The effects of physical prehabilitation: Improved liver regeneration and mitochondrial function after ALPPS operation in a rodent model.

Background: To identify the role of physical prehabilitation (PP) in liver regeneration, mitochondrial function, biogenesis, and inflammatory response was investigated after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) in a rodent model.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 60) underwent ALPPS. Animals were divided (n = 30) to the physical prehabilitation group (PP) and sedentary group (S). The animals were exsanguinated before (0 hour) and 24, 48, 72, or 168 hours after the operation. Regeneration rate and proliferation index were assessed. Mitochondrial function, biogenesis, and inflammatory response were evaluated.

Results: Regeneration rate and Ki67 index were significantly increased in the PP group compared to the S group (P < .001). Due to the changes in oxidative capacity and ATP production rate, the P/O ratio of PP group compared to the S group was significantly increased (P < .05). PP group was characterized by accelerated mitochondrial biogenesis and less intense inflammatory response compared to the S group.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the beneficial effects of PP on liver regeneration, mitochondrial function, biogenesis, and the inflammatory response after ALPPS.