Usefulness of omental wrapping to prevent biliary leakage and delayed gastric emptying in left hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To identify the clinical significance of the omental wrapping (OW) technique after left hepatectomy to reduce bile leakage and delayed gastric emptying. We examined clinical and surgical parameters after left hepatectomy with or without biliary reconstruction in 79 patients. METHODOLOGY This was a retrospective study of data from 14 patients undergoing OW compared to 65 patients in the control group. RESULTS Bile leakage and delayed emptying after hepatectomy were observed in 15 and 11 patients, respectively. Gender, background liver function, liver diseases and preoperative liver function tests were not significantly different between both groups. Prevalence of extent of hepatectomy, existence of segment 1 resection, biliary-enteric anastomosis, operating time and blood loss were also not significantly different between groups. Prevalence of bile leakage was similar between the OW and the control group (14 vs. 20%) (p=0.91). Prevalence of delayed gastric emptying was not significantly different between groups, but this complication was not observed in the OW group in comparison with the control group (0% vs. 20%) (p=0.31). Prevalence of other complications and hospital stay after hepatectomy were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS Significant differences for preventing left hepatectomy related complications were not found; however, it is possible that OW could reduce delayed gastric emptying.