Contribution of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in assessing ALPPS most suited timing

To reduce post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) has been recently developed for patients with a limited future remnant liver (FRL). Nevertheless, high morbi-mortality rates have been reported . The current study aimed to analyze the kinetics of FRL function in patients who were offered ALPPS. Serial SPECT (99 m)Tc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) was performed in all patients before and after surgery as well as at inter-stage to quantitatively assess hepatic function [total liver (TL) and FRL]. Patients were offered ALPPS for colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) (n = 6) and gallbladder carcinoma (n = 1). The data of delta of function or volume, expressed as (postoperative FRL - preoperative FRL/preoperative FRL) were compared to those derived from HBS of patients referred to the university hospital of Lille for one-stage major hepatectomy (n = 93). Additionally, the intrinsic liver function (i.e. function per unit of volume) was used to assess the regeneration rate. All but one patient had an anticipated FRL to body weight ratio (FRLBWR) ≤0.5%. Inter-stages HBS showed a progressive attenuation of the functional value of the excluded hepatic segments in favour of the FRL for all patients. Overall, there was a drop of total liver function contrasting with subnormal passive biochemical tests. Notably, the increase in FRL function between ALPPS stages [+12.5% (4.2-28.6%)] was lower than the volumetric gain [+42.6% (18.3-110.2%)] and inferior to that observed after one-stage major hepatectomy [+41.7% (-38.6 to +158.33%)]. This resulted in a drop of the FRL intrinsic liver function in ALPPS patients, of whom one died from PHLF. Our study enhances the importance of assessing liver function along with volume during ALPPS procedure and supports HBS as a suitable and reliable method, including a valuable contribution to determine most appropriate stage 2 surgical timing.