Current strategies to induce liver remnant hypertrophy before major liver resection

Abstract

Hepatic resection is the gold standard for patients affected by primary or metastatic liver tumors but is hampered by the risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure. Despite recent improvements, liver surgery still requires excellent clinical judgement in selecting patients for surgery and, above all, efficient pre-operative strategies to provide adequate future liver remnant. The aim of this article is to review the literature on the rational, the preliminary assessment, the advantages as well as the limits of each existing technique for preparing the liver for major hepatectomy.

Keywords: Future liver remnant; Liver insufficiency; Liver regeneration; Major hepatectomy; Portal vein embolization.