Is It Possible To Predict PHLF? - Retrospective Analysis of Gadoxetate MRI Prior To Major Liver Resection

Post hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is one of the most severe complications after liver re-section. Preoperative evaluation of liver function is complicated and imprecise. The volume and function needed for each individual patient is unknown and the methods used for evaluation are uncertain. Arbitrary volume limits have been postulated but still there are patients dying of PHLF with volumes well above these limits.

On multivariate analyses, age ≥70 years, pre-operative chemotherapy, steatosis, resection of >3 segments, vascular reconstruction and intraoperative blood loss >300 mL significantly increased the risk of PHLF. Combining ISGLS grades B and C groups resulted in a high sensitivity for predicting mortality compared to the 50-50 rule and Peak bilirubin >7 mg/dL.

For patients with low volume of the future liver remnant (FLR) there are techniques to in-crease the volume prior to resection. Portal vein embolization (PVE) is an established meth-od, whereas associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is relatively new. Augmentation of the volume of the FLR is indicated for patients with FLR less than 20%, provided no intrinsic liver disease exists, 30% after chemotherapy and 40% for patients with compromised liver function, for example liver cirrhosis.

Both methods, PVE and ALPPS, have high risks of morbidity and mortality, especially post hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), why other alternatives are evaluated. Liver venous depri-vation (LVD), adds liver vein/s occlusion with a plug/plugs when PVE is performed or after PVE. Preliminary data indicate that the growth rate with this percutaneous method is equivalent to ALPPS with function following in parallel. Still all three methods add one extra treatment stage to increase liver volume of the FLR but still suffers the risk of PHLF. Furthermore, a large group of patients is treated with one stage hepatectomy where the volume and function also may be limited.

Liver volume estimation has been the main method to ensure safe resections, but as many studies have explored functional tests with the goal of increasing safety. The most used ones are Indocyanine green (ICG), maximum liver function capacity (LiMax) , Child Pugh (CP) score and Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS). Still, none of these, alone or in combination have been able to completely ameliorate this dreadful complication. In addition, the cut-off levels for resection for each of these methods are arbitrary, mainly because PHLF is relative-ly rare as are major liver resections. Furthermore, all the tests are time consuming, costly and demanding for the patients.