Experience with a surgical mesh covering a hepatectomy incision
Prêtre, R.; Mentha, G.; Robert, J.; Rohner, A.
Journal de Chirurgie 128(10): 448-450
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-7697 PMID: 1761597 Document Number: 377256
A polyglycolic acid net (Vicryl) has been applied against the hepatectomy section of 27 patients (14% of all our liver resections) to complete its hemostasis. The indications for the use of this net were: the persistence of blood oozing and/or the necessity to shorten the operation. In one patient suffering from severe coagulopathy, active bleeding continued until the patient died; another patient bled until his blood dyscrasia was corrected. One case of abscess was encountered, and treated through a percutaneous approach. Although the achievement of perfect hemostasis is usual in surgical exeresis of the liver, a minority of patients can present with resistant bleeding of the resection slice, for which packing with a net may prove to be useful.