Left hepatic vein: can be sutured and ligated blindly in left hepatectomy?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the anatomic characteristics of the left hepatic vein, middle hepatic vein and common trunk could influence the operation procedures of left hepatectomy.


METHODS
Fifteen fresh human liver specimens were dissected and their anatomic characteristics were recorded.


RESULTS
The left hepatic vein and middle hepatic vein formed the common trunk of 1.2+/-0.4 cm in length in the 15 liver specimens. The angle between the left hepatic vein and middle hepatic vein was 91+/-18.3 degree.


CONCLUSIONS
The left hepatic vein should not be sutured and ligated blindly in left hepatectomy because there might be a potential damage to the middle hepatic vein.
Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Lishui 323000, China. scx18@sohu.com
Chu-Xiao
CX
Shao
Tao
T
Zhang
Jing-De
JD
Zhu
William C S
WC
Meng
D002102:Cadaver; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery