Improvement of hepatic dearterialization: a case report.

Dearterialization of the liver causes necrosis of primary liver tumors or metastases, because their blood supply is largely arterial. The normal liver tissue remains vital after a period of ischemia if the portal vein is intact. A patient with a carcinoid syndrome due to liver metastases is described. It was found that it is difficult to achieve complete dearterialization of the liver. Rather, preoperative and particularly peroperative angiograms are required to ensure the best possible degree of dearterialization.