Monitoring liver regeneration after right hepatectomy

Factor VII coagulant, prothrombine time, fibrinogen, prealbumin and a fetoprotein have been evaluated in a patient operated on for right hepatectomy, in order to identify the best markers in prognosing liver regeneration. Factor VII and prothrombine time progressively increased, starting from the 5th-7th day, entering normal range by the 10th and demonstrated a good correlation with both liver scintiscan and ultrasonography. Prealbumin and fibrinogen did not provide any useful information and a fetoprotein levels progressively decreased, demonstrating the complete removal of the neoplastic tissue. Factor VII and prothrombine time seem therefore to be the most reliable markers, among those investigated in this study, of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.