OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value and significance of retrograde caudate lobectomy.

METHODSFrom December 2003 to January 2005, 7 patients underwent retrograde caudate lobectomy in which division and ligation of short hepatic veins were carried out at the final stage of the procedure in stead of at the initial stage.

RESULTSThe procedures were carried out smoothly with no operative death in all the 7 cases including isolated complete caudate lobectomy in 4 cases, isolated partial caudate lobectomy in 1 case, combined right half liver resection in 2 case. The average operation time, blood loss and length of stay after operation was (273 +/- 44) min, (1114 +/- 241) ml (800-1500 ml) and 16 days respectively. Complications including pleural effusion and ascites in 1 case respectively were fully recovered. During the follow-up, 1 patient died at 6 months for tumor recurrence in lung and the remaining 6 patients are alive at the follow-up of 5 to 16 months.

CONCLUSIONSRetrograde caudate lobectomy is a new procedure suitable for those caudate neoplasms which are adhering to or infiltrating to IVC or too big to move side by side. The application of this technique can converse certain kind of caudate lobe tumor from non-resectable to resectable resulting in widening the indication.