Operative risk by the lidocaine test (MEGX) in resected patients for HCC on cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the preoperative lidocaine test (MEGX) in cirrhotic patients who were candidates for curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
To evaluate whether MEGX was related to postoperative complications, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 51 patients, in whom a preoperative lidocaine test was available. They were divided into two groups according to a MEGX value less (22 patients, group A) or more (29 patients, group B) than 25 ng/mL.


RESULTS
The two groups of patients were comparable for the preoperative clinical parameters and the surgical procedures. Patients in group A had a significantly higher rate of postoperative complications (73% vs. 28%, p < 0.005) and a tendency to a longer hospital stay, compared to patients in group B.


CONCLUSIONS
The lidocaine value is an effective index of hepatic function. A preoperative MEGX value lower than 25 ng/dL in cirrhotic patients was related to a significantly higher risk of liver insufficiency and postoperative complications after hepatic resection.
Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Surgical Unit, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Matteo
M
Ravaioli
Gian Luca
GL
Grazi
Alfonso
A
Principe
Giorgio
G
Ercolani
Matteo
M
Cescon
Andrea
A
Gardini
Giovanni
G
Varotti
Massimo
M
Del Gaudio
Antonino
A
Cavallari
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D018570:Risk Assessment
D008012:Lidocaine; C001173:monoethylglycinexylidide