Review
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2005; 11(14): 2051-2054
Published online Apr 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i14.2051
Portal vein embolization before major hepatectomy
Hai Liu, Yong Fu
Hai Liu, Yong Fu, Department of Surgical Oncology, Hainan Provincial People’s Hospital, Haikou 570311, Hainan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hai Liu, MD, Department of Surgical Oncology, Hainan Provincial People’s Hospital, Haikou 570311, Hainan Province, China. dr_liuhai@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-898-68642223 Fax: +86-898-68653685
Received: March 23, 2004
Revised: March 24, 2004
Accepted: May 23, 2004
Published online: April 14, 2005
Abstract

To discuss the rationale, techniques and the unsolved issues regarding preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) before major hepatectomy. After a systematic search of Pubmed, we reviewed and retrieved literature related to PVE. Preoperative PVE is an approach that is gaining increasing acceptance in the preoperative treatment of selected patients prior to major hepatic resection. Induction of selective hypertrophy of the nondiseased portion of the liver with PVE in patients with either primary or secondary hepatobiliary, malignancy with small estimated future liver remnants (FLR) may result in fewer complications and shorter hospital stays following resection. Additionally, PVE performed in patients initially considered unsuitable for resection due to lack of sufficient remaining normal parenchyma may add to the pool of candidates for surgical treatment. The results suggest that PVE is recomm-endable in treating the cirrhotic patients before major liver resection.

Keywords: Portal vein embolization; Hepatectomy