Modification of acid-base balance in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine modifications of acid-base balance of cirrhotic patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


BACKGROUND
Acid-base disorders are frequently observed in cirrhotics; however, modifications during hepatectomy and their impact on prognosis have never been investigated.


METHODS
Two hundred and two hepatectomies for HCC on cirrhosis were reviewed. Arterial blood samples were collected immediately before and at the end of resection. Preresection and postresection acid-base parameters were compared and related to patient characteristics and postoperative course. The accuracy of acid-base parameters in predicting postoperative liver failure, defined as an impairment of liver function after surgery that led to patient death or required transplantation, was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC).


RESULTS
All patients showed a significant reduction in pH, bicarbonate, and base excess at the end of hepatectomy (P < 0.001 in all cases), worsened by intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.010) and preoperative Model for end-stage liver disease score > or =11 (P < 0.010). ROC curve analysis identifies patients with postresection bicarbonate <19.4 mmol/L at high risk for liver failure (50.0%) whereas levels >22.1 mmol/L did not lead to the event (0%; P < 0.001). Postoperative prolongation of prothrombin time and increases in bilirubin, creatinine, and morbidity were also more frequent in patients with lower postresection bicarbonate, resulting in a longer in-hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
In cirrhotic patients, a trend toward a relative acidosis can be expected during surgery and is worsened by the severity of the underlying liver disease and intraoperative blood loss. Postresection bicarbonate level lower than 19.4 mmol/L is an adverse prognostic factor.
Cucchetti
Alessandro
A
Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. aleqko@libero.it
Siniscalchi
Antonio
A
Ercolani
Giorgio
G
Vivarelli
Marco
M
Cescon
Matteo
M
Grazi
Gian Luca
GL
Faenza
Stefano
S
Pinna
Antonio Daniele
AD
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D016896:Treatment Outcome