Background: In patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma involving the inferior vena cava (IVC), an extended hepatobiliary resection with combined resection and reconstruction of the IVC is often prerequisite to obtain a clear resection margin.
Materials and methods: We present our approach to repair of approximately half of a cross-sectional wall defect of the IVC using an autologous external iliac venous patch graft during extended hepatobiliary resection with a total hepatic vascular exclusion technique. The harvested external iliac vein graft was incised longitudinally and trimmed to fit the IVC defect. After multiple stay sutures, a continuous running suture using 4-0 prolene was made.
Results: Two patients who underwent this complex surgery survive 20 and 27 months after surgery, respectively. Morbidity of transient edema of the ipsilateral lower leg potentially related to graft harvesting was noted in one patient after surgery.
Conclusions: The external iliac vein patch graft for IVC resection and reconstruction during hepatobiliary resection is technically simple, produces no stenosis or caliber change in the reconstructed IVC, and is applicable for at least half or less of a cross-sectional defect of the IVC wall to be reconstructed.