right hemihepatectomy, 9 combined caudate lobectomy with left hemihepatectomy, and 5 combined caudate lobectomy with segmentectomy.
Results: The operations were carried out successfully. Follow up for 2 - 23 months, 1 case died from pulmonary infraction 2 weeks after operation, 1 died from lung metastasis 2 months after operation, 10 died from tumor recurrence or metastasis 3, 11, 12, 15, 15, 15, 15, 19, 30, 30 months after operation respectively. The other 14 cases are still alive for 2 to 18 months.
Conclusions: With PMOD, it is possible to dissect the structure precisely. Therefore the caudate lobe can be isolated from the three porta hepatis without much difficulty. Caudectomy can be performed safely.