Therapeutic plasma exchange as an effective salvage measure for post-hepatectomy hepatic failure: A case report

Major hepatectomy can result in post-hepatectomy hepatic failure (PHHF) and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can be used as a salvage procedure for liver support. We herein present a case of 69-year-old male patient with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma who was successfully managed with salvage TPE. Preoperative portal embolization was performed to reduce the parenchymal resection rate. The extent of surgery was right hepatectomy with partial excision of the ventral portion of the segment IV, caudate lobectomy, bile duct resection and extensive lymph node dissection. No noticeable surgical complications occurred after the operation, but serum total bilirubin level increased gradually and reached 10 mg/dl at 1 month after the operation. At postoperative day 38, total bilirubin level raised to 19.8 mg/dl and prothrombin time deteriorated significantly, thus salvage TPE was started. TPE was performed three times per week for 2 weeks; consequently, the total bilirubin level was maintained below 10 mg/dl. A few days later, a rebound of total bilirubin occurred; accordingly, 2 sessions of TPE were performed additionally. Overall, a total of 8 sessions of TPE were performed. The patient was discharged at 84 days after operation. The total bilirubin level returned to normal at 5 months after operation. This patient is doing well for past 9 months. In Korea, TPE for liver support has been approved by the social health insurance since August 2020. In conclusion, salvage TPE is an effective liver support measure for PHHF, thus we suggest starting TPE if serum total bilirubin level reaches 10 mg/dl after hepatectomy.