title: Effects of branched-chain amino acids-enriched nutrient support for patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have underlying liver cirrhosis that is frequently associated with a state of protein energy malnutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of perioperative supplementation of a branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient-mixture for patients undergoing liver resection for HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into two groups: 40 patients received perioperative supplementation of branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient-mixture (AEN group) and 72 patients did not (control group). Laboratory data, postoperative complications, duration of hospitalization, and survival were assessed for each group and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the AEN group (17.5%) than in the control group (44.4%) (P = 0.01). Among the postoperative complications, surgical site infection and bile leakage was observed in 5% of patients in the AEN group and in 15.3% and 12.5% of patients in the control group, respectively. Ascites appeared after the surgery in 7.5% of patients in the AEN group and in 16.7% of patients in the control group. The duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in the AEN group was than in the control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study strongly suggests that perioperative supplementation of a branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient-mixture is clinically beneficial in reducing the morbidity associated with postoperative complications and in shortening the duration of hospitalization of patients with chronic liver disease who undergo liver resection for HCC.
authors: Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan. tokabaya@kochi-u.ac.jp
authors: Takehiro
authors: T
authors: Okabayashi
authors: Isao
authors: I
authors: Nishimori
authors: Takeki
authors: T
authors: Sugimoto
authors: Hiromichi
authors: H
authors: Maeda
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Dabanaka
authors: Saburo
authors: S
authors: Onishi
authors: Michiya
authors: M
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Hanazaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007902:Length of Stay; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018529:Nutritional Support; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain