Liver Functional Changes of the Unembolized Lobe after Preoperative Percutaneous Transhepatic Portal Embolization

Abstract

Since 1990, percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization (PTPE) has been performed for patients with biliary tract carcinoma as a safety and extension of surgical indications. In three patients with gallbladder carcinoma and three with biliary carcinoma we studied on following issues. Computed tomography was performed to estimate the remnant liver volume before and after PTPE. As for liver functions, prealbumin, retinol binding protein, transferrin, lipid peroxide, oxygen saturation, ammonia and endotoxin in the bilateral hepatic and portal veins were investigated. The estimated remnant liver volume increased 27.8±5.2%. Rapid turnover proteins showed no changes by to PTPE. A little acceleration of ammonia and deceleration of endotoxin were observed in the unembolized lobe. Especially serum endotoxin levels and the volume change of the remnant liver showed a productmoment correlation. Therefore, the reticuloendothelium system of the liver in the unembolized lobe is assumed to be accelerated after PTPE.