Preoperative Coil Embolization in Patients With a Replaced Hepatic Artery Scheduled for Pancreatectomy With Splanchnic Artery Resection Helps to Prevent Ischemic Organ Injury

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. 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. 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. 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.