Omental packing for the transected surface remnant liver after major hepatectomy

Abstract

To avoid intraabdominal abscess and biliary fistula, which may lengthen hospital stay or result in lethal complications after major hepatic resection, it is important to control postoperative bleeding and bile leakage. We employed a technique for preventing postoperative bleeding and bile leakage, using omental packing with fibrin glue for the transected surface of the remnant liver after hepatic resection. This procedure was employed in 50 patients who underwent major hepatic resection. There was no postoperative bleeding or biliary fistula, and drain tubes were removed within 5 days in all patients. Omental packing with fibrin glue could be a very useful procedure of preventing postoperative biliary fistula, bleeding, and abscess after major hepatic resection.