What is the Pringle maneuver?
The Pringle maneuver is a surgical step in which a vascular clamp is used to stop the blood flow to the liver. The clamp is placed on the so-called ligamentum hepatoduodenale, which contains the hepatic artery (Arteria hepatica propria) and the portal vein (Vena porta) as blood-carrying vessels. The hepatoduodenal ligament also contains the main bile duct (Ductus choledochus).
However, the latter is left out as far as possible when the bile duct is clamped out, so that it is not injured. As a result of the Pringle maneuver, the liver is no longer supplied with blood and the liver surgery can be performed with significantly less blood loss. In the case of a non-damaged liver, the maneuver is usually tolerated for up to 60 minutes without consequential damage.
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