How should the liver be approached in patients with severe abdominal wall varices?

Abstract

AbstractAlthough liver resection in patients with abdominal wall varices (AWV) is rare, we should have a special surgical strategy for the liver in such cases. We report our experience of approaching the liver in a patient with severe AWV. The patient was a 77‐year‐old man who had undergone inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement for a pulmonary embolism 10 years prior. Severe AWV due to complete IVC obstruction appeared 3 years ago. The patient was diagnosed with intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct and referred to our hospital. Although it was difficult to see the small AWV, it was necessary to avoid bleeding due to AWV injury. The ports were inserted while confirming the AWV with indocyanine green (ICG) imaging, and laparoscopic left hepatectomy was performed. Our approach to the liver using abdominal wall ICG imaging might be a standard strategy to avoid severe AWV injury.