[Experience with a surgical mesh covering a hepatectomy incision]

Abstract

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.