longmire procedure: is it worthwhile?

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the peripheral intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy [Longmire procedure] for the palliative treatment of jaundice in patients with irresectable malignant tumours of the liver hilum. In a retrospective study, indications, surgical technique, perioperative complications, and efficacy of treatment were analyzed for 17 patients who had received a Longmire peripheral intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy between May 2000 and August 2004. The Longmire procedure was exclusively palliative in all 17 cases. The 30-day mortality in the study group was 11.6% [n=2/17], and the mean survival was 6.2 months. In patients surviving more than one month, a marked and persistent decrease in cholestasis was achieved in 86.6% cases. The Longmire peripheral intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy is a feasible and a worthwhile procedure and offers a reasonably effective palliative treatment for patients with irresectable tumors of the liver hilum