Background/aims: If the superior right hepatic vein (SRHV) is resected, segment 6 will be drained by the inferior right hepatic vein (IRHV) and congestion will not occur. However, early postoperative liver function and long-term regeneration of segment 6 after IRHV-preserving hepatectomy remains unclear.
Methodology: Three patients undergoing IRHV-preserving hepatectomy were examined. One (case 1) had liver metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer and two (cases 2 and 3) had hepatocellular carcinoma. Resection of segments 7 and 8 along with the SRHV was performed in cases 1 and 2. Anterior sectionectomy and resection of segment 4a along with the SRHV and middle hepatic vein (MHV) was performed in case 3. The volume of each sector was calculated by summation of each CT area.
Results: The warm ischemic time of the three cases was 50-78 min, operative blood loss was 496-914 g, and operating time was 4-7 h. There was no significant change in diameter of the IRHV and MHV before and after surgery. Intraoperative color Doppler ultrasonography was a useful technique for evaluating intrahepatic venous communication. Part of segment 6 had previously been resected in case 1, and at outpatient follow-up this segment was found to have become atrophic. In cases 2 and 3, the remnant posterior sector became hypertrophic.
Conclusions: IRHV-preserving hepatectomy can retain a greater proportion of liver parenchyma than right hepatectomy. Postoperative liver function was well maintained in our patients and there were no serious complications. Long-term follow-up showed hypertrophy of the remnant posterior sector except in one case. To minimize surgical damage, for example in patients with poor liver function or preoperative complications, IRHV-preserving hepatectomy should be considered.