Objective: To evaluate if linear stapling devices are useful in human liver resection.
Patients and methods: This was an explorative study conducted on 20 patients undergoing liver resection at the teaching hospital, Lund, Sweden. Twenty-one liver resections were performed in 20 patients during the period 1990 to 1999.
Results: All of the resections caused minimal blood loss. Support with ultrasonic dissection (Sonocut) or Vicryl band was needed in 4 patients.
Conclusion: The technique can be recommended for small liver resections, especially in patients subjected to contemporarily extensive (thoraco) abdominal operations.