Right trisectionectomy for primary liver cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the value of right trisectionectomy, previously named right trisegmentectomy, in the treatment of primary liver cancer by summarizing our 13-year experience for this procedure.


METHODS
Thirty three primary liver cancer patients undergoing right trisectionectomy from Apr. 1987 to Dec. 1999 were investigated retrospectively. The impacts in survival of patients by cancerous biological behavior, such as tumor thrombi and satellite nodules, were discussed respectively. All right trisectionectomies were performed under normothermic interruption of porta hepatis at single time. Ultrasonic dissector (CUSA system 200) was used in dissection of hepatic parenchyma from Nov. 1992, instead of finger fracture.


RESULTS
1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 71.9 %, 40.6 % and 34.4 %, respectively. The longest survival term with free cancer was 150 months (alive). There were no significant differences in survival curves between cases with and without tumor thrombi (right branch of portal vein) and satellite nodules. Operative mortality was 3.0 % (1/33). Main surgical complications occurred in 5 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Right trisectionectomy should be regarded as an effective and safe procedure for huge primary liver cancers and is worth using more widely.
Rui
Jing-An
JA
Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100032, China.
Wang
Shao-Bin
SB
Chen
Shu-Guang
SG
Zhou
Li
L
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors