Extensive liver resection in a child with an extremely low future liver remnant volume

The incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure in adult patients and a large number of complications of two-stage liver resections require a search for criteria that allow highly accurate assessment of the risk of liver failure. For this purpose, the study of the future liver remnant volume and function have been widely introduced among adult patients, and the future liver remnant function measurement reflects the greater sensitivity. The absence of references to posthepatectomy liver failure, as well as the experience of determining the functional reserve of the future liver remnant in children, let us to suggest the possibility of a wider using one-stage liver resections when the future liver remnant volume is below the generally accepted threshold (25% of the healthy liver parenchyma volume) in the case of the functional reserve sufficient value. This clinical case describes the successful extended right hemihepatectomy and segmentectomy 1 in a 3-year patient with a future liver remnant volume of 16.5% without clinical signs of postresection hepatic failure, which confirms the thesis of the need to assess the functional liver reserve in pediatric oncology to reduce the frequency of two-stage resections and liver transplants. The patient’s parents gave consent to the use of their child’s data, including photographs, for research purposes and in publications.

Search threshold values of future liver remnant function and volume for extensive resections in children

Aim. To evaluate the relationship between the future liver remnant volume and function and determine the possible threshold values of these parameters for predicting posthepatectomy liver failure in children.Methods. Data of 57 patients who underwent major hepatectomy from July 2017 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Before surgery all children underwent the CT-volumetry and 99mTc-Mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy. The threshold values for the future liver volume and function were considered 25%, and 2.7%/min/m2 , respectively. After surgery the ISGLS and 50–50 criteria for posthepatectomy liver failure were assessed. The principal components method was used to identify risk factors for its development. The correlation analysis included the maximum value of total bilirubin after hepatectomy, as well as the values of total bilirubin, albumin, urea, prothrombin index, international normalized ratio and platelets on the postoperative day 5.Results. The posthepatectomy liver failure was observed in 2 patients: grade B developed in a patient with FLR-V 43%, FLR-F 1.8%/min/m2 , grade A in a patient with FLR-V 16.5% and FLR-F 4.78%/min/m2 . A significant statistical relationship of average strength was revealed between the indicators of FLR-F and FLR-V (Pearson η = 0.409; p < 0.01). However, direct pairwise comparison did not reveal the relationship between future liver remnant volume, function and the laboratory parameters. The principal components analysis showed that during the postoperative period, the prothrombin index and international normalized ratio value were the most sensitive to the large volume of the liver parenchyma loss. The threshold value of FLR-F (3%/min/m2 ) was calculated. The decrease below this value can lead to posthepatectomy liver failure, which will manifest as a hemostasis disorder.Conclusion. Planning a one-staged hepatectomy not only the future liver remnant volume should be taken into account, but also its function. The threshold for future liver remnant volume in children is below the generally accepted level 25%. To perform one-stage hepatectomies in such patients, the FLR-F must be at least 2.7%/min/m2 . The future investigations in this field is waranteed.

The comparison of central hepatic segments resection versus extended hepatectomies outcomes in children with liver tumors

Aim. To analyze the safety and advantages of central resection in comparison with extended hepatectomies. Methods. From June 2017 to May 2020 29 central and extended liver resections for children were performed. Central hepatic resections were carried out in 8, extended hepatectomies – in 21 patients. Preoperative investigations, intraoperative and postoperative data in both groups were analyzed.Results. The main indication for surgery was hepatoblastoma. Future liver remnant volume was significantly higher in central resections group (р = 0.003). No difference in median operative time (р = 0.94), intraoperative blood loss (р = 0.078) and blood transfusion rate (р = 0.057) were found between groups. There were no postoperative complications difference. Also no difference in hospital stay length (р = 0.3) were found.Conclusion. In comparison with extended procedures, central liver resection has similar complication rate. Central hepatectomy is a safe procedure in children with liver tumors, which allows to preserve more healthy parenchyma.

Differentiated approach to the minimally invasive management of malignant obstructive jaundice

Attitude towards preoperative biliary drainage for malignant obstructive jaundice have recently changed twice. This is due certain factors including complications of minimally invasive biliary drainage, level of bile duct block, cholangitis, need for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, time to scheduled surgery, severe general condition of patient, future liver remnant volume. We comprehensively searched PUBMED, MD Consult and National Library of Medicine using the following keywords: “obstructive jaundice (OJ)”, “cellular immunity”, “preoperative biliary drainage”, “selective biliary drainage”, “distal and proximal bile duct block”, “complications”. Randomized clinical trials and meta-analyzes, opinions of reputable specialists in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery and our own experimental and clinical studies were foreground. The analysis showed that preoperative biliary drainage is not a safe procedure and results an increased number of complications. Absolute indications for preoperative biliary drainage are cholangitis, need for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, increased risk of radical surgery and unresectable tumor. Future liver remnant volume should be considered in patients with portal cholangiocarcinoma followed by proximal block to determine indications for preoperative biliary drainage.