Does clamping during liver surgery predispose to thrombosis of the hepatic veins？ Analysis of 210 cases

AIM： To test whether clamping during liver surgery predisposes to hepatic vein thrombosis. METHODS： We performed a retrospective analysis of 210 patients who underwent liver resection with simultaneous inflow and outflow occlusion. Intraoperatively, flow in the hepatic veins was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography during the reperfusion phase. Postoperatively, patency of the hepatic veins was assessed by contrast-enhanced CT angiography, when necessary after 3-6 mo follow up. RESULTS： Twelve patients （5.7%） developed intraoperative liver remnant swelling. However, intraoperative ultrasonography did not reveal evidence of hepatic vein thrombosis. In three of these patients a kinking of the common trunk of the middle and left hepatic veins hindering outflow was recognized and was managed successfully by suturing the liver remnant to the diaphragm. Twenty three patients （10.9%） who developed signs of mild outflow obstruction postoperatively, had no evidence of thrombi in the hepatic veins or flow disturbances on ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT angiography, while hospitalized. Long term assessment of the patency of the hepatic veins over a 3-6 mo follow-up period did not reveal thrombi formation or clinical manifestations of outflow obstruction. CONCLUSION： Extrahepatic dissection and clamping of the hepatic veins does not predispose to clinically important thrombosis.