Treatment of Patients With Hepatic Tumors and Jaundice by Ligation of the Hepatic Artery

Abstract

Ligation of the hepatic artery without complete dissection of the liver was performed on eight patients with nonresectable hepatic tumors. Three patients had a marked preoperative clinical and chemical obstructive, intrahepatic jaundice, which disappeared postoperatively. Relief of pain and decrease of enlarged liver were initially noticed in seven patients. Hepatic sepsis was a serious complication with fatal outcome in one nonjaundiced man. The hypoxic necrosis of tumors resulting in a remission of symptoms in the survivors and the disappearance of cholestasis in three jaundiced patients was, however, temporary. After two to six months, the jaundice and other symptoms recurred. The conclusion is drawn that a prolonged life expectancy is perhaps not obtained, but a worthwhile, symptomatic improvement and palliative effect can be achieved by hepatic artery ligation.