Preoperative portal embolization increases safety of hepatectomy

Postoperative liver failure following major hepatectomy is a frightened complication. In order to increase safety of major hepatectomy, a study evaluating preoperative portal embolization (PE) was performed. Between 1983 and 1990, PE was performed in 71 patients (41 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 8 with other liver tumors, and 22 with biliary carcinoma), in 63 cases to the main branch, prior to hepatectomy. Out of these 63 patients 42 (extended) hemihepatectomies were performed. For comparison 77 patients with the same extent of hepatectomy, but without PE, were studied. Liver volume was evaluated by CT examination. Portal venous pressure was elevated by 73 mmH2O just after embolization of the main portal branch. However, no complications were associated to the PE procedure except for temporary elevation of transaminases. Volume of the unembolized lobe increased by 8.8% in average following PE. Prominent volume gain was observed in the patients with prior arterial embolization and long observation period. In patients with PE prior to major hepatectomy, postoperative bilirubin values were significantly lower (p less than 0.01). In the group with PE, no fulminant liver failure was seen and no operative mortality was encountered, as compared to 11.7% (9/77) in the control group. Preoperatively performed PE was a safe procedure decreasing postoperative liver failure and mortality.