Feasibility of bisegmentectomy 7-8 is independent of the presence of a large inferior right hepatic vein

Background Right superior liver resection or bisegmentectomy 7–8 is defined as the anatomical removal of segments 7 and 8 of the liver. According to recent reports, this type of resection requires the presence of a large accessory right inferior hepatic vein to drain the remaining segment 6. However, anatomic studies have shown that segment 6 has multiple veins presenting several anastomosis with the surrounding hepatic veins. Therefore, the maintenance of the veins from segment 5 that ultimately drain into the middle hepatic vein can be enough to assure venous drainage of both segments. Methods Describe an alternative technique for bisegmentectomy 7–8 using intrahepatic glissonian access in patients with absence of a large inferior right hepatic vein. Results The technique was successfully performed in four consecutive patients without immediate or long‐term venous or venous related complications. Conclusions Bisegmentectomy 7–8 may increase resectability rate in patients with bilateral lesions and may also enhance the opportunity to perform repeated resections in cases of tumor recurrence. Our study confirms the anatomical assumption that bisegmentectomy 7–8 did not result in segmental outflow block even in the absence of a thick inferior right hepatic vein and therefore should be performed more often than reported so far. The absence of this vein should not be a straightforward indication for right hepatectomy in cases where a liver‐sparing procedure such as bisegmentectomy 7–8 can be safely employed. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;93: 338–342. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.