Strong association between frequency of intermittent inflow occlusion and transient increase in serum liver enzymes after hepatic resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although significantly higher serum levels of liver transaminases are commonly observed after hepatic resection, the factors responsible for the increase and the association between the increase and the postoperative course remain unclear.

METHODOLOGY

The study population comprised 70 patients who had undergone hepatic resection except hepatectomy with vascular and biliary reconstruction. The relation between the perioperative factors and postoperative aspartic aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations were analyzed. Outcome parameters, i.e., postoperative total bilirubin level, hospital stay and complications were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The average maximum postoperative serum AST and ALT levels were 444.6 IU/L and 390.1 U/L. None of the preoperative factors examined, such as AST, ALT, associated liver disease, Liver Damage Classification, intraoperative hypotension, intraoperative blood loss or types of liver resection, were significantly correlated with liver enzyme elevations. The only factor that was significantly correlated was frequency of intermittent inflow occlusion (p < 0.001). The elevations of AST and ALT were not significantly correlated with length of hospital stay and postoperative serum bilirubin level. ALT also was not correlated to complications, whereas AST was significantly correlated to the frequency of the postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of intermittent inflow occlusion is the only factor that affects the postoperative enzyme elevation.