Preoperative portal vein embolization in major hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a case report.

We herein, report a 48-year-old Thai man with underlying Child A cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis B who complained of right upper abdominal pain. The imaging studies revealed an incomplete obstruction of the hepatic duct confluence with intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, predominantly on the right side. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma Bismuth Type IIIa was considered to be the diagnosis. Portal embolization of the right portal vein was performed by transileocecal approach, combined liver and bile duct resection with bilio-enteric anastomosis was carried out three weeks later. The postoperative course was uneventful. We believe that portal embolization may benefit patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma by decreasing postoperative liver failure.