Hepatectomy with hypothermic perfusion of the liver

Whereas most liver resections can be performed within 60 min, the period of vascular clamping and resulting ischemia may prove too short to allow complex major liver resections (MLR) especially on diseased livers. To overcome this problem, cooling of the liver with 4 degrees C preservations solution routinely used in liver transplantation may be used in three different approaches to MLR: I "In situ": the liver remains in the abdomen and integrity of afferent and efferent vessels is conserved. II "Ex situ-in vivo": the liver exteriorized from the abdomen by transecting all hepatic veins, remains connected to the porta hepatis. III "Ex vivo": the liver being removed from the abdomen, the MLR is performed extracorporeally. Of 15 MLR reported here, 11 were performed "in situ" and 4 "ex situ-in vivo"/Nowadays, the liver surgeon's "toolbox" must contain hypothermic liver perfusion. In carefully selected cases, these techniques allow MLR on diseases livers or mandating complex vascular procedures.