Bisegmentectomy 7-8 as alternative to more extensive liver resections.

Background: Preservation of hepatic parenchyma should be attempted whenever possible in order to reduce the risk of liver failure and increase the chance to re-resect the recurrence.

Study Design: The presence of a lesion in segments 7-8 infiltrating the right hepatic vein is usually an indication for right hepatectomy. If a thick inferior right hepatic vein is seen, a bisegmentectomy 7-8 can be performed. We review our experience with this uncommon liver resection.

Results: In 11 of 332 patients with colorectal liver metastases, a lesion was localized in segments 7-8 infiltrating the right hepatic vein. Six underwent resection of segments 7-8. The mean estimated rate of remnant liver volume (segments 2-4 plus caudate lobe) was 23.7%; 4 patients had neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Intraoperative mean blood loss was 200 mL without transfusions; no patients developed postoperative liver failure, and there was no in-hospital mortality. Surgical margin was negative in all patients. Median survival was 25 months, with 3 patients alive and disease-free. One patient with an intrahepatic recurrence underwent re-resection.

Conclusions: Bisegmentectomy 7-8 is an uncommon but safe procedure that allows curative resections without unnecessary sacrifice of functional parenchyma.