Combined midline-transverse surgical approach for severe blunt injuries to the right liver.

BACKGROUND

Although nonoperative treatment has been a major advance in the management of liver trauma, emergency surgery is still required for unstable patients. Severe hepatic lesions located in the right lobe, notably juxtahepatic venous injuries, are difficult to access and still carry a high mortality.

METHODS

We describe a surgical approach for severe blunt injury to the right liver by a combined midline-transverse incision. This techniques allows simple, easy, and rapid mobilization and compression of the liver to control bleeding.

RESULTS

This technique was used in 10 patients with blunt liver trauma, with grade III (n = 2), IV (n = 5), and V (n = 3) injuries. Mean intraoperative blood transfusion required was 21 units. Six patients underwent mandatory anatomic resection, three patients were treated by hepatic suture, and one patient was treated by packing. This patient developed brain death after surgery and was the only mortality.

CONCLUSION

This technique is efficient and less cumbersome than shunting approaches.