Preoperative portal vein embolization: a comparison of ethanol and coils versus ethanol alone

To compare the efficacy and safety of preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) with ethanol and coils versus ethanol alone.

Between April 2014 and May 2019, 45 patients underwent right preoperative PVE with ethanol and coils (n = 19; EthCo group) or ethanol alone (n = 26; Eth group).

The change in % future liver remnant (FLR) was not significantly different between the EthCo and Eth groups (11.2 ± 4.3% versus 11.3 ± 4.1%, p = .98). Less ethanol was used in the EthCo group (9.7 ± 3.5 mL versus 11.9 ± 4.4 mL, p = .02). Recanalization was observed in eight patients only in the Eth group (p < .01). There were no differences in the pre-/post-PVE laboratory data between the two groups, except for post-PVE albumin. The volume of ethanol used was positively correlated with the post-PVE total bilirubin (p = .01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < .01) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < .01) levels.

The efficacy of PVE did not differ between the EthCo and Eth groups. The use of ethanol and coils was associated with less recanalization and liver damage compared with ethanol alone.