Liver function tests after ligation of hepatic artery

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Unresectable liver malignancies pose significant treatment challenges.
• Hepatic artery ligation (HAL) is a therapeutic option for liver tumors and aneurysms.
• Understanding the impact of HAL on liver function is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the postoperative liver function test (LFT) changes following hepatic artery ligation (HAL).
• To compare LFT patterns after HAL with those after extensive liver resection without HAL.
• To identify factors influencing LFT response to HAL.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 10 patients undergoing HAL (9 for malignancy, 1 for aneurysm).
• Detailed monitoring of postoperative liver function tests.
• Comparison with 3 control patients who underwent extensive liver resection without HAL.

Main Results:

• HAL caused immediate, significant elevations in lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), transaminase, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK).
• Elevated enzymes returned to baseline within one week post-HAL.
• Mild, transient increases in alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin were observed after HAL.
• Patients with prior surgical stress, anoxic insult, or extensive hepatic parenchyma loss showed minimal LFT rise after HAL.

Conclusions:

• Hepatic artery ligation (HAL) induces acute, but reversible, changes in specific liver enzymes.
• LFTs generally normalize within a week after HAL.
• The extent of LFT elevation post-HAL is influenced by the patient's overall hepatic reserve and prior surgical history.