Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevention of liver ischemic injury by preoperative coil embolization in patients with a replaced hepatic artery scheduled for pancreatectomy with splanchnic artery resection.
Methods: Between July 2009 and May 2012, 4 patients with replaced hepatic artery underwent pancreatectomy plus splanchnic artery resection. The replaced right hepatic artery was preoperatively embolized in 2 patients. In the other 2 patients, the common hepatic artery was embolized preoperatively. We evaluated the complications encountered in the perioperative period.
Results: There were no embolization-related complications. Although 2 patients presented with small liver infarcts, the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels did not exceed 1000 IU/L in any of the patients, and none experienced severe liver injury.
Conclusions: Coil embolization before pancreatectomy with splanchnic artery resection in patients with a replaced hepatic artery may help to prevent severe ischemic liver injury in the perioperative period.