Published online Mar 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i8.1793
Peer-review started: September 19, 2020
First decision: December 13, 2020
Revised: December 21, 2020
Accepted: December 27, 2020
Article in press: December 27, 2020
Published online: March 16, 2021
Processing time: 167 Days and 6.7 Hours
Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is the main cause of death after hepatectomy, which was first defined by the International Study Group of Liver Surgery in 2011. The incidence of PHLF ranges between 1.2%-32%.
Earlier studies showed that PHLF is related to many preoperative factors, the analysis of these factors can be helpful in the prevention of PHLF.
To analyze possible risk factors for PHLF in Chinese patients undergoing hepatectomy.
Eighty patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for liver tumors from June 2018 to January 2020 were enrolled, they were divided into two groups according to whether PHLF occurred. Laboratory examination, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, albumin-bilirubin ratio, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), spleen volume (SV), remnant liver volume, standard remnant liver volume ratio, and volume ratio of liver to spleen were compared and discussed.
Of 80 patients, 19 (23.75%) developed PHLF. Gender, history of hepatitis/cirrhosis, and preoperative bilirubin, albumin, coagulation function, albumin-bilirubin ratio, APRI, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, SV, spleen volume/liver volume ratio (SV/LV), and % remnant liver volume were statistically associated with the occurrence of PHLF according to univariate logistic regression analysis (all P < 0.05). Preoperative total bilirubin (TBIL), platelets (PLT), APRI, and SV/LV were independent risk factors for PHLF in multivariate regression analysis (all P < 0.05). The area under curve and cut-off values were 0.787 and 18.6 mmol/L for TBIL, 0.893 and 146 × 1012/L for PLT, the two cut-off values are consistent with the upper and lower limit of TBIL and PLT in our hospital; furthermore, area under curve and cut-off values were 0.907 and 0.416 for APRI, and 0.752 and 20.84% for SV/LV, respectively.
Elevated preoperative total bilirubin, decreased PLT and APRI higher than 0.416, SV/LV higher than 20.85% are independent risk factors for PHLF in patients undergoing liver resection.
The etiology of PHLF is unclear, and there is no standard method for predicting the occurrence of PHLF before surgery. More patients should be analyzed to obtain more precise data on the prediction of PHLF.