title: Partial cholecystectomy: a technique that makes hilar dissection easier in recipient hepatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intraoperative blood loss and red blood cell transfusion requirements have a negative impact on outcome after orthotopic liver transplantation. In this study we compared blood transfusion requirements, bile duct injury, and dissection of hepatic artery rates in the patients with or without partial cholecystectomy during recipient hepatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2008 to August 2011, 100 recipient hepatectomies were performed by the same surgeon. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group included patients with partial cholecystectomy, and the other group patients without partial cholecystectomy. Each group consisted of 50 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In recipient hepatectomy group without partial cholecystectomy, intraoperative blood transfusions were in the range of 3-11 units (mean, 6.3 units). In this group there were 4 hepatic artery dissections and 2 bile duct injuries. In the group with partial cholecystectomy, intraoperative blood transfusions were in the range of 0-7 units (mean, 3.1 units). In this group there was 1 hepatic artery dissection. There were no operative mortalities in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend partial cholecystectomy during recipient hepatectomy of cirrhotic patients, particularly with hydropic gallbladders, because bleeding from the points of adherent gallbladder during mobilization of the liver is diminished and fewer artery dissections and bile duct injuries develop, because the procedure facilitates dissection of the hilar structures.
authors: General Surgery Department, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ara
authors: General Surgery Department, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey. Electronic address: fatihup@hotmail.com.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ozdemir
authors: General Surgery Department, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ateş
authors: General Surgery Department, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Ozgör
authors: General Surgery Department, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kutlutürk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000601:surgery; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged