search
The Pringle maneuver, first described by J. Hogarth Pringle in 1908, is used to reduce bleeding during liver surgery and in some other abdominal surgeries. It leads to occlusion of inflow to the liver from the hepatic artery and portal vein, either by manual compression or with the use of an atraumatic vascular clamp or vessel loop. The common bile duct is also compressed by this action. The maneuver can is easily and commonly accomplished within a matter of seconds due to the anatomic fact that all three structures run together in the hepatoduodenal ligament.
The history, anatomy, surgical technique, clinical indications and contraindications, as well as clamping duration and complications are briefly described in this OC.