Extracorporeal circulation and hypothermic perfusion for caval tumor thrombus complicating hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

A tumor thrombus complicating hepatocellular carcinoma developed in a 61-year-old male patient. Embolization of the right branch of portal vein was performed 2 weeks before operation. Curative resection of the tumor was performed on by extended hepatectomy plus in situ hypothermic perfusion of the liver and extracorporeal circulation. Postoperative course was uneventful until bile leakage occurred on the 11th postoperative day. A bile duct stenosis was diagnosed by cholangiogram, and hepaticojejunostomy was carried out. The patient recovered well without further complications. The pitfalls and technical problems encountered in this case are herein discussed.