Extended right trisegmentectomy using in situ hypothermic perfusion with modified HTK solution for a large intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

The technique of right hepatic trisegmentectomy has been standardized for large tumors that involve the right lobe and extend into the medial segment of the left lobe. However, these tumors are deemed unresectable if they encroach across the falciform ligament into the left lateral segment. We report the technique of extended right trisegmentectomy in a patient with a large intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma that involved the right lobe of the liver and extended into the medial and lateral segments of the left lobe. The resection was performed by using total hepatic vascular isolation and in situ hypothermic perfusion with modified histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution into the left lateral segment. The biliary enteric anastomosis was constructed using a double hepaticojejunostomy to Segments II and III bile ducts. The procedure allowed safe parenchymal dissection with preservation of the blood supply to Segments II and III. Furthermore, in situ hypothermic perfusion protected the remnant liver from the deleterious effects of warm ischemia during parenchymal dissection and facilitated postoperative recovery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of extended right trisegmentectomy for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the Western literature. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.