Pre-operative evaluation of spontaneous portosystemic shunts as a predictor of post-hepatectomy liver failure in patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) can significantly compromise outcomes, especially in cirrhotic patients. The identification of accurate and non-invasive pre-operative predictors is of paramount importance to appropriately stratify patients according to their estimated risk and select the best treatment strategy.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for HCC on cirrhosis between 1-2015 and 12-2020 at 10 international Institutions were enrolled and their pre-operative CT scans were evaluated for the presence of spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) to identify predictors of PHLF and develop a nomogram.