Vascular reconstruction of the hepatic artery using the gastroepiploic artery: a case report.

A 59 year-old woman with obstructive jaundice secondary to proximal bile duct carcinoma underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTDB). This revealed complete obstruction of the bifurcation of the hilar hepatic duct and encasement of the right hepatic artery. Wedged hilar hepatectomy with combined resection of the extrahepatic bile duct, gallbladder, and the encased right hepatic artery was performed. The hepatic artery was reconstructed using an in situ right gastroepiploic artery (GEA) pedicle graft. The anastomosis was protected with fatty tissue from the greater omentum. This technique can be used to reconstruct the hepatic artery after radical surgery for malignant hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease.