Simplified inflow control using stapling devices for major hepatic resection.

We describe the efficacy of a new technique for hepatic inflow division using stapling devices in major hepatic resections. We studied 28 consecutive patients who underwent major hepatic resection at a tertiary referral center by en masse inflow control of Glisson's pedicle in 1993 and 1994, of whom 10 underwent inflow control with stapling devices. Although stapling devices were used for larger tumors (mean +/- SD, 12.2 +/- 8.6 vs 5.7 +/- 5.0 cm; P = .02), the operation time (261 +/- 57 vs 301 +/- 143 minutes), operative blood loss (2071 +/- 1318 vs 4792 +/- 6586 mL), postoperative intra-abdominal bleeding (0% [0/10] vs 17% [3/18]), and hospital stay (16.0 +/- 2.6 vs 20.6 +/- 7.4 days) were favorable for resections with staplers vs resections without staplers; the overall incidences of postoperative complications (40% [4/10] vs 39% [7/18]) and hospital death (10% [1/10] vs 6% [1/18]) were comparable in the two groups. We conclude that stapling devices allow simple, quick, and safe en masse inflow control in major hepatic resections.