Bisegmentectomy and venous reconstruction after portal vein embolization for the remnant hemiliver in a patient with recurrent colorectal liver metastases

Ann Gastroenterol Surg. 2020 Aug 29;5(2):259-264. doi: 10.1002/ags3.12393. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Repeat hepatectomy for recurrent colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) for the remnant hemiliver is sometimes challenging due to the insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) volume. We present an aggressive strategy for resection of the recurrent CRLM involving bisegmentectomy of the remnant right hemiliver with the aid of portal vein embolization (PVE) and venous reconstruction. The patient was a 50-year-old woman who had undergone left hemihepatectomy for a CRLM 10 months ago. Three metastatic tumors were found in the remnant segments 7 and 8 (S7&8) of the liver, and one of them involved the right hepatic vein (RHV). Conducting bisegmentectomy of S7&8 with resection of the RHV, the non-congestive FLR volume was calculated as 34.9% of the remnant total liver volume, which was deemed insufficient considering the mild liver damage after repeated chemotherapy. After trans-ileocecal PVE of the portal branches in S7&8 in a hybrid angio room, the non-congestive FLR volume increased to 42.3%, which could be further advanced to 58.0% if the RHV was reconstructed. Segmentectomies of S7&8 with resection and reconstruction of the RHV using the right superficial femoral vein graft was performed. The patient was discharged without any complications, and the postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan showed the good patency of the reconstructed venous graft. Aggressive segmentectomies and venous reconstruction of the remnant hemiliver after PVE might be a new strategy to overcome the insufficient FLR volume.

Keywords: colorectal liver metastasis; future liver remnant; portal vein embolization; segmentectomy; venous reconstruction.