Human liver resection with the aid of a stapling device.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if linear stapling devices are useful in human liver resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was an explorative study conducted on 20 patients undergoing liver resection at the teaching hospital, Lund, Sweden. Twenty-one liver resections were performed in 20 patients during the period 1990 to 1999.

RESULTS

All of the resections caused minimal blood loss. Support with ultrasonic dissection (Sonocut) or Vicryl band was needed in 4 patients.

CONCLUSION

The technique can be recommended for small liver resections, especially in patients subjected to contemporarily extensive (thoraco) abdominal operations.