Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency-assisted segmental liver resection: a new technique.

Segmental hepatectomy is appealing for several reasons including preservation of liver parenchyma, reduction of intraoperative blood loss, and blood replacement by dividing tissues along the anatomic planes. A simple technique guided by intraoperative ultrasound is described here using radio-frequency energy to create coagulative desiccation of segmental or subsegmental arterial and portal vessels. Thirty patients underwent a segmental resection using this technique without mortality and with minor morbidity. This technique has a major advantage of being easy and safe to apply. We believe it has a potentially important role in both open and laparoscopic liver surgery.