The Usefulness of Patch Repair Using the Repermeabilized Umbilical Vein of the Round Ligament for Hepatobiliary Malignancies.

BACKGROUND

Patients with tumors invading major veins may require combined resection and reconstruction. However, venous reconstruction often demands complex hepatobiliary and vascular surgical procedures. In this study, we report a simple patch repair technique for venous reconstruction using the repermeabilized umbilical vein of the round ligament.

METHODS

We reviewed the outcomes of eleven patients who underwent venous wedge resection and patch repair using the repermeabilized umbilical vein of the round ligament at our institution.

RESULTS

Procurement of the round ligament and method of making a patch is simple. The duration of anastomosis was approximately 15 min. Eight patients (73%) underwent hepatic resection followed by hepatic vein reconstruction; two (18%) pancreaticoduodenectomy followed by inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction; one (9%) hepatic resection followed by IVC reconstruction. Although one reconstructed vein became narrowed, the other ten veins were patent after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Patch repair using the repermeabilized umbilical vein of the round ligament is a simple and useful technique.