Abstract
Background and purpose
Despite their ubiquitous presence, easy availability and diverse possibilities, falciform ligament and hepatic round ligament have been used less frequently than their potential dictates. This article aims to comprehensively review the applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery and assess their utility and efficacy.
Methods
Medical literature/indexing databases were searched, using internet search engines, for pertinent articles and analysed.
Results
The studied flap and graft have found utility predominantly in the management of diaphragmatic hernias, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, peptic perforations, biliary reconstruction, venous reconstruction, post-operative pancreatic fistula, post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage, hepatic cyst cavity obliteration, liver bleed, sternal dehiscence, splenectomy, reinforcement of aortic stump, feeding access, diagnostic/therapeutic access into portal system, composite tissue allo-transplant and ventriculo-peritoneal shunting where they have exhibited the desired efficacy.
Conclusions
Hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft are versatile and have multifarious applications in abdominal surgery with some novel and unique uses in hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery including liver transplantation. Their evident efficacy needs wider adoption to realise their true potential.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Articles used for the review were obtained from the internet.
Change history
08 March 2021
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-021-02134-8
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Baskaran, V., Banerjee, J.K., Ghosh, S.R. et al. Applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery—a review of their utility and efficacy. Langenbecks Arch Surg 406, 1249–1281 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-020-02031-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-020-02031-6