Predicting hepatic failure with a new diagnostic technique by preoperative liver scintigraphy and computed tomography: a pilot study in 123 patients undergoing liver resection.

Background: A novel index, total liver LU15, has been identified as a surrogate marker for liver function. We evaluated the ability of preoperative remnant liver LU15 values to predict postoperative hepatic failure.

Methods: Preoperative risk factors for postoperative hepatic failure and remnant liver LU15 were evaluated in 123 patients undergoing liver resection for several diseases from September 1st, 2007 to December 1st, 2016. We calculated the remnant liver LU15 value from the total liver LU15 value and the functional remnant liver ratio. Risk factors for postoperative hepatic failure was determined by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Hepatic failure grade B/C developed postoperatively in six patients of seven patients within Makuuchi criteria / without criteria for remnant liver LU15. Operative time ( = 0.0242) and criteria for remnant liver LU15 ( = 0.0001) were prognostic factors for hepatic failure according to the univariate analysis. And criteria for remnant liver LU15 ( = 0.0009) was only prognostic factor by multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Based on the findings form this pilot study, it appears that patients with a remnant liver LU15 value of 13 or less may have a high risk of postoperative hepatic failure.