A Modified Liver Hanging Maneuver in Pure Laparoscopic Left Hemihepatectomy with Preservation of the Middle Hepatic Vein: Video and Technique

The liver hanging maneuver is a novel and useful technique that is widely used in open liver resections. The present study describes the surgical technique and outcomes of a modified liver hanging maneuver for pure laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy. The clinical data of patients who underwent laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy using a modified hanging technique were retrospectively reviewed. The upper end of the hanging tape was placed on the lateral side of the left hepatic vein. The pathway of the tape was situated along the ligamentum venosum. Sixteen patients underwent pure laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy with the modified hanging technique. The median operation time was 225 min (range 180-300 min), with a median blood loss of 265 ml (range 140-600 ml). Postoperative major complications occurred in one patient (6.3%). The median postoperative hospital stay was 8 days (range 5-15 days). There was no postoperative liver failure or mortality. This modified liver hanging maneuver is a simple, safe, and reproducible approach as dissection of between the middle and left hepatic vein is not required. This technique may be useful in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy.