Hanging maneuver in left hepatectomy.

The liver hanging maneuver in right hepatectomy introduced by Belghiti in 2001, is a safe and effective method for right hepatectomy in cases of large hepatoma and living donor liver transplantation. In this article, we first introduce the hanging maneuver in extended left hepatectomy (left hepatectomy including middle hepatic vein). Extended left hepatectomy is a more difficult procedure than right hepatectomy because in the deeper part of the transection, the plane sharply turns to the left above the caudate lobe. Using the hanging maneuver, the horizontal transection plane becomes vertical, and the extended left hepatectomy can be performed easier and safer. This technique can be applied effectively in all kinds of left-sided hepatectomies.