RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the initial data on future liver remnant volume and its function evaluated by 99mTc-Bromesida hepatobiliary scintigraphy in children with liver tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Extended liver resections were performed in 58 patients aged 2 months - 208 months (median 26 months) for various neoplasms. Before hepatectomy, all children underwent contrast-enhanced CT with volumetry and hepatobiliary scintigraphy with 99mTc-Bromezida and subsequent quantitative assessment of its accumulation in the future liver remnant. All consecutive patients eligible for extended liver resection were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The analysis included patients who underwent extended liver resection between June 2017 and March 2021. Among 91 liver resections, 58 (64%) procedures were extended hepatectomies including 2 ALPPS procedures. Median volume of future liver remnant was 44.5% (16.5-91.4), median future liver remnant function - 10.14%/min/m2 (1.8-30). Four patients with adequate liver function had insufficient volume of future liver remnant. Insufficient future liver remnant volume and its appropriate function were observed in 2 patients. Not life-threatening post-resection liver failure developed in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of future liver remnant function is the most sensitive method to predict post-hepatectomy liver failure in children. The cut off value of future liver remnant volume in children is below 25% and probably below 16.5%. Further data collection and research are warranted to determine significant values. These data will contribute to define the new indications for two-staged hepatectomies in children.
