Hyperbilirubinemia does not impair induced liver hypertrophy after portal vein Embolization-a retrospective scandinavian cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Portal vein embolization (PVE) may be used to induce hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR) before major hepatectomy. The influence of hyperbilirubinemia on FLR hypertrophy after PVE is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare FLR hypertrophy after PVE between patients with and without elevated P-bilirubin.

MATERIALS/METHODS: This is a Scandinavian retrospective cohort study of patients from five hepatobiliary centres. This study included patients who underwent right-sided PVE from 2013 to 2023. Data were collected from electronic medical records. FLR growth was analysed with respect to normal or elevated P-bilirubin.

RESULTS

In total, 410 patients were included in this study. Among the total cohort, 105 patients had elevated P-bilirubin levels (≥26 μmol/L) at the time of PVE. Elevated P-bilirubin levels were not associated with impaired FLR hypertrophy after PVE, as determined by absolute growth (p < 0.001), relative growth (p = 0.008), degree of hypertrophy (p < 0.001) and kinetic growth rate (p = 0.002). Multivariable analysis revealed that elevated P-bilirubin levels at the time of PVE (p = 0.002) together with the use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as an embolizing material (p = 0.009) were associated with increased FLR hypertrophy. A larger estimated total liver volume was associated with reduced FLR hypertrophy (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this multicentre, retrospective cohort study, we were unable to show any negative effect of elevated P-bilirubin on FLR hypertrophy at the time of PVE. There is no need for P-bilirubin levels to normalize before PVE. This study supports the ongoing shift towards NBCA as an embolizing material.