Truncoumbilical bypass of the portal vein in radical resection of biliary tract tumour involving the hepatic duct confluence

Before combined resection of the right hepatic lobe and the hepatoduodenal ligament, an autogenous external iliac vein was interposed between the root of the portal vein trunk and the umbilical portion of the vein in four patients with biliary tract tumour. The left hepatic arterial pathway was preserved, except in one case in whom resection of this artery was followed by reconstruction. This procedure allowed successful and safe extended right hepatic lobe resection and combined en bloc resection of the hepatoduodenal ligament while preserving hepatic blood perfusion.