Validation of Functional Assessment for Liver Resection Considering Venous Occlusive Area after Extended Hepatectomy

Previous studies demonstrated that liver function in a veno-occlusive region is approximately 40% of that in a non-veno-occlusive region after hepatectomy with excision of major hepatic vein. We validated the preoperative assessment of future remnant liver (FRL) function based on 40% decreased function of the veno-occlusive region.

Sixty patients who underwent hepatectomy with excision of major hepatic vein were analyzed. The FRL functions of the veno-occlusive and non-veno-occlusive regions were calculated with 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy single-proton emission computed tomography fusion system and SYNAPSE VINCENT® preoperatively. Risk assessment for hepatectomy was evaluated based on indocyanine green retention at 15 min, and patients with insufficient FRL function were described as marginal.

The median volume and function of the veno-occlusive region per whole liver were 111 ml and 11.0%, respectively. When the function of the veno-occlusive region was presumed as 0%, 40%, and 100%, the FRL function was 62.5%, 68.4%, and 75.0% and 21, 15, and 7 patients were classified as marginal, respectively. When the function of the veno-occlusive region was presumed as 40%, the posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) rate of marginal patients was significantly higher than that of safe patients (46.7% vs 8.9%, P = 0.002). Multivariable analysis indicated that marginal FRL function based on 40% decreased function of the veno-occlusive region was the only independent risk factor for PHLF (odds ratio 8.97, P = 0.002) after extended hepatectomy.

Assessment of preoperative FRL function based on 40% decreased function of the veno-occlusive region may have high validity.