Preservation of the retrohepatic vena cava during recipient hepatectomy for orthotopic transplantation of the liver.

A modified final phase of recipient hepatectomy in orthotopic hepatic transplantation is presented. It involves preservation of the retrohepatic vena cava "in toto" to decrease the risk of injury to the adrenal gland and assure better control of the adrenal vein, as well as the forming of the caval cuffs, for the subsequent implantation of the donor liver.