Normothermic hepatic vascular exclusion for extensive hepatectomy.

In humans, there is still considerable controversy concerning the tolerance of the liver to warm ischemia. To avoid anoxic hepatocellular damage, chilled intraportal and intra-arterial infusion has been advised as an adjunct to hepatic vascular isolation. Fourteen patients with hepatic tumors underwent extensive hepatic resection, complete hepatic vascular exclusion being used but without the use of refrigeration. This procedure may considerably reduce blood loss during resection of large and hypervascular hepatic tumors and increase the safety of hazardous lobectomies. Careful hemodynamic monitoring including pulmonary artery pressure is necessary. Hepatic tolerance to prolonged warm ischemia up to 65 minutes is surprisingly good, in the absence of preoperative, extensive hepatic dysfunction. The use of this procedure is advised for resection of large hepatic tumors when the technical risks appear to be high. It is suggested that the classical delay of 15 to 20 minutes of normothermic hepatic ischemia may be safely extended to about one hour when necessary.