Necrosectomy of hepatic left lateral section after blunt abdominal trauma in a patient who underwent central hepatectomy and bile duct resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

When the liver is divided into the right and left halves after central hepatectomy, a serious injury to the one half of the liver can destroy the ipsilateral half. We report a case showing total necrosis of the hepatic left lateral section (LLS) caused by blunt abdominal trauma in a patient who had undergone central hepatectomy and bile duct resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. A 47-year-old female patient was transferred because of postoperative status following blunt abdominal trauma. Five years before, she had been diagnosed with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Since the tumor extent was compatible with Bismuth-Corlette type IV, she underwent central hepatectomy and bile duct resection. After five years, she experienced an industrial safety accident, in which a heavy refrigerator fell over her body. She underwent emergency duodenal diversion surgery with distal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. During this surgery, serious ischemic injury of the LLS with occlusion of the left portal vein and hepatic artery was identified, but not treated. After three weeks, LLS necrosectomy with repair of the jejunal limb was done. Postoperative bile leak developed and required supportive care for two months for its healing. She is currently doing well without any physical discomfort four months after the necrosectomy. Our experience with this case suggests that an injury to the afferent jejunal limb requires an individualized treatment strategy including long-standing waiting with effective drainage for spontaneous healing. The experience of this case appears to be theoretically matched with late-stage resection of LLS following central hepatectomy and bile duct resection.