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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Rat Model of the Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy ALPPS Procedure
Published on: August 14, 2017
The ALPPS Risk Score: Avoiding Futile Use of ALPPS
Michael Linecker1, Gregor A Stavrou, Karl J Oldhafer
1*Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland†Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Asklepios Hospital Barmbek, Hamburg, Germany‡Semmelweis University, Budapest, Campus Hamburg, Germany§Institute for Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland¶Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Germany||General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany**Department of Surgery and Liver and Pancreas transplantation, Virgen de la Arrixaca Clinic and University Hospital, Murcia, Spain††Department of Surgery, Division of HPB Surgery, Liver Transplant Unit, Italian Hospital Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina‡‡Department of HPB and Liver Transplant Surgery, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
Objectives:
To create a prediction model identifying futile outcome in ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy) before stage 1 and stage 2 surgery.
Background:
ALPPS is a 2-stage hepatectomy, which incorporates parenchymal transection at stage 1 enabling resection of extensive liver tumors. One of the major criticisms of ALPPS is the associated high mortality rate up to 20%.
Methods:
Using the International ALPPS Registry, a risk analysis for futile outcome (defined as 90-day or in-hospital mortality) was performed. Futility was modeled using multivariate regression analysis and a futility risk score formula was computed on the basis of the relative size of logistic model regression coefficients.
Results:
Among 528 ALPPS patients from 38 centers, a futile outcome was observed in 47 patients (9%). The pre-stage 1 model included age 67 years or older [odds ratio (OR) = 5.7], and tumor entity (OR = 3.8 for biliary tumors) as independent predictors of futility from multivariate analysis. For the pre-stage 1 model scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were associated with futile risk of 2.7%, 4.9%, 8.6%, 15%, 24%, and 37%. The pre-stage 2 model included major complications (grade ≥ 3b) after stage 1 (OR = 3.4), serum bilirubin (OR = 4.4), serum creatinine (OR = 5.4), and cumulative pre-stage 1 risk score (OR = 1.9). The model predicted futility risk of 5%, 10%, 20%, and 50% for patients with scores of 3.9, 4.7, 5.5, and 6.9, respectively.
Conclusions:
Both models have an excellent prediction to assess the individual risk of futile outcome after ALPPS surgery and can be used to avoid futile use of ALPPS.
