[Hemihepatectomy under hepato-portal interruption at normal temperature for liver malignancies--a report of 20 patients].

From July 1984 to December 1985, hemihepatectomy was done in 20 liver cancer patients under normothermic interruption of porta hepatis. There were 19 primary and 1 secondary liver carcinomas. Of the former, 17 (89%) were associated with mild or moderate cirrhosis. The peak age ranged 36-60 years. Right hemihepatectomy was performed in 18 and left hemihepatectomy in 2 with an operative mortality of 0%. Hepatic failure or secondary bleeding was not found. In the specimens resected, the largest weight was 2,500 gm. The normothermic interruption of porta hepatis usually lasted 15-25 minutes, a time long enough for hemihepatectomy. This procedure, being simple in manipulation and less detrimental to physiologic and biochemical balance in the human body, is relatively practical and beneficial to hepatectomy.